Sunshine Coast Bush hands

Summer 2015 Edition 77

Photo courtesy of Dean West Environment Levy Fauna Monitoring Project

The Sunshine Coast Council Environment Council owned and managed lands. This will Levy is funding the largest fauna monitoring ensure records are maintained effi ciently and project ever to be carried out in Council’s effectively for future use. reserves. The overall project aims to better inform and This project started in June 2013 and will ultimately improve management practices receive $570,000 worth of funding over within our reserves to ensure ecological values a four year period. The project involves are protected, maintained and enhanced. These undertaking inventory fauna surveys at 10 results will contribute to the conservation of high value environmental reserves, developing native fl ora and fauna and the habitats they a monitoring program for particular indicator are dependent on. fauna species and developing a central Continued on page 2 data storage system for all fauna records on Xeromys myoides (water mouse or false water rat) at Bells Creek Environmental Reserve

The surveys are mainly focussed on mammal • Bobbie Sattler Environmental Reserve (including bats) and reptile fauna within the in Bells Creek, and will soon commence in reserves but are also noting any incidental • Buderim Forest conservation network. observations as they progress. Some interesting sightings so far include: There have been some exciting fi nds already from the fi rst year (2013-2014) of seasonal • the Environment Protection and Biodiversity surveys in four reserves including: Conservation Act 1999 listed vulnerable black-breasted button-quail (Turnix • 13 species of micro-bats found in the melanogaster) in Bobbie Sattler Environment Bells Creek area which were previously Reserve unrecorded in this location • the Environment Protection and Biodiversity • the fi rst confi rmed record of one of Conservation Act 1999 listed vulnerable grey Australia’s rarest native rodent, the headed fl ying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) vulnerable water mouse (Xeromys myoides) in Brannocks Environmental Reserve. at Bells Creek Environmental Reserve This project is being progressed in conjunction • the endangered Coxen’s fi g parrot with the fauna surveys being undertaken in (Cyclopsitta diopthalma coxeni) was noted some of our recently acquired Environment as a likely observation at Upper Mooloolah Levy reserves to assist in building a more Nature Refuge, Bald Knob. This is the fi rst comprehensive data base. credible sighting of this species on the Sunshine Coast since 2006. Check out the 2013-2014 Environment Levy Annual Report on Council’s website for further 2014-2015 surveys have kicked off already with information on this project and many others. consultants working at: • Brannocks Environmental Reserve in Landsborough • Coochin Creek Esplanade Reserve in Beerwah

2 Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 Rust affected Native guava Focus on fl ora Rhodomyrtus psidioides with Spencer Shaw Native Guava of Brush Turkey Enterprises

In some ways I’m a bit sad writing an article to yellow fruit 10-15mm with a rough textured about this particular plant, because as a skin and contain many seeds surrounded by a result of the introduction of Myrtle Rust sweet pulp, sought after by bird, bat and bush Puccinia psidii into Australia and its arrival food connoisseur alike. in our area four years ago, the majority If you do fi nd healthy specimens of this plant of plants I’m familiar with are suffering in gardens, revegetation areas and the wild, drastically, with foliage cover reduced by they are well worth propagating from to help over 90 percent. The majority of plants are ensure the ongoing survival of this species. not just stressed but critical and in this Plants treated with fungicides in nurseries may condition they struggle to put on leaves let look great when you buy them, but if they are alone fl ower and without fl owers there’s no susceptible the Myrtle Rust will catch up fruit and without fruit there’s no seed and with them! without seed (without the potential for the next generation), survival isn’t looking good for Rhodomyrtus psidioides. Hopefully I’m wrong and in other areas of the Sunshine Coast, or further south there are plants thriving and reproducing. Rhodomyrtus psidioides is the single representative of the genus Rhodomyrtus in South East Queensland and New South Wales – it is nearing its northern most limit of distribution here on the Sunshine Coast (occurs as far north as Tinana Creek, Maryborough). In form it is a shrub to small tree, that suckers readily which can be great for a hedge and can form small thickets, where they do occur naturally, which tends to be in the ecotone between rainforest and tall eucalypt communities. Foliage is generally dense and the opposite leaves have a light fruity smell when crushed. The white fl owers can be produced en masse and are one of the larger of our local Myrtaceae fl owers measuring up to Rhodomyrtus psidioides healthy specimen 25mm across. Flowers are followed by a green Photos courtesy of Spencer Shaw

Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 3 Cr Greg Rogerson and Kerry Jones at group planting of Brown pine

Photos courtesy Norm Morwood PCCCG Cultural connections in caring for country

Article by Kerry Jones, Arnold Jones, Bridgette Davis, Sean Fleischfresser, Anne Miller and Genevieve Jones

Maroochy River Mangrove Nursery In 2009 the Maroochy River Mangrove and Revegetation Project Nursery and Revegetation Project commenced operations in partnership with Sunshine Our local estuaries are biodiversity hotspots Coast Council (SCC) and Descendants of for species of fi sh (un’dia), crab (na’lor) and Australian South Sea Islanders. Some years shellfi sh (ngu’rung), providing protective prior, Maroochy Landcare had undertaken ‘nurseries’ amongst the mangroves (pir’ri), for similar trials. The nursery activities came the young of such. As well, they offer feeding under the initiative of the Maroochy River and habitat areas to an array of waders such as Recovery, partnering with Bunya Bunya Country the Jabiru, the Spoonbill and mammals such as Aboriginal Corporation. This well may be the the vulnerable water mouse, swamp wallaby, fi rst Aboriginal owned and operated native plant possums, fruit bats, antechinus and melomys. nursery on the Sunshine Coast, now in its sixth year. The fi rst years were based around trial and error, experimenting with peat pots, mangrove mud, potting mix, and fi nding suitable locations along the Maroochy River with suffi cient tidal range to help ‘water’ the mangrove seedlings as they grew out. The design and trials with protective barriers against boat-wash for the seedlings included the use of coir logs or old sediment curtains put in place with wooden stakes. At some sites the survival rate of the seedlings may have been as low as 30% with fl ood events and fl ood debris taking casualties. In recent years newer revegetation sites have seen a survival rate of 80-90% that has been very encouraging. Over summer we collect seed for and propagate the River Mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum), Orange Mangrove (Bruguiera gymnorhiza) and Red mangrove (Rhizophora stylosa). Over winter, this is done for the Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina), Sean Fleischfress (left) and Kerry Jones with seedlings at the nursery

4 Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 with its roundish seed, seen in the thousands. The salt or marine couch (Sporobolus virginicus) can also be easily propagated. Over the last six years this project has been supported by SEQ Catchments, Maroochy Landcare, Wetland Care Australia, Caring for Our Country (Cmwlth Govt), QPWS and Everyones Environment (Qld Govt), farmers, SCC, MangroveWatch and TS Onslow Navy Cadet Base. The project as a whole has provided a terrifi c opportunity for local KabiKabi (GubbiGubbi) Traditional Owners, people with South Sea Islander heritage, and historically connected Aboriginal people to establish Kerry Jones (left) and Loretta Algar – potting up training and employment opportunities, while making great use of their in-depth, local area the traditional days. Project participants include knowledge of the traditional estates of their Bunya Bunya Country Aboriginal Corporation, ancestors. These experiences have also Nadia Joyce of SCC, Garry Lawler and the provided resources to enable people to visit team with Corrective Services, Norm Morwood and monitor numerous aboriginal sites and of Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group and artefact areas, and refl ect on and share with the Cr Greg Rogerson. wider community, traditional and sustainable, Aboriginal land use practices. More planting days are planned for 2015, adding new sites, while incorporating species Bunya Country Recovery Project, having signifi cant traditional uses, as a part of Petrie Creek, Nambour the Bunya Country Recovery Project. In the meantime, ongoing work includes weed control Back in 1951 the former Nambour Chronicle and the planting of native trees along Petrie newspaper published an article promoting Creek at the new park. Working bees are held the local area history and declared that in the early in the mornings on the fourth Wednesday 1860’s, “There was no other district to compare of each month. All are welcome. with this in those days for the number and productiveness of the Bunya pine”. Working For information about this project and the within the spirit of that story, working bees mangrove nursery please go online to the have been underway since mid-2014 with the SCC Community Hub directory to fi nd more planting of native trees to help revegetate a project and contact details. If you have an waterway that fl ows into Petrie Creek, at the interest and time to spare to help out you can new Sunshine Coast Council park (yet to be call Kerry Jones on MS 0401 205 367 or email named), referred to as Quota Park Extension. [email protected] We aim to re-establish the culturally signifi cant bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii) that was Bunya Bunya Country once prolifi c within Nambour and the Aboriginal Corporation surrounding areas. Last November saw a great turnout to a community tree-planting day. The GubbiGubbi Dancers gave a Welcome to Country and shared stories and legends about the local, traditional clans, the bunya and hoop pines, the sea eagle and sea mullet. Specifi c bunya trees were planted and dedicated to each of the KabiKabi (GubbiGubbi) families, as done in

Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 5 Fun in the Birdbath by Janet Whish Wilson

During this hot weather the best thing But what about cormorants and darters? They you can do for our birdlife is to provide a have to dry their feathers after swimming – if birdbath in your garden – more if possible. their feathers were waterproof they would be too buoyant to dive underwater from a fl oating Clean available water is so essential for birds; position as is their method. Diving birds such as some fi nches for example need to drink every gannets and terns do have waterproof feathers few hours, but also besides drinking they need but they must dive from certain heights to to clean their feathers at least once daily to overcome their buoyancy. keep them in topmost condition for fl ying. A bird that doesn’t fl y well is soon spotted by a A birdbath or two can be an attractive feature predator bird and will be under attack. in your garden and there are some very handsome birdbaths available these days. After giving their feathers a good wash, birds Some low shrubbery closeby the birdbath then groom them to discourage parasites, encourages the smaller birds. It can also be fun fi nally concluding the preening by taking oil to create a bathing area by placing terracotta from their preen gland at the base of their plant-pot bases on stumps, bricks or fl at rocks tail with their beaks and running it over their feathers to waterproof them. This ensures they Providing varying depths of water is important can fl y in the rain otherwise they would become as different species have different bathing waterlogged. habits. Some like Lewin’s Honeyeaters like to

Photos courtesy Jeff Scrivener

6 Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 dive into a good depth while Brown and Scarlet Coordinators Meeting Honeyeaters like to splash in shallow water. Lorikeets are the most vigorous by dunking Coordinators from Community Nature their heads and splashing their wings again and Conservation groups across the Sunshine again. Where I have two baths together they Coast and Coolum District Coast Care came jump from one to the other like happy children together on 5 December 2014, to review at play. the past year and share ideas for the year to come. The purpose of the day was to The bath should be raised if cats are about – brainstorm ways to develop the program, possibly three metres. discuss ideas and build networks Birds are vulnerable when drinking as they have between groups. to raise their heads for the water to trickle down The morning started with Kenneth their throats. However nature has given more McClymont presenting an overview of the protection to the doves who are able to suck program for 2014, he also explained how the up the water in seconds. This is because when Community Nature Conservation Program drinking they are prey to so many predators. (CNCP) fi ts into the overall Council structure. Birdwatching in your garden can be a very In 2014 there were 12 workshops with a total enjoyable and relaxing pastime. It is good of 325 participants, two new groups at Quota to have a viewing spot from a verandah or Extension Park and Buddina, four editions a garden seat and often mid-afternoon is an of Bushhands published, War on Weeds, excellent time to watch the fun. Keeping a National Tree Day, Garden Expo, Big Day regular eye on the birdbath is an interesting Out at Kirbys Rd, corporate volunteering way of checking the different bird species that events and community days. may visit your garden through the seasons. As conversation developed it was interesting to discover that most groups faced the same challenges. How to increase recruitment of members to groups and raise awareness of issues was a key topic that generated excellent discussion and many great new ideas. Norm Morwood coordinator of Namba Creek, Florabunda Pocket and Quota Extension Park groups spoke about their successes from the past three years and what has worked for them. Varied working bee times to cater for a wider range of people, regular market stalls at the Big Pineapple with information about local group working bees and face-to-face interaction with the community to raise awareness about issues were just some of the effective techniques. What’s new in 2015? Council offi cers have been working to develop a Community Nature Conservation website which will allow CNCP volunteers to access useful resources and easily fi nd out about upcoming workshops and events, an updated CNCP brochure with group times and dates and regular media advertising of groups to attract new members.

Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 7 Monarch Butterfl ies –

a Wanderer’s Road Trip by Kon Hepers

One of the most widely recognised the US and elsewhere, but for some reason butterfl ies is the large and colourful called Wanderers in Australia, have self- Monarch, Danaus plexippus, named after introduced in around the 1870s, probably by two evil characters from Greek mythology. island-hopping, into the Pacifi c Islands and Danaus was the son of an Egyptian king Australia. We have seen them in numbers in and sired 50 daughters. Balance was Fiji and New Zealand (where they pre-date maintained when his brother Aegyptus sired European settlement) and once a swarm of 50 sons. Naturally, all 50 cousins paired off many hundreds in Samoa. and married, then, on their joint wedding night the girls stabbed to death all the boys For an exotic species to become well except one. Plexippus also met an early established here it would require its feed death in a brawl over a boar’s pelt. plant, also an exotic, to become established earlier. It is not clear when the major food- There is no obvious connection between these source Gomphocarpus physocarpus, family “nasties” and the beautiful butterfl y, native to Apocynaceae, was brought in from Africa. North America, where it is known for its huge These plants are related to Asclepiads migrations involving millions of individuals which include a few native species. They are trekking south to Mexico and southern commonly known as Milk Weed or still more California for the Winter, with their offspring commonly as Swan Plants. Milk Weed because heading north again in the Spring. of the milky sap exuded and Swan Plant because of the shape of the seed capsules. Over the last few hundred years these very (The botanical name translates to “Club fruit strong fl yers, known as Monarch Butterfl ies in Bladder fruit”). These introduced weeds are

8 Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 now wide-spread and often found on scrubby by the next day we could discern folded wings roadsides. In Australia the butterfl y is aptly within. Another 2 days and the colourful wings called “Wanderer” and can be found anywhere were clearly visible and by next morning each along a very broad south and East Coast strip butterfl ies had completed its metamorphosis. although they do not mass-migrate as in After some minutes allowing the sun to the US. “activate” their wings they abruptly fl ew off. Recently a Monarch/Wanderer landed right in Monarchs/Wanderers have large pointed wings front of us and we thought its life cycle would be allowing them to fl y rapidly and soar high in good to observe. So the hunt was on for Swan the air, the males aggressively searching for Plants and after a couple of weeks of searching females and for rival males to drive off. They far and wide we found one on the road-side have been recorded covering 130 k in a day, just next to our driveway. We picked some fl ying at 100 m or so. Depending on weather, leaves on which were two tiny caterpillars, these amazing butterfl ies have about six to about 8 mm x 1 mm. eight weeks to mate, fi nd swan plants and repeat the cycle. It happened that we had to drive to Sydney at that time so the caterpillars, in a banana box The bright colours of both caterpillars and full of Milk Weed, travelled with us. The “fodder” butterfl ies serve as warning to predators that was replenished several times along the way their intended prey items carry a strong and the larvae munched non-stop. We kept alkaloid toxin absorbed from the milky sap lifting the lid to watch their progress: they were exuded by their food source, the Milk Weed/ bigger each time we looked. At 11 days (now in Swan Plant. Sydney) the striped caterpillars had reached the stage where they climbed to the lid of the box, Monarch eggs hatch in eight days. We attached themselves and encased themselves estimated that we found “our” pair at two in their jade green, gold-fl ecked chrysalides (the days old. Adding the 27 days “road trip” we word is derived from the Greek word for gold). established a 37 day term from egg to mature butterfl y. After a further 14 days each suspended chrysalis turned black and semitransparent and

Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 9 One to Watch for... by Ashley Goodman

Over the years weeding at Cotton Tree, I’ve and seeds spread. Mowers and slashers also noticed the weed Barleria repens and its contribute to this. ongoing domination of native grasses and Flowers and Fruits shrubs. This is due to its scrambling thick rooting stems that form thickets. Summer – winter, tubular fl owers with fi ve spreading lobes. The cultivated and naturalised Many are unaware of its potential to dominate form in Queensland has a bright red or pinkish and outcompete and with new outbreaks red fl ower, while the forms common in Africa starting to occur over coastal areas, it’s are commonly purple. Fruit is small with four defi nitely one to watch. seeds and the capsules are club-shaped that Barleria repens is a spreading shrub split open. distinguished by its tubular pink/red fl owers that have fi ve lobes produced around February to Leaves and Stems April. The fruit is small and spits open when Leaves are opposite, glossy and dark green. mature to release four seeds. The leaves are Stems produce roots quickly after touching the opposite the stem and are a dark shiny green. ground. Younger stems are hairy while the older The younger stems can be somewhat hairy stems are woodier. while the older stems are generally woodier. Impacts Common names include Coral Creeper and Can colonise into thickets in the understory Coral Bells. It’s native from KwaZulu northwards stopping the movement of animals. These into tropical Africa. Barleria repens is in the thickets stop natural regeneration and cause Acanthaceae family and has a potential threat environmental damage by colonising riparian to natural vegetation due to its infestations that zones. form densely in the understory. It is also a risk to coastal and riparian vegetation. It is closely Control Methods related to the Philippine violet (Barleria cristata) Hand removal has resulted in the best reduction which is a taller shrub with white to mauve over time by manually removing individual similar shaped fl owers. stems and plants, taking care and time to ensure to leave behind as little of the root Habitat system as possible. In cases where it is very Coastal Queensland, riparian areas, urban thick and hard to hand remove completely, bushland, disturbed forests and roadsides. removing the fl owers and immature fruit is Generally will not grow more than 70cm still helpful as it prevents the opportunity in height. for dispersal and reduces the risk of new Dispersal and Reproduction infestations in surrounding areas. Barleria repens reproduces by seed and The species is generally diffi cult to eradicate vegetatively via its rooting stems. Seeds can be with chemical control, but foliar spraying with spread up to a few metres from the parent plant the herbicide Starane, with the addition of a as they are propelled and released from the surfactant has proven to be effective. Other fruit. Other forms of dispersal include water and herbicides such as Glyphosate would be effect- animals. Garden waste dumped in bushland is ive as well as using techniques such as stem a common form of dispersal as stem segments scraping, cut and swab and foliar spraying.

10 Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 Fire management planning for private properties Article and photo by Nick Clancy

Last October about 20 Land for Wildlife Fire management is a complex issue, especially landholders attended a fi re management when applied in our highly fragmented and planning workshop run by Council in densely populated landscape. It can also be an conjunction with the SEQ Fire & Biodiversity emotive topic which evokes strong opinions. Consortium. This was the sixth time such a In SEQ we average considerably less severe workshop has been offered for members. fi re weather days compared with southern states, however recent bush fi res at Kiamba The objective of these full day workshops is to and Diamond Valley are reminders that wildfi res provide an overview of fi re ecology, legalities, can and do happen on the Sunshine Coast. It preparedness as well as practical advice that is recommended that every bushland property can be applied at home. Participants leave should have a fi re management plan. the workshop with a better understanding of fi re and the basis of a fi re management plan These workshops are offered to Land for completed for their own property. Wildlife participants every couple of years to assist in developing a specifi c fi re management Some participants choose not to burn, but plan for your property. They also provide the to be well prepared in the event of a wildfi re, latest science based fi re and biodiversity while others undertake planned burns using fi re information as well as life and property as a habitat management tool, or for hazard protection considerations from Queensland reduction purposes (or both). Fire and emergency Services. The SEQ Fire The workshop included a fi eld walk comparing a and Biodiversity consortium web site has a patch of forest that had recently been burnt with plethora of information as well as numerous a patch that was long unburnt. It was interesting free downloads. to note that the recently burnt patch has seen To learn more visit the emergence of a Pultenaea dominated www.fi reandbiodiversity.org.au shrub layer in some areas, a species that was www.fi re.qld.gov.au absent prior to the fi re.The patch was a great demonstration site of how fi re can be used to establish and maintain a mosaic of habitats with fl oristic and structural diversity. Plenty of practical information and advice was also shared on the day by experienced fi re practitioners and landholders. For example the track mounted remote controlled fl ail mower shown in the adjoining photo can be used to create temporary fi re management lines. It can work on very steep slopes and being only 1.2m wide it can weave in-between most trees. It provides an alternative to conventional machinery that scrapes the ground, leaving bare earth, which can be problematic on steep slopes and erosion prone soils.

Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 11 Events calendar Event Details Contact February 2015 Weeknights Frog monitoring – Identify frogs by sight and sound for Maroochy Waterwatch – 07 54 764 777 or January – March scientifi c research, no experience necessary. [email protected] Family friendly. Volunteers needed at Buderim, Mt Coolum, or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ Coolum, Eerwah Vale, Dulong. pages/Maroochy-Waterwatch Wednesday weekly National Parks Friends of Parks ECOllaboration – 07 54 764 777 or 8.30am – 12.30pm Light weeding and other activities. Transport from Nambour [email protected] or provided to various locations such as Dularcha NP, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/ Currimundi Lake and Conondale Ranges. Friends-of-Parks/1429614807294252 TBA Mooloolah River Patrol ECOllaboration Litter clean-up and water mouse monitoring, preferably [email protected] in pairs or more, working in Mooloolah River navigable or 07 54 764 777 reaches. Please register interest. March 2015 Sunday 1 March Clean Up Australia Day national event To attend an event or to register your event A national event please visit website: www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/ Saturday 28 March Earth Hour – global event: Turn off the lights and all For information on the global event appliances in your home from 8.30pm – 9.30pm to help please see website at reduce greenhouse gas emissions. www.earthhour.org.au SCC event – Celebrate with Family Fun, Picnic at Cotton Tree: 2.30pm – 6.30pm – Enjoy cooking demos from local chefs, green-art workshops, kids’ activities and music. Bring your picnic and blanket and join this family friendly event. Wednesday weekly National Parks Friends of Parks ECOllaboration 8.30am – 12.30pm Light weeding and other activities. Transport from Nambour [email protected] provided to various locations such as Dularcha NP, or 07 54 764 777 Currimundi Lake and Conondale Ranges. April 2015 Tuesday 7 – Wildlife Encounters Arts and Ecology Centre, Maroochy Thursday 16 April Children’s holiday art and ecology workshops. Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Geckoes Wildlife will present an informative session on Palm Creek Road, Tahawha and Flying-foxes. Young artists can learn how to create Fairy Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Maleny. Wren artworks using watercolours, pastels and pencils. Bookings open 12 March at http://www. community.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/events May 2015 2 – 3 May Maleny Wood Expo Barung Landcare Maleny Showgrounds Entry $15 Adults, Concessions available, Youth U16 FREE Visit www.malenywoodexpo.com or 9.00am – 5.00pm daily Free Parking ring Barung Landcare 07 5494 3151 Sunday 3 May Glossy Black-Cockatoo Birding Day For more information on the Glossy Volunteers can register their interest by emailing Black-Cockatoos and the Glossy Black [email protected] Conservancy http://www.glossyblack.org.au TBA War on Weeds Check SCC website for details Bring a bag of weeds and swap for three native plants. Venues across the Sunshine Coast to be advised. Regular Events Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden Visit our website for contact details Visit our local botanic garden at Tanawha or contact us for and information – http://www. guided walks friendsofmaroochybotanicgardens.org.au Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Visit our website for contact details and Visit our local rainforest reserve – guided walks are information – http://www.marycairncross. available, book via our website com.au/become-a-rainforest-custodian.php Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary Visit our website for contact details Visit our local wetlands – guided walks are available, and information – http://www. as well as self-guided walks maroochywetlandssupport.org.au

www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au [email protected]@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au T 07 5475 7272 F 07 5475 7277 12 Sunshine Coast Council Bush hands Summer 2015 Locked Bag 72 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Qld 4560