Dandenong Creek: Wildlife of the Waterways
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Dandenong Creek: Wildlife of the waterways Before European settlement, Dandenong Creek and its extensive wetlands would have provided habitat for a large number and great variety of fish, animals and birds. Animals such as kangaroos, possums, wallabies, emus and many species of small marsupials and waterfowl were common in the woodland and along the creek lines. The greatest concentrations of birds and animals were around the adjacent wetlands during summer. Studies indicate that many species of native animals have been lost from the area. Ringtail and Brushtail possums, echidna and more than 20 bird species remain. Most of the middle and lower section of the creek have been channelised and only remnants of the original vegetation remain, in small pockets along the Dandenong Creek corridor and in Valley and Portsmouth Reserves. Many old billabongs and wetlands throughout the Dandenong Valley are occupied by a diverse mix of plant communities. Many plant species found in the area were utilised by Aboriginal people. Today, most of the original vegetation has been removed because of residential development, drainage, clearing and hydrological changes. Fish Three species of native fish (as well as Long-necked tortoises) are found in Dandenong Creek. A number of fish now found in the Dandenong Creek have been introduced from overseas. The most numerous fish in the Dandenong Creek is the small Mosquito fish (also known as Eastern Gambusia), which is native to north and Central America. Mosquito fish were introduced to Australian rivers and creeks to reduce mosquito numbers but have made no significant difference to mosquito numbers. They attack small native fish including the young of larger fish species, and take their food. Dwarf galaxias were found in wetlands and small creeks along Dandenong Creek until about 20 years ago. Competition with and attack by Mosquito fish along with habitat loss due to land development are the main causes for the loss of this threatened native species along Dandenong Creek. Fish 1 3 2 4 S HORT-FINNED EEL COM M ON GALAXIA RE DFIN PERCH Eur OPEAN CARP AN GUILLA AUSTRALIS GISMALAX A ACULATUS PE RCA FLUVIATILIS CR YP INUS ARPIO SIZE: COMMONLY UP TO 60CM OTHER NAME: SIZE: UP TO 45CM SIZE: COMMONLY 50-65CM (MALES), 90CM (FEMALES) COMMON JOLLY TAIL R edfin perch were introduced E uropean carp are the largest S hort-finned eels are the SIZE: COMMONLY 10-19CM into Australian waters in the fish in the Dandenong Creek most common fish species C ommon galaxias have been 1860s. The hardy fish live system. They are considered in Dandenong Creek. These found in Dandenong Creek. in billabongs, swamps and a major pest because they native migratory fish have a Their numbers are low, due slow-flowing parts of the creek. create environmental damage long snake-like body and an to fish barriers such as weirs, They have two characteristic by sucking up sediments and even golden to olive-green logs and rocks. Adults move red fins and dark vertical stripes uprooting plants to filter out colour. They are active at downstream to estuaries to along their silver bodies. invertebrates, making the water night and eat crustaceans, spawn and young spend These predators are considered very turbid. Eradication of the insects, yabbies, fish and frogs. their first six months at sea. a cause of reduced numbers fish is complex and costly. All Short-finned eels migrate When they return to freshwater of several fish species and Carp can survive low and high and breed at one site in the rivers and creeks, they are part feed on small fish, crustaceans, temperatures and very low Coral Sea near New Caledonia. of large spring whitebait molluscs and insect larvae. oxygen content. A female can They spawn at depths of more migrations. They eat mainly produce up to one million eggs. than 300m before soon dying. terrestrial and aquatic insects The newly hatched young and crustaceans. They are drift back to coastal areas a long olive-grey fish with on ocean currents. variable mottling on their sides. Birds S ome of Australia’s most iconic bird species may be found at times along the Dandenong Creek, which is a haven for a variety of birdlife including insectivorous birds, nectar-feeders (such as the honeyeaters), birds of prey, seed-eaters and waterbirds. Among the waterbird species known to inhabit Dandenong Creek and its environs, the Cattle Egret, Australasian Bittern and Blue-billed Duck are listed on Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. Three species on this list are migratory and protected by international migratory bird agreements between Australia, Japan and China: Latham’s Snipe, Great Egret and Cattle Egret. About 11 bird of prey species are regularly recorded along Dandenong Creek or in the area, including the beautiful Peregrine Falcon and Wedge-tailed Eagle. The flora of Dandenong Creek plays a vital role in providing food and shelter for the nectar and seed- eating species of native birds. Many of the established trees such as eucalypts have hollows in them that birds and mammals depend on for nesting, roosting, or simply shelter and protection from predators. Birds RE D-KNEED DOTTEREL ASU TR LI N SHELDUCK P RINK-EA ED DUCK S HWAMP ARRIER ErTR Y H OGONYS CINCTUS TaOT D RNA ADORNOIDES MaOH LAC R YNCHUS CU IRC S APPROXIMANS MEMBRANACEUS SIZE: UP TO 20CM SIZE: COMMONLY 55-73CM OTHER NAME: MARSH HARRIER SIZE: UP TO 40CM R ed-kneed dotterels can be T his large duck has a black SIZE: COMMONLY 50-60CM T he Pink-eared Duck is small found feeding in shallow water head and body, with distinctive T he Swamp Harrier is a large, with distinctive zebra stripes around wetlands and lakes. chestnut and white bands slim-bodied bird of prey, with along its body, black wings They probe the mud to find around its breast and neck, yellow eyes, an owl-like face and a pink spot near its ear. aquatic insects and larvae and and the same colours on its mask, long, yellow legs and a It has a pointed leathery flap also eat seeds. This small, wings. Females have a white long tail, rounded at the tip. on the bottom tip of its bill, plump wader has relatively eye-ring, and graze on grass It is dark brown with a which enables it to filter feed long red legs, a black cap and on land or upended in shallow prominent white rump. in shallow water, mainly on breast-band, which stand out water, looking for algae, insects Juveniles are dark brown. microscopic plants and against the white neck and and molluscs. Their nests are When hunting for birds, eggs, animals. Breeding takes place breast. The back and wings usually high in a large tree large insects, frogs, reptiles all year round. Nests are are grey-brown. They nest in hollow or in a rabbit burrow and and small mammals, Swamp rounded masses of down hollows, preferably on an are lined with grass and down. harriers glide low to the ground placed in a hollow or stump island in a lake. Both parents or water, dropping onto their above the water. share incubation of and care quarry. Their straw and grass for the young, who swim nests are flat cups hidden in upon hatching. dense reeds or long grass. Birds W L HIST ING KITE YELLOTI W- A LED BLACK EasE T RN SHRIKE-TIT ROSAUF U F NTAIL HISUAL A T R SPHENURUS COCKATOO Fa LCUNCULUS FRONTATUS R AHIPIDUR RUFIFRONS SIZE: COMMONLY 50-60CM CaYOH L PT R YNCHUS FUNEREUS SIZE: UP TO 19CM SIZE: UP TO 16CM T he Whistling Kite is a SIZE: COMMONLY 55-65CM T his medium-size bird has T he Rufous Fantail is a small, medium-sized bird of prey. T his large cockatoo has yellow a striking black and white active bird with a distinctive It has a light brown head and cheek patches and panels on striped crested head and a reddish brown rump and underparts, with pale streaks, its tail. It feeds in flocks and bright yellow breast. It uses its continuously fanned tail. and dark sandy-brown wings has a long breeding season. powerful short bill for stripping The bird is mainly grey-brown with paler undersides and Both sexes construct the bark from branches to find with a dappled white breast, underwings that form a pale ‘M’ large tree hollow nest lined insects and spiders. It will also and a reddish ‘eyebrow’. shape when open. These kites with wood chips. The female sometimes eat fruit and seeds. The Rufous Fantail actively are often seen near water or incubates the one or two eggs, The male selects a nest site in feeds on insects, often during around farms, soaring in a lazy, while the male supplies her the high fork of a eucalypt tree, flight. It constantly fans its circling pattern, searching for with food. If there are two eggs, while the female builds a deep, tail and flicks its wings while dead animals and small, live usually only one chick survives, cone-shaped nest from dry grass foraging. The long, compact cup mammals, birds, fish and insects. staying in the care of its parents and bark strips, covering it with nest is made from fine grasses They make their large nests for about six months. spider webs, moss and lichen. bound with spider webs and is from sticks in the fork of a tree. suspended about 5m from the ground from a tree fork. Birds RE S STLES FLYCATCHER Li TTLE GRASSBIRD Na NKEEN NIGHT HERON AS U TR LASIAN SHOVELER MI Y AGRA INQUIETA MAUEG L RUS GRAMINEUS N AYCTICOR X CALEDONICUS ANSH A R YNCHOTIS SIZE: COMMONLY 16-21CM SIZE: COMMONLY 14CM OTHER NAME: OTHER NAMES: SPOONBILL RUFOUS NIGHT HERON DUCK, SHOVELBILL, STINKER T he Restless Flycatcher has T he Little Grassbird is a small, a glossy blue-black head and streaked dark brown-grey SIZE: UP TO 64CM SIZE: COMMONLY 46-53CM back, and white underparts bird with a pale grey breast.