The Darling Downs POSTAGE SURFACE NATURALIST PAID MAIL Popularising and encouraging the study of natural AUSTRALIA history on the Darling Downs and fostering the conservation of fauna and flora in the area.

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If undeliverable return to: Toowoomba Field Naturalist Club P.O. Box 133 Toowoomba Qld 4350

The deadline for the next newsletter will be Friday 21 April

Newsletter No. 717 April 2017 CLUB ACTIVITIES CLUB MEETING: Friday 07 April at 7.00pm at St. Anthony’s Community Centre, Memory Street, Toowoomba. Rob Capon will speak on “Cane Toad Challenge”. Rob is a Professorial Research Fellow and Group Leader at the University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience. This presentation provides a brief account of the discovery, development and science behind an innovative cane toad/tadpole trapping technology that uses a natural toad pheromone to lure toad tadpoles into a trap. It also provides an account of the Cane Toad Challenge, a community engagement and citizen science initiative dedicated to making this technology freely available to the public, as well as volunteer and community groups, businesses, and local, state and federal government agencies. CLUB OUTINGS: April Outing: No outing – annual camp later in the month. Chinchilla Camp: Wednesday 19 - Sunday 23 April. Accommodation is at Chinchilla Tourist Park, 264 Zeller St. We have 10% group discount, but these figures are my calculation, so are indicative only: Double Cabin @ $98 per night; Twin Share Cabin @ $116 per night; Powered sites @ $31-50 per night; Unpowered sites are available. [NOTE: Cabins can take an extra single for $31-50, which will reduce your pro rata cabin costs further.] Currently, I have cabins booked for Russells, McKilligans, Shirley and Sandy, Hodgkinsons and Gardiners; powered sites for Gundrys, Glenda and Stevensons (maybe); unpowered site for Allens. The programme should approximately as follows:  Wednesday 19 April – Arrive and settle.  Thursday 20 April – Gurrulmundi road trip, all day.  Friday 21 April – Nangram lagoon, near Condamine, short day. Chinchilla FNC meeting night, with meal.  Saturday 22 April – Barrakula road trip, all day.  Sunday 23 April – Local interest around Chinchilla, short day. Evening meal to share. More details at April meeting. Ben Gundry 0407 463558

SUPPER ROSTER Please bring milk and include some Vegetarian and Gluten Free items. Please notify A. Evans (46385991) if unable to do.  April. Cheryl & Phil Haxen  May. Glenda Walter ______TFNC Newsletter 717 Page 1 SPEAKER’S REPORT: Pink-eared Duck, Black-tailed Water Hen and the Golden Goose (by Linda Mangubhai) Last year it came to our notice that there is a bird habitat in ‘our backyard’. At the March meeting of the Club Michael Atzeni spoke on the ‘Wyreema Wetlands’ and entitled his talk ‘Saving the Council’s golden goose’. The ‘Wyreema Wetlands’ has been known for the past 20 years as the sewage treatment area for Wyreema and Cambooya. With the amalgamation of the shires, this sewage treatment area is to be decommissioned and all waste directed, eventually, to Wetalla. Decommissioning, by law, requires the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) to return the area to what it was before it became a sewage treatment plant. That is, all possible contam- inants must be removed. This includes the sludge at the bottom of the small ponds which could contain biohazardous chemicals. It was pointed out that since the waste was coming from a small population and there are no hospitals or industries in Cambooya, pollutants could be small in number. The argument that the sludge was harmful to bird life was dismissed as birds seem to flock to sewage treatment plants, as many in the audience could testify! The 320 acres, with its ephemeral ponds, storm-water dam, surrounding grasslands and stands of taller native vegetation, is home to 95 (and growing) species of birds of which 30 are rare and 5 are ‘firsts’ for the Toowoo- mba region. It was the sighting of the pink-eared duck which first alerted Michael to the importance of this area as a potential wetlands habitat. Currently the small ponds are drying out as no water is entering them. There is water in the large primary pond which is the deepest and this is used by a very large number of ducks. Only the previous week the Eastern Rosella, the Boobook Owl and the Yellow-throated Myna were seen. The keen eyes of young Blade Preston have been an asset in recording the species. The area around the ponds is predominantly grassland. The Austral Cornflower (Rhaponticum australe) is growing well there (though classed as ‘vulnerable’) and three other vulnerable species of plants have been documented. It is hoped that the vision of having a sustainable and biodiverse wetlands habitat at Wyreema will be achieved and that a wildlife sanctuary can be created as the centrepiece of a unique local recreational space. How to achieve this? First, the area has to be secured as a wetland ecosystem. Second, a secure water supply is needed along with secure land tenure. It is hoped that the Department of Parks & Gardens of the TRC would oversee the development of this ecotourism site (similar to the TYTO wetlands near Ingham which receives some 21 000 visitors per year and generates a large income for Ingham). Michael hopes that a management committee can be put in place, linking up the local Wyreema community, wildlife conservation groups, research institutes, the Queensland Government and local schools. (Wyreema primary school is already involved.) There is a great need for baseline data on water quality and also for wild- life surveys. At this point in time, TRC should not proceed with the filling of the ponds and water supply needs to be increased. The area needs to be redesigned to optimise stormwater run-off, storage and minimisation of seepage. Michael has presented his case for the establishment of the ‘Wyreema Wetlands’ to the TRC and has received some support from some Council members. There is still a long journey ahead. Visit wyreemawetands.blogspot.com.au for some wonderful photos of the flying visitors to the Wetlands.

OUTING REPORT - 05 March to Wyreema Wetlands (by Patricia Gardner) Our morning at Wyreema was an excellent follow-up to Mick Atzeni’s talk of Friday night. The whole project was much easier to conceptualise when we could see the true scale of it, and get a feel for the lie of the land. John Mills from Toowoomba Regional Council was kind enough to come and explain to us the ins and outs of sewage treatment generally, and what the changes in Toowoomba’s sewage management mean for the Wyree- ma wetland. It was particularly interesting to have him explain just why it was a good idea to pipe sewage all the way to Wetalla. Apparently Toowoomba previously had a poor record of letting too much nitrogen and phosphorus flow into the Murray-Darling river system, and was a major contributor to the serious problem of blue-green algae. Major changes to Wetalla’s processing method mean that we can now be proud of the clean water that we send down the river. John also brought up the subject of increased “hard-pan” – the increasing area of land under hard surfaces, such as buildings, roads, and driveways – which results in increased stormwater run-off. This will affect the wetlands site. The Wyreema plant still has a function. It receives the sewage from Wyreema and Cambooya, and sends it on to Wetalla, so a small corner of the site will continue to be involved in this. TRC’s decision is still to be made as to what can be done with the remaining area, which consists of a large area of open land, the old sewage ______TFNC Newsletter 717 Page 2 ponds, and the dam which now collects Wyreema’s stormwater run-off. The stormwater dam will continue to attract birds, but it is still to be decided to what extent TRC might feel able to support the restoration of the area to the high-quality wetland it was, when the sewage treatment ponds were in use. These shallower ponds provided excellent shallow-water feeding-ground for wading birds. We could also see that unlike the steeper-sided stormwater dam, they provided an excellent habitat for rushes and sedges, which in turn provided nesting sites and shelter for birds. Members discussed several issues with John, including the TRC’s perceived need to remove sludge from the ponds as part of the process of restoring the land to an acceptable state. John pointed out that sewage works are subject to requirements in this regard, similar to those for mines. Members queried the necessity of this, considering that birds had been using the habitat, without apparent harm, for 20 years. They also suggested that increasing the pond area, and therefore the seepage area, could be a way of contributing a local solution to the problem of reduced groundwater recharge because of rapidly increasing hard-surfacing of the land. As the increasing local difficulty of accessing bore water demonstrates, it may be that sending all that potential recharge water away downstream is not the happiest solution. Meanwhile, the birds would benefit from the resultant wetlands. Thank you to both John and Mick, for a morning which was both enjoyable, and left us feeling much better-informed about the Wyreema Wetlands issues. Visiting by Yourself. It is possible to look at the wetland’s birds from outside the fence at any time. This only gives a view of one of the ex-sewage ponds, but because it is shallow, it is the best for wading birds. The deeper stormwater dam can only be seen from inside the fence, but you can ONLY enter the precinct if you follow certain Toowoomba Regional Council requirements. If you would like to do it, would you please contact Mick Atzeni first to find out about them? It would be helpful to the success of the project, if you could let Mick know of any birds you see there. His email address is: [email protected] THE GRASSLAND AT WYREEMA WETLAND (Article and photo by Patricia Gardner) At our meeting the other night, Rod Hobson and Bruce Lawrie told us that the vegetation around the ponds might include some good quality Queensland Bluegrass grassland, a Regional Ecosystem type (11.8.11), which is classified as “of concern”. Because of the dry weather, they found it difficult to be sure when they visited, a few weeks ago. They remarked on the importance of grasslands as ecosystems and the tendency for them to be undervalued in comparison with treed ecosystems. They expressed the hope that if further investigation showed the Wyreema wetland to have value as a grassland, any planting of trees would be carefully restricted to prevent damaging it. On our outing, we found it similarly difficult to get a good idea of the full range of plants there, though because of the recent rain it was looking a little healthier than when Rod and Bruce saw it. Given that many of our local grassland plants either die back to their perennial underground roots in dry times, or have seed that won’t germ- inate until good rain comes, there are likely to be more species there than we saw. There was certainly plenty of Queensland bluegrass Dichanthium sericeum there. Other grasses included Yabila grass (star grass) Panicum queenslandicum. There were very few native trees, but we saw Mountain coolibah, Eucalyptus orgadophila and Sally Wattle, Acacia salicina. These species, and their very sparse distribution, are both typical of R.E. 11.8.11. Healthy grasslands always contain a good population of wildflowers. We saw blushing bindweed Convolvulus erubescens; sensitive plant Neptunia gracilis; plover Daisy Leiocarpa brevicompta; tah vine Boerhavia dominii; yellowtop daisy Senecio pinnatifolius (AKA Senecio lautus) and maloga bean Vigna vexillata (the little yellow pea). We also saw a good scattering of Austral cornflower Rhaponticum australe (AKA Stemmacantha australe), the vulnerable plant mentioned by Mick on Friday night. These little grassland forbs are all good butterfly host plants. Blushing Bindweed, Convolvulus erubescens

______TFNC Newsletter 717 Page 3 Bird, Frog and Dragonfly lists (compiled by Al Young; photos by Al Young. Birds – Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Straw-necked Ibis, White- faced Heron, Black-shouldered Kite, White-headed (Black-winged) Stilt (1), Masked Lapwing, Black-fronted Dotterel (8), Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon), Crested Pigeon, Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon (Hodgson Cr), Cockatiel, Red-rumped Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Hodgson Cr), Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Torresian Crow, Golden-headed Cisticola, Zebra Finch and Australian Pipit. (Taxonomy follows the International Ornithological Congress, 6.3, 2016). A Yellow-rumped Thornbill or (‘butter bum’) having a bath at Wyreema

Frogs: Two species of frogs were heard calling in a patch of rushes in Hodgson Creek. They were Spotted Grass Frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) and Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peroni). The call of the Spotted Marsh Frog is like a short machine gun burst –‘Burrup Burrup’, whereas the Striped Marsh Frog makes a soft ‘toc-toc’ call. Dragonflies along Hodgson Creek, Cambooya: There was a considerable amount of dragonfly activity, mostly associated with ‘begetting’, near the remaining pools of water in Hodgson Creek. Males were actively patrolling their territories with some males and females flying in tandem thus allowing the females to deposit eggs into the water. I managed to identify four different species of dragonflies with a further two or three species of medium-sized dragonflies unidentified because they didn’t perch to allow a photo to be taken. Interestingly there were no damselflies present. Dragonflies identified were: Australian Emperor (Hemianax papuensis) Wandering (Common) Percher (Diplacodes bipunctata) Male & female flying in tandem Note dark markings on a reddish/orange abdomen

Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum) Scarlet Percher (Diplacodes haematodes) No dark markings on a scarlet abdomen.

FROM the EDITOR Beautiful rain has been enjoyed around the Toowoomba region over the past few weeks. At my residence in Mt Lofty, I have recorded approximately 250mm or 10 inches in the old system. Barbara

______TFNC Newsletter 717 Page 4 OUR 2016 CHRISTMAS GATHERING - A LATE REPORT. (I thought I had submitted this before Christmas.) Fifty-three of us had gathered at Downs Steam to celebrate the end of another Field Nats’ year. (Unfortunately, Peter and Ali Evans were last-minute withdrawals from these festivities.) In planning for this, I didn’t realize that this date was also honouring such auspicious events as Don and Trish’s 45th wedding anniversary and Flora’s 77th birthday. And thanks to Michael for his inimitable capacity to give us a poem that linked our day’s Steam theme with Flora’s travels. I’m sure that we were all impressed with the venue, its static displays, the on-going work of that morning and the Dreamtime carriage. I think that those colours and designs (the depictions of life from dawn to dusk on the south-to-north axis, and images of Queensland’s coastal scenery on one side and inland scenes on the other) will leave an impression in our minds for quite some time. Possibly, these colours were before our closed eye- lids as we fell asleep that night. Downs Steam is run by volunteers, with no financial support from any level of government. Therefore, our function raised valuable funds for them. However, I sussed out how we might give them on-going support. If any of us is planning a family or other gathering (minimum number is 20), then contact Downs Steam and book your date. As I have said in newsletters leading up to our Christmas celebrations, it is good to support such a volunteer-run, community group which is so pro-active in working towards its worthy goals. Given the heat of the previous days, our airy location on the “platform” shielded us from the worst of this Summer’s “steamy Blast”, even if we didn’t know that much worse heat was awaiting us in the New Year. Ben Gundry

VALE KEN FERRIER A good friend of many in the TFNC, Ken Ferrier died of stomach cancer late last month aged about 62 years. Although we had seen little of him since the mid-1980’s when he departed for NSW, settling finally in Bunda-noon, Ken was of sufficient importance to local conservation as to deserve this obituary. He was a bachelor who lived a minimalist life style and was the most enthusiastic ‘greenie’ I have had the privilege of knowing. His interest was focussed on the preservation of Toowoomba’s remnants of forests and creeks. I think he was by nature a ‘loner’ but he lobbied the authorities very effectively using the political clout of the TFNC and Toowoomba Green Watch and his own eloquence. His main achievements were the preservation of East Creek, as a creek and not a concrete drain, north of Alderley Street and especially, the creation of the Toowoomba Bicentennial Water Bird Habitat. He conceived of the potential of this remnant of marshland and dragged me in to (willingly) provide technical support. On reflection, I believe the true achievers in our society are those, like Ken Ferrier, who have the brilliant idea and promote it with determination and imagination. Would that we had many more like him. (Article and photo by Neil McKilligan) REVISED CALENDAR of 2017 OUTINGS May - Ravensbourne, Garth and Mary Hockly’s Property. June - Crows Nest Nat Park. July - unplanned. Aug - Pittsworth area, combined outing with the Toowoomba Photographic Society. Sept - Marburg, morning- Bob and Narelle Hampson’s property (Landcare); afternoon – the Emu Farm. Oct - Lake Broadwater, with Rod Hobson.

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GRASS TREE at PEACEHAVEN (Message and photo by Francis Mangubhai) We were in Peacehaven Park in Highfields the other afternoon and the Grasstree marking our 60th anniversary is doing well and has flowered.

CARPENTER BEE (Article and photo by Lauren Marlatt) The Carpenter bee called Xylocopa (Lestis) bombylans or Peacock Carpenter Bee or Green Carpenter Bee belongs to the same family as the common blue- banded bee. These bees make nests primarily in grass tree stems or in wood. They are found from Cape York down to Sydney.

Carpenter bees are some of the largest and most spectacular of the native Australian bees. Their name comes from their habit of nesting in soft wood, like dead banksia trees, in which they cut entrance holes with their strong jaws. The Peacock Carpenter Bee lives in urban areas, forests and woodlands, and heath. They are easy to notice, even before seeing them, as they emit a deep droning noise when flying between flowers. The Peacock Carpenter Bee feeds on nectar and pollen. Life cycle The nest of the Peacock Carpenter Bee is usually a single tunnel about 30 cm long with interconnecting pass-ages when the wood is wide enough. The tunnels are sectioned off into brood cells, which are sealed after an egg is laid inside with a supply of nectar and pollen rolled up into a moist ball. When the eggs hatch, the larvae eat the food balls and pupate. Often the young bee in the bottom cell of the nest emerges from its pupa first as it was the first egg laid. It chews its way through the walls of the other cells to break free of the nest. The other pupae usually fall through the holes and gather in the bottom cell. They hatch normally and climb their way out of the nest. Female carpenter bees sometimes cooperate during brood rearing, taking it in turns to guard the nest entrance while the main egg-laying bee goes out foraging for nectar and pollen to feed the larvae. (Adapted from https://australianmuseum.net.au/peacock-carpenter-bee)

Ceiba speciosa (Article and photos by Lauren Marlatt) Tricia Allen spotted the tree on the corner South Street and Anzac in front of a Parks & Recreation building! There is another one in bloom on the corner of Herries and Kitchener at the water ponds. You can see it from Burns Street.

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Clockwise from above:  Field Nats at Wyreema wetlands  Plane Tree roots at Cambooya  Wyreema wetlands (Photos by Lauren Marlatt)

______TFNC Newsletter 717 Page 7 Article reprinted from weekend Australian, 11 March 2017 – supplied by Alison Evans

______TFNC Newsletter 717 Page 8 Minutes of the Toowoomba Field Naturalists Club Inc. General Meeting Friday 03 March 2017 Meeting opened: by President Patricia Gardner at 7.10 pm with 29 members and 6 visitors present. Apologies: Julie Latham, Neil and Helen McKilligan, Bob Fuller, Deb and Mike Ford, Flora McKenzie. New Members: Zara Hall was officially welcomed; Brendon and Judi Gray’s honorary membership is extended to February 2018 Minutes of February meeting were published in the March newsletter and accepted as a true record on a motion proposed by Linda Mangubhai, seconded by Michael Rooke and passed by members present. Correspondence for February outlined by the secretary was accepted on a motion proposed by the secretary Diana Ball, seconded by Barbara Weller and passed by members present. Business arising: Rod Hobson was asked if he was willing to be nominated for the Australian Natural History Medallion awarded by the F.N.C. of Victoria. He replied that he would consider this next time it was offered after he had retired in September. Treasurers Report given by the acting treasurer Glenda Walter was accepted and cheques passed for payment on a motion proposed by Glenda Walter, seconded by Shirley Cormack and passed by members present. Outings Report: Ben Gundry outlined the Wyreema Wetlands outing. Confirmation of the post-Easter camp from 19-23 April at Chinchilla for those who wish a longer camp. Participants can stay fewer nights of course. Library Report was given by Diane Pagel who also encouraged members to buy hat badges at $5 each. General Business:  A request was made for members to assist Michael Rooke in setting up the hall before our meetings and clearing everything away correctly at the end.  There is a Redwood Park Open Day on Saturday 08 April during Youth Week  Glenda Walter spoke of a walk being arranged to see what is on the Rifle Range and asked if anyone was interested in joining it – no date as yet.  The Club has gifted 100 frog posters to Amaroo  Members were reminded about the Field Naturalists blog which has approx. 500 hits/month. Francis Mangubhai would welcome more contributions especially from the Toowoomba area and asks that subjects of photographs be identified. Show and Tell:  Lauren Marlatt brought in a brilliantly coloured carpenter bee.  Dianne Turner told us that a red cedar planted in 1905 on the corner of Bridge and Lindsay Streets had been valued at $650,000.  Michael Jeffries showed some laminated leaflets on Sunshine Coast mushrooms and fungi and Glenda is to obtain some for our club as several members expressed interest in buying copies. ($25 will buy 10 pairs of leaflets).  Dougal Johnson showed a photograph of wasps.  Cheryl Haxen showed/gave away pamphlets on the Tiritiri Wildlife Sanctuary, New Zealand.  Michael Rooke remarked on bees swarming in a Telstra box.  Trish Gardner read an excerpt from a letter from Canada telling of donating old furs to Eskimos (Inuit) as they no longer hunt animals for their fur and alternative materials are not warm enough. Speaker: Michael Atzeni on ‘Saving the Council’s golden goose’ – Wyreema Wetlands Writer for the meeting: Linda Mangubhai Supper provided by: Jeanette and Ernie Potts Meeting finished: 7.50 p.m.

______TFNC Newsletter 717 Page 9 TOOWOOMBA FIELD NATURALIST CLUB Inc. ABN 49 958 932 802 Headquarters: St Anthony’s Community Centre, Memory Street, Toowoomba. Mail address: P.O. Box 133, Toowoomba, Qld. 4350

OFFICE-BEARERS President: Patricia Gardner, 14 Bluemeadow Court; Blue Mountain Hts. Ph. 4630 8505 [email protected] Vice-President: Francis Mangubhai, 15 Sharon Court, Toowoomba. Ph. 4635 9730 [email protected] Secretary: Diana Ball, 3 Barry Street, Toowoomba. Ph. 46320265 [email protected] Membership Secretary: Alison Evans, 11 Prince Henry Drive, Toowoomba. Ph. 4638 5991 [email protected] Treasurer: Genevieve Reeves, PO Box 1037 Toowoomba Ph. 46391101 or 0427391101 [email protected] Outings Coordinator: Ben Gundry, P.O. Box 9160 Wilsonton. Ph 0407 463 558 [email protected] Speakers Coordinator: Glenda Walter, 99 Kingfisher Village, 303 Spring St; Toowoomba. Ph. 46353554 [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Barbara Weller, 9 Spies Court, Mt Lofty, Toowoomba. Ph. 4632 9821 [email protected] Librarian: Diane Pagel, 3 Jellicoe Street, Toowoomba Ph. 4632 5956 [email protected] Conservation Officer: Bob Fuller, 16 McKillop Court, Toowoomba Ph. 4634 2354 [email protected] Committee member: Jane Orme, 35 Hanley’s Road, Ballard, 4352. Ph. 0403 702 993 [email protected] MEETINGS-OTHER First Friday each month (except when there is a camp-out) at 7.00pm. Club Centre Meetings: St. Anthony’s Community Centre, Memory Street, Toowoomba. Monthly Outings: Sunday – following the Friday meeting. Excursions, Camps etc As advertised at meetings and in the Newsletter. Newsletter: Published and mailed or emailed monthly, just prior to the meeting. Submissions are due on the Friday two weeks before the next meeting: They can be posted or emailed to the Newsletter Editor. Dispatch Officer: Michael Rooke, 159 Perth Street, Toowoomba. Ph. 4638 4753 [email protected] Supper Roster: Alison Evans, 11 Prince Henry Drive, Toowoomba. Ph. 4638 5991 [email protected] ANNUAL Due in July. Pro rata for new members joining later. Single $30.00; SUBSCRIPTIONS Family: $40.00, Pensioner/Concession $25.00/$35.00; Country Membership $25.00/$35.00. NEWSLETTER POSTAGE CHARGE: $11.00pa, OR a free copy can be collected at each meeting. Life and Honorary members, and members who don't have email access, are not asked to pay this charge. Payment can be made directly to the TFNC account at the Heritage Bank. BSB No: 638080. Account No. 1676067. Please include your name. This Newsletter was printed courtesy of the office of Trevor Watts MP, Member for Toowoomba North. ______TFNC Newsletter 717 Page 10