bushlandnews

Field trip for managers of clay-based wetlands

Compiled by Jo Tregonning Issue 67 In August the Urban Nature program hosted a field trip to clay-based wetlands on the Swan Coastal Spring 2008 Plain. These seasonal clay-based wetlands are some of the most threatened ecological communities in south- and, over the years, many people have been involved in their Time of Djilba and conservation and management. Kambarang in the Nyoongar calendar. The field trip looked at the outcomes of this work and Urban Nature update enabled on-ground managers to Page 2 network and exchange ideas about the management of these Bushland Weedwatch: wetlands. Participants visited Watsonia Page 3 examples of these wetlands from Nature Reserve in the Econote: Threatened north, south to Brixton Street flora and ecological Wetlands and to Meelon and communities Duckpond Road nature reserves. Page 4 The field trip attracted participants Regina Drummond from the Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands discusses the ’s living dead? from a variety of backgrounds and challenges of managing this clay-based wetland with field day participants. Photo – Jill Pryde Page 5 included representatives from Friends groups (Friends of Brixton Street The City of Swan, Perth Zoo and the Located 200 kilometres south of What’s on Page 6 Wetlands, Lowlands Conservation Friends group work with DEC to Perth, east of Pinjarra, Meelon Association, Baldivis Children’s Regional reports Page 8 conserve and manage the flora and Nature Reserve protects a tiny Forest), local and State governments fauna in the reserve. remnant clay-based wetland with (cities of Gosnells, Swan and a wandoo overstorey. Potential Watsonia in clay-based Next stop was Brixton Street wetlands Page 10 Canning, and Serpentine–Jarrahdale development of a large private Wetlands in Kenwick – a particularly and Murray shires, Department for block within Meelon was a major significant clay-based wetland where Group profile: Claise Planning and Infrastructure, Botanic threat to the integrity of the the plant communities are largely Brook Catchment Gardens and Parks Authority, wetland, but fortunately DEC Group Department of Environment and intact and in excellent condition. recently purchased the block for Page 11 Conservation (DEC), Landcare DEC manages the reserve in inclusion into the nature reserve. centres (Serpentine–Jarrahdale and partnership with the Friends of With weed invasion also a Resources Page 12 Waroona) and interested community Brixton Street Wetlands with support serious threat, Meelon has been members. from the City of Gosnells. Much of the focus of a three-year study their work has focused on investigating possible The managers and the sites developing techniques for managing management techniques for DEC manages Ellen Brook Nature weeds in species-rich plant watsonia, including restoration of Reserve and Melissa Hoskins, Sean communities and in an area that is invaded plant communities. On- Walsh and Rod Martyn, from inundated with water through ground results provided a visually DEC’s Swan Coastal District, winter and spring. In recent years impressive display to participants discussed the challenge of the Friends group and DEC have of the field trip and the managing weeds and fire, major been working on the restoration of outcomes are promising for threats to the wetlands, while the degraded edges of the herb-rich management of watsonia working to protect the critically shrublands. This project has been invasions and restoration of these endangered western swamp funded by the Commonwealth threatened plant communities tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina). Government’s EnviroFund and across the region. Ellen Brook is one of two WWF’s Threatened Species Network Last stop was Duckpond Nature Bushland News is a quarterly remaining natural locations of the Community Grants. One major Reserve, a 3.5-hectare area that newsletter of Urban Nature, a tortoise. A vermin-proof fence threat to the plant communities of Department of Environment and forms part of the Mundijong around habitat in Ellen Brook aims these wetlands includes changing Conservation (DEC) program to Road Reserve. support community involvement to protect an estimated 40 to 50 hydrology due to changing land uses in bushland conservation. breeding pairs from predation. around the reserve. Continued page 2

www.dec.wa.gov.au bushlandnews Spring 2008

Release of Tribolium uniolae brochure Urban Nature UPDATE By David Mitchell

The Urban Nature team had a restructure recently, which has changed reporting Enclosed is a brochure on South African haas relationships to increase integration with DEC Swan Region’s Nature Conservation grass (Tribolium uniolae). South African haas group and share overall program responsibility between staff. In addition, the grass has been the subject of a DEC Community Education Coordinator position has been advertised and we look forward Biodiversity Conservation Initiative and Swan to having a new team member and new opportunities for community bushland Catchment Council strategic control program management activities. on the eastern coastal plain and Perth Hills. This is the first of a new series of bushland This edition of Bushland News contains a number of articles on clay-based wetlands weeds brochures that feature information that showcase some exciting activities carried out by Urban Nature and other land about why the weed is a problem, where it managers. Let us know what you think of the idea of theme-based editions of occurs, how it was introduced, as well as its Bushland News. habitat, distribution, biology and control In July, DEC launched an updated website to replace NatureBase (the former information. Department of Conservation and Land Management’s website) and the former DEC’s Midwest Region has produced the Department of Environment’s website. The new website, www.dec.wa.gov.au, contains second brochure of the series on Verbesina the content of the two former sites. Information about Urban Nature can be found at encelioides, a problematic coastal weed. www.dec.wa.gov.au/programs/urban-nature/index.html. Many of our publications are Urban Nature aims to produce additional on the website including some workshop proceedings. Eventually we hope to have a brochures on important weeds. Brochures series of case studies from our demonstration sites. will be available at www.dec.wa.gov.au/ programs/urban-nature/index.html.

Field trip for managers of clay-based wetlands Summer Bushland News Continued from page 1… Future field trips and workshops? Summer Bushland News contributions The low-lying areas of the reserve support The field trip provided insight into the should be sent to Urban Nature by dense shrublands on claypans that are challenges faced by managers of these Monday 24 November 2008. inundated for long periods. Duckpond has communities and was an excellent forum benefited from the long-term involvement in for land managers to share knowledge Compiled and edited by Jo Tregonning. its management by community member Ted and exchange ideas. Feedback received Love. The reserve was fenced in 2007 to on the day indicated a desire for similar prevent rubbish dumping and access by off- field days. ‘The field trip process is much road vehicles. Future recovery actions will better than a formal workshop indoors, Contacts include weed control, seed collection and as one can gain a much better Urban Nature office restoration of the degraded edges through understanding’ wrote one participant. David Mitchell 9423 2913 supplementary planting. It is hoped that the For more information contact Urban Kate Brown 9423 2905 local community, Serpentine–Jarrahdale Nature on 9423 2900 and refer to the Karen Bettink 9423 2904 Landcare Group, shire and DEC can continue ‘Econote’ (page 4) and the article on Grazyna Paczkowska 9423 2914 to work together to achieve positive page 10 in this issue. outcomes for the conservation of this site. Rebecca Hayes 9423 2924 Department of Environment and Conservation, Swan Region office 7 Turner Avenue, Bentley WA 6102 PO Box 1167 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Fax 9423 2901 Email [email protected] Current and archived issues of Bushland News are available at www.dec.wa.gov.au/programs/ Staff from DEC’s Swan Coastal District discuss weed, fire and fauna management at Ellen Brook urban-nature/bushland-news.html Nature Reserve with field trip participants. Photo – Grazyna Paczkowska

© All material copyright. No part of the contents of the publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the articles in Bushland News are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Environment and Conservation.

2 Bushland News Issue 67 - Spring 2008 www.dec.wa.gov.au BUSHLAND WEEDWATCH:

Watsonia Figure 1 (left): Stem cormels develop in late spring after By Kate Brown, DEC flowering. Figure 2 (right): Watsonia were introduced to Western Australia in the 1800s for the Corm exhaustion – cut flower trade and were popular garden plants. Over time they late winter. Illustrations – lost popularity, but not before a number of species escaped to Libby Sandiford become particularly serious weeds of remnant bushland.

In 1997 a regional survey of remnant Autumn: With the first vegetation along the Darling Scarp autumn rains the parent identified invasion by watsonia as one of corm that has remained the most serious threats to remaining intact dormant during summer native plant communities. Its capacity to begins actively growing. invade undisturbed bushland, particularly Winter: As the plant on heavier soils, and to displace herbs, grows, a new corm shrubs and seedling trees makes watsonia a begins to develop at the serious environmental weed. • Control of watsonia following fire can be base of the new stem difficult with the regenerating native Belonging to the family Iridaceae, there are and above the old corm plant community particularly vulnerable 51 species of watsonia occurring naturally (Figure 2). to off-target damage from herbicide. in southern Africa and one in Madagascar. Spring: Plants flower as Seven species and subspecies have become • Often after watsonia has been killed by the new corm completes herbicide a very dense layer of dead naturalised in WA including W. meriana var. development. bulbillifera, W. meriana var. meriana, W. leaves remain. This appears to inhibit borbonica, W. versfeldii, W. marginata, W. Summer: Flowers produce seed or regeneration of native plants. Fire at this knysnana and W. aletroides. The most flowering stems develop cormels. Parent stage removes the layer and can facilitate widespread of these are W. meriana var. corm enters dormancy. native plant regeneration. meriana and W. meriana var. bulbillifera. Management In summary, fire appears to facilitate the Life cycle The recommended time for herbicide spread of watsonia into otherwise undisturbed plant communities and control W. meriana var. meriana spreads mainly by control for most of the cormous invasive in the post fire environment is difficult. seed and occasionally produces cormels, so weeds in the south-west is at the beginning However, fire can be a useful tool to plants are often found that produce both of flowering, as this coincides with facilitate regeneration of native plants once cormels and apparently viable seed. W. exhaustion of the parent corm. For most all watsonia across a site has been killed. meriana var. bulbillifera does not produce watsonia species this occurs late winter to early spring. The herbicide 2-2 DPA seed but spreads by cormels that develop Further reading along the flowering stem (Figure 1). (Dalapon®, Propon®) at 5g/L with the penetrant Pulse® at 2ml/L, when applied at Brown, K. (2006). Control of Bulbil Watsonia the correct time, provides effective control (Watsonia meriana var. meriana) invading a of watsonia with minimum impact to co- Banksia Woodland: Effectiveness of 2,2-DPA occurring native species (refer to the article and its impacts on native flora. Ecological on page 10). Management and Restoration, 7 (1): 68-70.

Fire and watsonia Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Cousens, R.D., Dodd, J. and Lloyd, S.G. (2007) • Fire-stimulated flowering (mass flowering Western weeds. A guide to the weeds of following fire) is commonly observed in natural populations of watsonia in Western Australia. Second Edition. The Plant southern Africa and to some degree Protection Society of Western Australia, among populations where watsonia is Victoria Park. invading native plant communities of Le Maitre, D.C. and Brown, P.J. (1992). Life- south-west Australia. cycles and fire stimulated flowering in • With increased flowering following fire geophytes. In: B.W. van Wilgen, D.M. there will be increased seed set or cormel Richardson, F.J.Kruger, and H.J. van production (depending on the species). Hensbergen (Ed.). Fire in South African mountain fynbos. Ecological Studies 93: • The growing season following the fire 145-160. Springer Verlag, Berlin. increased seed set or cormel production Watsonia invasion in marri woodland at is probably when watsonia expands into Markey, A. (1997). Floristic survey of the Burnside Nature Reserve near Dwellingup. otherwise undisturbed plant northern Darling Scarp. Department of Photo – Kate Brown communities. Conservation and Land Management.

Bushland News Issue 67 - Spring 2008 www.dec.wa.gov.au 3 ECONOTES: Threatened flora and ecological communities of clay-based wetlands

By Melissa Hoskins, DEC The seasonal clay-based wetlands situated on the eastern side of the support some of the most threatened flora and ecological communities in Western Australia.

Extensive clearing for agriculture and grass-like sedge that has urban development has reduced the underground roots number of seasonal clay-based (rhizomes) which die back wetlands on the plain and the ongoing over summer. It is currently threat of weed invasion and climate known from 15 populations change leading to hydrological changes where it typically occurs in has resulted in their status as winter wet clay pans and threatened ecological communities. flats. This plant flowers during August to November Clay-based wetlands support a species although its flowers are rich and highly diverse assemblage of inconspicuous. flora, fauna and ecological communities. Seasonal inundation of Commonly known as Swan the wetland during winter and spring hydatella, Trithuria supports an annual flora that is able to occidentalis has recently germinate, grow and flower undergone taxonomic successively as the wetlands dry out revision. Formerly known as during the warmer months. Not only Hydatella dioica, this species are the plant communities in these is considered extremely rare wetlands considered threatened, but a with only one population number of the flora species growing in currently known to exist. these areas are also threatened or Research has shown that declared rare. Trithuria are the earliest flowering plants on Earth Two species of declared rare flora that and may have evolved more occur in clay-based wetlands are 135 million years ago in the Eleocharis keigheryi and Trithuria age of the dinosaurs. Swan occidentalis. E. keigheryi is a perennial, hydatella is an aquatic annual which can be found in pools of standing water in clay pans. This species has both male and female Eleocharis keigheryi and Villarsia capitata growing in the seasonally inundated clay pan at Brixton Street Wetlands. plants. Photo – Kate Brown Other threatened taxa which are generally restricted to seasonally conserving these wetlands. DEC, in inundated freshwater clay pans include cooperation with landholders, Aponogeton hexatepalus and Craspedia managers and local Friends groups argillicola. A. hexatepalus, a Priority 4 undertake recovery actions at these species, is an aquatic perennial that flowers wetlands such as weed control, from July to October. It is commonly known rehabilitation and on-going monitoring. as ‘stalked water ribbons’ due to the leaves To assist in the protection of these of the plant which can be seen floating on extremely important clay-based the surface of the water. C. argillicola wetlands and the diverse flora and belongs to the Asteraceae (or daisy) family ecological communities that they and is a perennial herb that reaches a height of approximately 40 centimetres. support, contact your local shire to find This yellow-flowered daisy is a Priority 2 out if there is a Friends group near you. species and can be seen flowering from For more information, visit DEC’s August to October. website at www.dec.wa.gov.au or The threatened flora and ecological contact Melissa Hoskins on Yellow-flowered Craspedia argillicola at communities which occur within clay-based 9405 0700 or by email Meelon Nature Reserve. Photo – Kate Brown wetlands highlight the importance of [email protected].

4 Bushland News Issue 67 - Spring 2008 www.dec.wa.gov.au bushlandnews Spring 2008

Perth Urban Bushland WA boneseed blitz By Hillary Cherry Fungi 2008

By Neale Bougher, Roz Hart, Sarah de Bueger and Brett Glossop In 2008, the Perth Urban Bushland Fungi team conducted five weekend events and a number of other surveys. Workshops provided opportunities to learn about photography and painting, microscope work, identifying fresh fungi specimens as well as data collecting, tracking and using GPS equipment and resources. Surveys recorded hundreds of fungi of many different forms including bracket, coral, cup, earthstar, jelly, mushroom, puffball, shell, slime mould, truffle and tubular The bright yellow flowers and berry fruits of boneseed during spring make identification of this fungi. About 230 fungi were processed, weed easy. Please report sightings. Photo – Hillary Cherry described and vouchered at the WA Herbarium by the team this season. Community groups and land managers will target boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) from September to November. The bright yellow ‘daisy’ flowers during these Visit www.fungiperth.org.au for field book months allow easy identification of this nationally significant weed. Invading vast areas of updates. Bushland survey reports will be native bushland in South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, it has been stopped in the early uploaded before the end of 2008. stages of invasion in WA, with 35 known infestations under eradication. Boneseed fruits are easily spread into bushland from residential gardens. You can help by reporting suspected boneseed plants to the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) Pest Info line on 1800 084 881. Visit www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/bitoubush.

Perth’s living dead?

By Robert A. Davis, Lesley Brooker and Dale Roberts (The University of Western Australia) A diminutive new species of Mycena collected from Bold Park. Photo – Neale Bougher For the past two years, we have been undertaking a project to investigate bird species most at risk on the Swan Coastal Plain. This project was funded by the Natural Heritage Trust through the Swan Catchment Council. We examined 121 sites that were surveyed as Why dryandras have part of the Perth Biodiversity Project and Birds Australia bird survey project. We looked at both site-based and landscape-level factors that were important for birds. changed their name Unfortunately the news was not good. Perth seemed to be facing a tide of potential bird extinctions. At least 83 per cent of 65 bush birds examined were found to be dependent The WA Herbarium has recently changed on the presence of native vegetation in close proximity to where they occur. This is a the names of all species of Dryandra to an problem given the very high rate of land clearing that has happened and is happening in equivalent name in Banksia to reflect a Perth. Bushland birds declined as the landscape changed from well vegetated to taxonomic change. Dryandras are now fragmented to urban, with just 11 species adapted to urban areas (their occurrences were considered to be a modified and specialised unrelated to the amount of vegetation cover). subgroup of Banksia rather than a genus in The most sensitive species in our analysis was the scarlet robin (Petroica multicolor), which their own right. Visit was not found in landscapes containing less than 61 per cent native vegetation cover http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/articles/ for (in a two-kilometre radius). The most sensitive group contained 14 species including the two fascinating articles that explain why splendid fairy wren (Malurus splendens) and the western thornbill (Acanthiza inornata), dryandra has a changed name, based on inland thornbill (A. apicalis) and yellow-rumped thornbill (A. chrysorrhoa). research by Kevin Thiele from the WA Herbarium and Austin Mast from the Common urban species such as the brown honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta), red University of Florida. wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), singing honeyeater (Meliphaga virescens) and Australian raven (Corvus coronoides) will be favoured by ongoing land clearing in the In future, Bushland News will use the Banksia metropolitan region and may be the only native species that persist in our future urban scientific name for dryandras, but when landscapes. appropriate will still use ‘dryandra’ in a vernacular sense for common names of this For project information contact Robert Davis on 6488 1361 or by email subgroup of Banksia. [email protected].

Bushland News Issue 67 - Spring 2008 www.dec.wa.gov.au 5 what’s on

Opportunities for you to take part! Visitors always welcome but please confirm activities with the contact person. Most activities are FREE!

Conservation Volunteers 12 Sunday 8am–11am 19 Sunday 9am–12 noon 9 Sunday 9am–12 noon Australia 2008 conservation activity Nature ramble with naturalist Nature walk and bush Creekline habitat and schedule. Overnight country trips to Marc Lane in Ellis Brook Valley, regeneration with the Friends of restoration workshop. High one-day activities. 2/343 Newcastle Darling Range. Gold coin donation. Warwick Bushland. Contact FWB. Wycombe Community Centre St, Northbridge. Call Sandra or Bookings 9452 9901. followed by practical at Booralie Steve 9227 5711 or visit 24 Friday and 25 Saturday 6pm Way Reserve, Maida Vale. Contact [email protected]. 14 Tuesday 8pm Jarrahdale ghosts – a bushwalk BSFH. Flora surveys at Charles Darwin under the full moon with the Sundays 8am–10am Reserve (formerly White Wells Jarrahdale Heritage Society. Bring a Bushcare activities every Sunday Station). Guest speaker Brian Moyle. torch and picnic. Bookings essential. with the Friends of Shenton Park Call PWSWA. Contact Tony 9526 5161 or Sheila Bushland. Contact Dani 9381 3470 [email protected]. 9 Sunday 7.30am–8.30am or [email protected]. 17 Friday 7.30pm Bush breakfast of cereal, fruit, Nocturnal walk at Lake Gwelup 25 Saturday 9am–11am cooked followed by optional Sundays 8.30am Reserve. Bring a torch. Call Christine Wetland ramble with the Friends bushwalk in Bungendore Park, Bushcare activities with the 9447 2983 or contact FLG. of Brixton Street Wetlands. Bedfordale near Admiral Rd Friends of Wireless Hill. Held second Binoculars supplied. Gold coin entrance. $9 per person. Bookings and fourth Sunday of each month. 18 Saturday 8am donation. Bookings 9452 9901. Guided nature walk at Lake essential. Call Miriam 9498 1570 Meet at main car park. Contact or Don 9399 1893. Margaret 9315 9075 or Gwelup Reserve. Contact FLG. 28 Tuesday 9am [email protected]. Centranthus (valerian weed) 11 Tuesday 8pm 18 Saturday 9am control at Paganoni Swamp. Call Activity morning with Friends of Desert sands to mountain Tuesdays 8am–9am FPS. streams – a focus on the Bushcare activities every Brixton Street Wetlands. Call Regina 9459 2964. systematics of the Australian Tuesday with Byford Enviro-Link. Haloragaceae plant family. Call Kristy 9526 0199. 19 Sunday 9am Guest speaker Dr Michael Moody. Wildflower walk at Beth Walker’s Call PWSWA. Yallingup property (am) and eight- October kilometre Cape Naturaliste to 12 Wednesday 7.30pm Meelup walk (pm). Bus from Western Shield Program – 3 Friday 6pm–7.30pm Busselton $10 per adult. Bring picnic saving our endangered wildlife. ‘Frog Watch’ night stalk at lunch. Contact BNC. Guest speaker Peter Orell (DEC). Beeliar. Free, sponsored by the November Contact BNC. WA Museum and Alcoa. Contact 1 Saturday 6.30pm–8.30pm the ‘Frog Doctor’ 9795 7780 or Guided walk with John Dell (DEC) 15 Saturday 9am [email protected]. Visit and the Friends of Piesse Brooke in Activity morning with Friends of http://frogwatch.museum.wa.gov.au/. Kalamunda National Park. Bring a Brixton Street Wetlands. Call Regina 9459 2964. 4 Saturday–5 Sunday torch. Contact BSFH. Beach litter survey with the Friends 8 Saturday 9am–11am 15 Saturday 8am of Marmion Marine Park, Trigg Island Flora walk with the Friends of Guided nature walk at Lake to Burns Beach. Cape to Cape coastal Brixton Street Wetlands. Binoculars Gwelup Reserve. Contact FLG. 19 Sunday 9.45am clean up. Call Lynda 9342 8684. supplied. Gold coin donation. ‘Busy Bee’ with the Friends of Piesse 16 Sunday 9.45am Bookings 9452 9901. 5 October Sunday 10am–4pm Brook, Kalamunda National Park. ‘Busy Bee’ with the Friends of Friends of Piesse Brook Open Contact FPB. 8 Saturday 9.30am–11.30am Piesse Brook, Kalamunda National Day, Kalamunda National Park. Native grass walk in the Darling Park. Contact FPB. Educational talks. Wildflower walk 19 Sunday 9.30am–1.30pm Scarp with Una Bell. Starts lower 16 Sunday 10.30am–1.30pm at 1pm. Displays by the Swan Annual ‘Bush to Beach’ guided Lesmurdie Falls Reserve. Contact End of year party and nature Catchment Council, Swan Alcoa walk with the Friends of Shenton BSFH. walk with the Friends of Warwick Landcare Program, Eastern Park Bushland. 11.5 kilometres from Bushland. Contact FWB. Metropolitan Regional Council and Grant Marine Park, Cottesloe, along 9 Sunday 8am–11am DEC. ‘Open Garden’ at Katandra, the Swan River to Buckland Hill. Nature ramble with naturalist 18 Tuesday 9am 142 Hummerston Rd, Piesse Brook. Morning tea 11.45am at Chidley Marc Lane in Ellis Brook Valley, Euphorbia weed control at Contact FPB. Point. Registrations at 9am. Call Lesley Darling Range. Gold coin donation. Paganoni Swamp. Call FPS. 9384 7983 or Peter 0416 631 421. Bookings 9452 9901.

REGISTRATION/CONTACT DETAILS Activities key BSFH Bush Skills for the Hills FLG Friends of Lake Gwelup. Meet at FPS Friends of Paganoni Swamp Hands on – bushland and offers free hills-focused Scout Hall, Huntriss Rd, Karrinyup. Call Leonie 0439 921 298. wetland management activities. workshops. Contact Sophie Contact Wayne 0407 383 425 or FWB Friends of Warwick Walks and tours – look, listen Hogermeer 9424 2216 or Betty 9444 5640 or email Bushland. Meet at [email protected]. [email protected]. and enjoy guided walks and bowling/tennis club car park, excursions. BNC Busselton Naturalists’ Club. FPB Friends of Piesse Brook Meet at Lloyd Drv, Warwick. Contact Meet RSL Hall, Causeway Rd, the gate into Kalamunda National Janina Pezzarini 9447 9494 or Skills development Busselton. Contact Bernie Park, end of Schipp Rd, Piesse Brook. [email protected]. activities – talks, Masters 9727 2474 or Wear boots, gloves and hat. Bring PWSWA Wildflower Society of WA presentations, training courses [email protected]. drink, secateurs and a smile. Email (Perth Branch) Subiaco and workshops. [email protected] to confirm. Community Centre. Call Nina on Check website 0427936566. Meetings and events – www.friendsofpiessebrook.org.au. group meetings, expos, festivals and conferences.

6 Bushland News Issue 67 - Spring 2008 www.dec.wa.gov.au bushlandnews Spring 2008

21 Friday 7pm–9.30pm Frog night stalk with naturalist Marc Lane and the Friends of Mary Carroll Park, Gosnells. Gold coin donation. Bookings 9452 9901. Consider conducting a Tiwest Night Stalk 23 Sunday 9am By Lyndsay Fairclough Bush walk Eighth leg of the Cape to Cape Track, Boranup Lookout to Cosy Corner. 15 Do you know which nocturnal kilometres includes five kilometres on beach. animals live in your local area? Moderate to hard walk. Meet bus for lunch, $12 per adult. Contact BNC. This year Perth Zoo is coordinating its tenth Tiwest 30 Sunday 8am–11am Nature ramble with naturalist Marc Lane in Night Stalk and is seeking Ellis Brook Valley, Darling Range. Gold coin assistance from conservation donation. Bookings 9452 9901. volunteers to conduct a spotlight survey of their local area on any nights from 1 September to 16 October 2008. December Last year, community conservation groups were the most significant contributors to this 2 Tuesday 9am program – a national citizen-based spotlight survey to determine the number and Insect ramble at Paganoni Swamp. Call FPS. distribution of native species and feral pests in rural and metropolitan Australia. It is easy 3 Wednesday 6pm and anyone can do it! All you need is a torch and a sense of adventure. Information, Christmas party with the Busselton instructions and spotters log is available at www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/nightstalk. Results are Naturalists’ Club. Bring food and drinks. published on the Night Stalk website and made available to State conservation agencies. Entertainment, raffle, slides, ‘Squashed Possum’ award. Contact BNC. 16 Tuesday 9am Dieback monitoring at Paganoni Swamp. Call FPS.

Please send us your January, February, March and early April events by Monday 24 November 2008.

Highlights 19–25 October Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) Conference (TDWG Taxonomic Database Working Group). Western Australian Maritime Museum, Perth. Focussing on the development of standards, exchange of biological/biodiversity data, the ‘Atlas of Living Australia’ project. Visit www.ala.org.au/tdwg2008.htm. 29 October–19 November 7.30–9.30pm Astronomy for Beginners at Gingin Observatory. Wednesday evenings. Cost $148 for four lessons. Contact Peter Birch 9575 7740 or Between showers in July, the Friends of Brine Moran Reserve planted seedlings adjacent to [email protected]. Snowball Road. For more information or to assist with conservation work at the reserve call Pam 24–27 November Hughes on 9293 0993. 2008 Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference, Fremantle. A theme of 'Human Impacts on Wildlife' encompassing invasive and threatened species, climate change, habitat Phytophthora dieback – standardised signs disturbance and sustainable use of wildlife. Visit www.awms.org.nz/index.html. A new system of standardised dieback signage is now available for installation in bushland in the March 2009 (not 2 November as south-west of Western Australia to protect native flora and fauna against the deadly effects of the originally planned) plant disease. The signs carry the messages ‘Dieback Free’, ‘Dieback Infested’ or ‘Dieback Earth Solutions Expo, Northam. Unknown’ areas and can be displayed on any lands. The signage encourages people to take Suggestions for speakers, workshops and exhibitors welcome – especially precautions to prevent further spread of the disease by alerting them to the need to protect sustainable farming. Email disease-free areas. The new signs are an initiative of Project Dieback, a cross-regional Natural [email protected]. Resource Management project that worked closely with Great Southern TAFE and DEC. To order signs in the Swan Region call the Swan Catchment Council on 9374 3333.

Bushland News Issue 67 - Spring 2008 www.dec.wa.gov.au 7 bushlandnews regionalreports Please send us your regional report (150–200 words) and a photo by Monday 24 November 2008. Text may be edited in response to volume of submitted reports.

Bird habitat benefits Dieback-resistant jarrah in Alps Street Reseve By Valerie Jenner from volunteers In August 2007, the Friends of Alps Street guards in November and, if the seedlings By Margaret Matassa Reserve planted 80 dieback-resistant jarrah appear to be suffering in the heat of seedlings provided by Alcoa in two very summer, we may water them – making Alfred Cove foreshore was the centre of different areas in the Alps Street Reserve, sure we keep a record of the amount and activity for 50 international Catholic Mount Helena. While 66 per cent of the times. We all have our fingers crossed for pilgrims and their hosts from Santa Maria seedlings planted in an older and partly a higher survival rate this year. School, who volunteered their time for regenerated dieback area are thriving, there local community service while en route to Weed control in the reserve continued was only 10 per cent survival in the worst Sydney for World Youth Day. with the removal of some introduced dieback-affected areas. acacias (eastern states species) in winter. Organised by the Friends of Attadale We were very pleased to be accepted by Watsonia is being kept out by manual Foreshore and assisted by Birds Australia Alcoa for an allocation of 36 seedlings for removal and smashing of the bulbs and WA, volunteers from Switzerland and 2008, which six volunteers planted in the there are very few other weeds in the South Africa restored bird habitat at the worst dieback-affected area. This year our reserve. reserve at Alfred Cove. More than 200 instructions are to remove the plastic tree seedlings were planted along 300 metres Email Valerie at [email protected]. of the foreshore and 30 bags of weeds were collected. Participants were rewarded with a lively presentation by Birds Australia on local bird species, and Waterbird Conservation Group targets Folly Pool viewed many of these birds on-site through binoculars and telescope. By Ruth Clark Since 2003, the Friends group has The Waterbird Conservation Group received funding from the Swan Alcoa formed in 1984 in response to a Landcare Program and has planted more severe outbreak of botulism in than 20,000 seedlings and sedges, waterbirds at Thomsons Lake in planted a native verge along Burke Drive, Munster. Hundreds of sick and installed an interpretive shelter and gates, dying birds including pelicans, and spent thousands of hours weeding swans, ducks and wading birds and watering seedlings. The Friends group were rescued during the outbreak. works with DEC in the Alfred Cove Nature The group’s initial focus was on Reserve and the Swan Estuary Marine Park the rescue and rehabilitation of and the adjacent foreshore reserve along sick, injured and orphaned Burke Drive, and with the City of Melville Members at Folly Pool collecting rubbish and planting waterbirds. During the past 10 seedlings. Photo – Waterbird Conservation Group in the Attadale Conservation Reserve (a years the group has moved its Bush Forever site). The Swan Estuary attention to addressing the causes Biactive before we could see results. Marine Park is internationally significant of waterbird deaths, such as the loss of Along with members of the group, for its migratory birds, several of which wetlands, their degradation, pollution and volunteers from Larkhill Landcare group are protected by international treaties poor management, rather than the gave invaluable time to weed control and JAMBA (Japan-Australia Migratory Bird symptoms. Agreement) and CAMBA (China-Australia the City of Rockingham provided Migratory Bird Agreement). The group has had vesting of two equipment. The group will continue to wetlands in Baldivis, east of Rockingham keep the couch under control until Contact Margaret Matassa on since 1993. These wetlands, Folly and September 2009 when planting of sedges [email protected] or 0419 156 404. Maramanup pools, are situated along the and rushes will begin. Sedge and rush main drain. To assist in managing the species will include Baumea juncea, wetlands and improving habitat, the Juncus kraussii, Carex fascicularis, Juncus group successfully applied for an pallidus, Ficinia nodosa and Gahnia trifida. Australian Government Envirofund grant in 2006 to control weeds and re-establish In November 2007 the group received sedges at Folly Pool. funding from Lotterywest to purchase planting and weed control equipment. For the first 18 months we concentrated This equipment will support volunteers on weed control. Water couch was prolific working at Folly and Maramanup pools. throughout the fringes of the wetland. It Volunteers planting sedges at Alfred Cove took many months of slashing, mowing For more information or to get involved with the Friends of Attadale Foreshore. Photo – Alison Dugand and continual spraying with Roundup® call Ruth on 9339 5501.

Bushland8 News Issue 67 - Spring 2008 www.dec.wa.gov.au Spring 2008 regionalreports Weed control along EcoEducation Centre and book launch Piesse Brook

By Pam Agar By Linda Stanley In early June, the then Premier The Friends of Piesse Brook group is in the Alan Carpenter opened the eighth year of its project to remove Canning River EcoEducation invasive weeds from Piesse Brook in the Centre in Canning River Kalamunda National Park. The group is Regional Park. The centre was carrying out maintenance work along four developed collaboratively by kilometres of Piesse Brook where weeds DEC, the City of Canning, are already controlled, representing 90 per Swan River Trust, Department cent of the area along the brook in the of Education and Training and park. the community, with Since 2007, the group has worked with assistance from the private landholders upstream to eradicate Department of Housing and declared weeds from their properties. The Works. Funded by the State aim is to prevent weed seed washing back Government, it will be Canning River EcoEducation Centre. Photo – Jacinta Overman/DEC down into the park. Last year all of the managed by the City of landholders targeted in zone one joined Canning and will provide from DEC, City of Canning, South East the group in weed control. This year opportunities for environmental education Regional Centre for Urban Landcare and another six land owners upstream in zone for schools and the public, as well as a two have joined the project. meeting place for local volunteer groups. local volunteer groups all being involved. Email Linda on [email protected] The centre includes interpretive displays, an The book End to End – a year in the Canning office, storage, classroom, small laboratory, River Regional Park by Pam Agar was meeting room, toilets and a future cafe launched at the opening (see Resources area. Considerable effort has gone into section). revegetating around the centre, with staff Call Jo on 9458 3669 or Pam on 9457 2292. Conservation efforts at Bungendore Park

By Kim Sarti By Leonie Stubbs Radio – practice makes perfect! Bungendore Park Management Committee has been continuing its A while ago, on a Tuesday evening, I had illegally riding motor bikes, quads or rehabilitation program in the park. five minutes of fame on radio. Michael 4WD vehicles that contribute to weed Another 1,000 seedlings were planted Coote, the presenter for RTR-FM’s and disease infestations. during July in a dieback-affected area and ‘Understorey’ segment, interviewed me in two disused gravel pits by community my role as coordinator for Friends of I hope I conveyed Paganoni Swamp’s members and students of nearby Paganoni Swamp. ‘Understorey’ is a regular special qualities to listeners and the Armadale Christian College. Seedlings are weekly segment that highlights importance of a collective approach to grown from seed collected in the park to environmental issues. Obviously practice achieving the best environmental maintain genetic integrity. A dieback makes perfect and it was pretty obvious I outcomes. For example, funding for weed treatment program continues along didn’t have a lot of practice. No political control programs has been provided by mapped dieback fronts, with foliar career on the horizon for me! Within the Cemex Australia Pty Ltd (previously spraying and stem injection by our contractor, Dieback Treatment Services. first sentence I mentioned a non-existent Readymix) and Community Conservation Funding by Swan Alcoa Landcare Program lake and had extended Paganoni Reserve’s Grants funded by the State Government. and Community Conservation grants have eastern boundary to the Serpentine River. I really appreciated the opportunity assisted in both rehabilitation activities. While I had 24 hours to prepare, I didn’t provided by Michael and the team at make many of the points I wanted to. ‘Understorey’ and RTR-FM. But next time… Our ever-popular ‘Bungendore Bush These included the: Breakfast’ on 9 November is being held For information about Friends of • wonderful work carried out by under- in conjunction with the Armadale resourced regional park staff; Paganoni Swamp contact Leonie on Wildflower Society to help celebrate the 0439 921 298 or email fiftieth anniversary of the Wildflower • implications of climate change for wildlife [email protected]. Society of WA (see What’s On on page 6 confined to fragmented reserves; and For information on volunteering for details). • the problems caused by vandals cutting opportunities with Rockingham Lakes Call Kim on fences, starting fires, dumping rubbish, Regional Park call 9431 6500. 9470 2297.

Bushland News Issue 67 - Spring 2008 www.dec.wa.gov.au 9 bushlandnews Managing watsonia invasion in the threatened plant communities of south-west Australia’s clay-based wetlands

The plant communities of clay-based wetlands comprise a flora of more than 600 species. At least 50 per cent are annual or perennial herbs, 16 occur only on the clay-pans and many are rare or restricted. Invasion by Watsonia meriana is one of the major threats to our few remaining intact clay-based wetlands.

By Kate Brown, DEC

While the majority of seasonal wetlands in south-west Australia are connected to the regional groundwater, some are found on clay substrates that rely solely on rainwater to fill. These wetlands are characterised by temporally overlapping suites of annual herbs that flower and set seed as the wetlands dry through spring. During summer, the clay substrates dry to impervious pans.

Trials to manage watsonia Meelon Nature Reserve, a remnant clay- based wetland 200 kilometres south of Perth on the eastern side of the Swan Coastal Plain, has been the focus of a three-year study investigating possible management techniques for watsonia where it is invading these communities. The herbicide 2-2DPA (10g/L) with the penentrant Pulse® (2.5mL/L) was applied Left: Watsonia invading the clay-based wetlands of Meelon Nature Reserve. from a backpack unit in September 2005. Right: Results of the watsonia control trials look promising as the bands of treated and untreated Herbicide application on invasive areas in this photo clearly show. Photos – Kate Brown geophytes such as watsonia should take place just as the underground storage enodis, and a number of native geophytes In September 2007 a workshop and field organ is exhausted and this often coincides including Chamaescilla gibsonii, day was run in conjunction with the with flowering. For watsonia in south-west Tribonanthes australis and Burchardia Waroona Land Care Centre for land Australia, this corm exhaustion generally multiflora increased greatly in cover managers in the region. The day provided occurs in September. following the fire. the opportunity to share the results of our work and to provide advice to local One year after the initial treatment, a 97 These initial results are promising for landholders, many closely involved in the per cent reduction in the cover of watsonia management of watsonia invasions in management of plant communities was recorded and importantly there was these clay-based wetlands. Indications are associated with clay-based wetlands. little evidence of off-target herbicide that once watsonia has been killed the damage to native plant species. communities have the capacity to Note: Further trials have indicated that 2- regenerate, with fire potentially playing a 2DPA at 5g/L (half the rate trialled in the The influence of fire significant role in the process. In the parts above study) provides effective control of During the following summer in February of Meelon Nature Reserve outside our watsonia and so this is our current 2007, a wildfire burnt across the reserve study area where watsonia had not been recommendation. and through the study area. In September controlled, we observed prolific flowering Further reading 2007 a significant increase in the cover of watsonia following the fire. It will be and diversity of native species was interesting to see if this leads to watsonia Brown, K., Paczkowska, G., Huston, B. recorded across the study area. Some recruitment into our study area in 2008. and Withnell, N. (2008) Managing species such as Dichopogon preissii had Watsonia invasion in the threatened plant not been recorded at all before the fire. The study has been a collective effort communities of south-west Australia’s Others, such as the native sedges involving staff from DEC and members of clay-based wetlands. Australasian Plant Cyathochaeta avenacea and Chorizandra the local Dwellingup community. Conservation 17(1): 8-10.

10 Bushland News Issue 67 - Spring 2008 www.dec.wa.gov.au Spring 2008

GROUPPROFILE: Catchment Group

By Cecily Gilbert

The Claise Brook Catchment Group is a community group working in Perth to increase community awareness and involvement in land care, restoring natural habitat (particularly wetlands), and improving water quality flowing into the Swan River.

The group formed in 1997 following public concern about algal blooms in and the lack of wetland habitat in the inner city. For many years, there was a paid part-time coordinator, but we currently work on a fully voluntary basis. Our ‘patch’ is mostly modified environment within the catchments of the Claise Brook Main Drain, the Perth (From left) Warren, Rada, Dudley, Gary, Chris, Greg and Garry complete the dryland planting at CBD catchment and Mounts Bay Drain Robertson Park, June 2007. Photo – Sally Lake catchment, which includes Perth City and , and the smaller Walters Brook Catchment in Our members replanted garden beds at Piazza Nanni in Highgate/East Perth. Groundwater and stormwater in these Northbridge with WA plants to create a low maintenance, catchments eventually discharges to the Swan River. We hope to attractive landscape with low water and fertiliser requirements. show how simple improvement initiatives, water awareness and The group also initiated a catchment friendly garden prize in the changing behaviour can dramatically reduce the quantity of Town of Vincent’s annual gardening awards. Prizes for this award pollutants in the waterways and improve habitat for native fauna are sponsored by the Water Corporation. in the inner city. Water quality in Mounts Bay is a current concern, particularly with increasing urbanisation. Since 2006, the group has hosted Projects discussions on measures to improve water quality in the catchment, Since forming, the group has been involved in many projects in and is currently preparing a water quality improvement plan. In early partnership with the Swan River Trust, , Water 2008 we made a detailed submission to LandCorp on the proposed Corporation, Town of Vincent and other agencies such as the Perth waterfront development. The condition of Mounts Bay East Perth Redevelopment Authority. A feature of the group’s work foreshore and development of the Perth CBD Swan River foreshore has been to use and promote local plant is also of key interest to the group. species suited to the soils and rainfall of the Perth area, and the enhancement of In 2006–07, the group surveyed open spaces public open space to improve their in the city to prepare a Local Biodiversity capability and value for stormwater Study for the City of Perth. This was an treatment and fauna habitat. exciting project involving visits to more than 20 sites to record native and exotic flora and Early group activities included planting fauna. The study recommends linking sedges and wetland species around isolated green patches, connecting Kings Smith’s Lake (north of Beatty Park). Park to the river foreshore and to other We also constructed a seasonal wetland regional habitat areas. at Robertson Park on Stuart Street, in partnership with the Town of Vincent, Contact on the site of a former wetland and We meet on the first Monday of each month disused rubbish dump. We hold working at 6pm, alternating between City Farm and bees at Robertson Park on the first the Loftus Community Centre. Our website Saturday of each month, to weed, www.cbcg.org.au has more information on plant, monitor water quality, take (From left) Caroline, Sally, Jenny and Dudley at the our aims and projects. Warren McGrath is fauna observations and collect native local spring plant sale in the Town of Vincent, the chair of the group and can be contacted plant seed. August 2007. Photo – CBCG by email on [email protected].

Bushland News Issue 67 - Spring 2008 www.dec.wa.gov.au 11 bushland or [email protected]. Swan Region.ContactCheryl-AnneMcCannon93743310 and enhancementofAboriginalculture andheritageinthe August. Itprovides step-by-stepguidelines fortheprotection Template The AboriginalCulturalHeritageManagementPlan plant_conservation.html tosubscribe. www.anbg.gov.au/anpc/australasian_workshops. Visit relevant publications,websites,conferences, fieldworkand contains articlesonplantconservation,listsofthelatest Australia’s nativeplants.Publishedquarterly, eachissue Network forPlantConservationInc–workingtosave Australasian PlantConservation Swan CatchmentCouncilon93743300. www.dwg.org.au/files/DWG%20Handbook.pdf orcallthe its spread andhowtotreat it.Downloadacopyfrom booklet containsinformationondieback,howtominimise Groups guide forLandholdersandCommunityConservation Managing PhytophthoraDiebackinBushland–A on [email protected]. vulnerability ofthisimportantarea. ContactRichard Stone River RegionalParkaimstoraiseawareness ofthevalueand ofobservationsinCanning illustrated, this12-monthjournal Inc. RRP$10(IncludesGST).Beautifullywrittenand (2008) PamAgar. CanningRiverRegionalPark Volunteers End to–ayearintheCanningRiverRegionalPark Publications Resources (2008) Edition4.DiebackWorking Group. This was released bytheSwanCatchmentCouncilin PO Box1167,BentleyDeliveryCentre, Kensington,WA 6983 to If notclaimedwithin7days,pleasereturn news Bulletin oftheAustralian Printed on 100% recycled, totally chlorine free (TCF)paperusingvegetable-basedinks. totallychlorinefree Printed on100%recycled, www.dwg.org.au. newsletter isavailablefrom Quarterly www.dec.wa.gov.au. sites.Visit NatureBase internet former DepartmentofEnvironment and The Website watch Are yourdetailscorrect? [email protected]. titled ‘emailme’to electronically, sendanemail receive thisnewsletter on 94232914.Ifyou’dprefer to change anythingbyphoningus and letusknowifweneedto Please checkyourmailingdetails new DECwebsite Dieback Working Group Spring UT 6000 AUST. combines the POSTAGE PERTH WEST. PAID 2008

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