FINAL REPORT 2019 Canna Reserve
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FINAL REPORT 2019 Canna Reserve This project was supported by NACC NRM and the Shire of Morawa through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program Canna Reserve BioBlitz 2019 Weaving and wonder in the wilderness! The weather may have been hot and dry, but that didn’t stop everyone having fun and learning about the rich biodiversity and conservation value of the wonderful Canna Reserve during the highly successful 2019 BioBlitz. On the 14 - 15 September 2019, NACC NRM together with support from Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions and the Shire of Morawa, hosted their third BioBlitz at the Canna Reserve in the Shire of Morawa. Fifty professional biologists and citizen scientists attended the event with people travelling from near and far including Morawa, Perenjori, Geraldton and Perth. After an introduction and Acknowledgement of Country from organisers Jessica Stingemore and Jarna Kendle, the BioBlitz kicked off with participants separating into four teams and heading out to explore Canna Reserve with the goal of identifying as many plants, birds, invertebrates, and vertebrates as possible in a 24 hr period. David Knowles of Spineless Wonders led the invertebrate survey with assistance from, OAM recipient Allen Sundholm, Jenny Borger of Jenny Borger Botanical Consultancy led the plant team, BirdLife Midwest member Alice Bishop guided the bird survey team and David Pongracz from Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions ran the vertebrate surveys with assistance from volunteer Corin Desmond. The BioBlitz got off to a great start identifying 80 plant species during the first survey with many more species to come and even a new orchid find for the reserve. One hundred and fifty five plant species were recorded over the weekend and five were identified as priority flora. Other highlights included the night stalk where black light torches revealed the fluorescent resident scorpions, sharing stories around NACC's new fire drum, spying a Stimson's Python among the warm granite outcrops, peeking in on a Galah chick in its nest using Cockie-cam, learning the art of weaving and capturing Malleefowl on the motion sensor camera. Also spotted: Red-capped Robin, Red-tail Black Cockatoos, Checker Sided Ctenotus, Bynoe's Gecko, Pterostylis ciliata, Bold-striped Robust Slider, Trap Door Spiders, Wreath Flower, Jewel Beetles, Donkey Orchids, Everlastings, and many more! Canna Reserve BioBlitz 2019 2 After the pack up it was sadly time to say goodbye to friends both old and new. With talk of the 2020 BioBlitz in the works, we hope to see everyone all again soon. NACC’s Bushcare Officer Jarna Kendle said 'BioBlitz's are a unique and exciting way to engage the wider public in conservation that highlights the importance of biodiversity. They help to show how plants and animals are all interconnected and essential in a healthy working ecosystem'. 'One of my highlights from the event was being able to bring together people from such a wide range of backgrounds. BioBlitz's provide a great education space for all ages and qualifications and help to create a lifelong passion for the environment and science all whilst enjoying great company in the great outdoors'. Some participants asked why choose Canna Reserve? The Reserve is diverse and in good condition, significant granite outcrops provides various micro-habitats, while old York gum woodlands provide nesting hollows and roosts for birds and the dense Melaleuca shrublands provide a perfect habitat for the Malleefowl population that occupies the reserve. The reserve also shares a boundary with one of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction's A class reserves and therefore is a treasure trove of biodiversity. In addition the granite outcrops are highly diverse and create a prominent landmark in the landscape. During spring, the surrounding bushland comes alive with wildflowers – including a number of spectacular orchid species. As a result of this BioBlitz, NACC will provide the Shire of Morawa (and local community) with a report summarising results from the survey. In addition, the Canna campsite provided a great headquarters opening up the kitchen and hall for our use (including hot showers and flushing toilets). This event was proudly supported by the National Landcare Program, Shire of Morawa, Spineless Wonders, Jenny Borger Botanical Consultancy, Canna Progress Association, BirdLife and Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions. Canna Reserve BioBlitz 2019 3 List of Participants The success of this BioBlitz event is partly due to the enormous efforts made by volunteers in both leading teams and assisting with the organization of the event on the day to travelling large distances from surrounding areas to participate in the activities. 50 people participated in the 2019 Canna Reserve BioBlitz, there were many new faces alongside the core group of volunteers who regularly attend BioBlitzes in Western Australia. Glenda Blyth Raphael Dalle Grace Leung Murray Blyth Corin Desmond Clare McElhinney Jenny Borger Aidan Enlglish Natasha Noronha Taryn Brebner Katherine Evans Joel Offszanka Tshering Chekey Kiera Foster Paul Offszanka Stephanie Cremin Lysander Foster Sue Offszanka Paul Cremin Ashleigh Giles Joanna Pascoe Mikayla Cremin Mark Hanlon Kylie Payne Aiden Cremin Andrew Hunter David Pongracz Matthew Csermelyi Daniel Jeffries Evelyn Ralston Olivia Csermelyi Jarna Kendle Katrina Sasse Evelyn Csermelyi Adele Killen Aaron Short Cath Dalle Scott Killen Jessica Stingemore Gaetan Dalle April Killen Sharna Stinson Elena Dalle Jean Killen Allen Sundholm Tahlia Dalle David Knowles Jocelyn Versace Lorelie Dalle Isabella Laurie Canna Reserve BioBlitz 2019 4 The Site Canna Reserve is located about 40 kilometres north of Morawa on the Mullewa-Wubin Highway. The site features a number of large granite outcrops surrounded by native bushland. Vested with the Shire of Morawa, the Reserve consists of both Crown reserve and Unallocated Crown land. It is a popular wildflower and camping spot for local visitors and tourists alike. The granite outcrops contain several natural water holes and small pools which capture water during rainfall events. In spring, the surrounding bushland comes alive with wildflowers including a number of spectacular orchid species. Canna Reserve is a beautiful spot for a picnic and a great place to camp offering one of the best wildflower displays in the region along with powered sites and public amenities. There is plenty of wildlife around too, including lizards and numerous bird species, even the odd Malleefowl. Camping is permitted at Canna Reserve and a small camping fee is required which can be deposited into the honesty box at the toilets. As with all of our beautiful natural landscape, visitors are reminded to please remember to “take only photos and leave only footprints”. Canna Reserve BioBlitz 2019 5 Survey Method and Species Counts Flora and fauna habitat zones were identified within the reserve and then the four team leaders worked within their chosen areas. Volunteers swapped between sessions and locations according to their skills or interests during the weekend. Sometimes teams from different areas of interest joined forces and undertook field work alongside each other to improve survey efficiency. In addition to these teams, two motion sensing cameras were placed in strategic locations in Canna Reserve for two weeks prior to and during the BioBlitz to capture species that might be difficult to identify over the 24 hour period of the BioBlitz. The camera traps captured Kangaroos, Crested pigeons and even Malleefowl! Ten Elliott traps were set for one night using a universal bait mix, a mixture of peanut paste, sardines and rolled oats, they were set on the Saturday night and checked and pulled in on Sunday morning. Unfortunately no animals were trapped. Six Funnel traps and associated drift fences with four pit fall traps were also set for the single Saturday night, the funnel traps captured a Checker-sided Ctenotus whilst the pit fall traps fared slightly better capturing two geckoes. Observational bird surveys were conducted over the 24 hour period and covering a range of vegetation types this survey type led to the identification of 33 species of bird in the reserve. The 2019 Canna Reserve BioBlitz recorded 155 plant, 172 invertebrates and 50 vertebrate species: 172 - Invertebrates 14 - Reptlies 34 - Birds 2 - Mammals 155 - Plants A full species list can be found on the follwing pages. Canna Reserve BioBlitz 2019 6 Species List Insects Blattodea: Cockroaches & termites (a) (a) Family: Blaberidae Calolampra marginalis Family: Blattidae Anemesia polyzona (a) Melanozosteria jungii Melanozosteria nigrofasciata Melanozosteria sp. Family: Rhinotermitidae Coptotermes sp. Family: Termitidae Drepanotermes tamminensis Coleoptera: Beetles and weevils (c) Family: Belidae (b) Rhinotia acacia Rhinotia nr. Perplexa Family: Buprestidae Astraeus (Depollus) aberrans Astraeus (Depollus) lineatus Castiarina azurea Castiarina bucolica (d) (e) Castiarina pictipennis Castiarina simulata (b) Melobasis angusticostata Melobasis dimorpha Melobasis purpurilata (c) (d) Pseudotaenia gigas (c) (c) Family: Cantharidae Chauliognathus sp. Canna Reserve BioBlitz 2019 7 Species List Insects Family: Carabidae (d) Anomotarus crudelis Calosoma schayeri Carenum sp. (e) Cerotatlis sp. Gen. sp. TBC (Broscinae) Gigadema bostocki Family: Cerambycidae Rhytiphora saundersii Family: Chrysomelidae Gen. sp. TBC (Eumolpinae) Gen.