SUMMER Vol: 1/2017

Photo: Doug Gimesy FLORA AND FAUNA OF SYDNEY’S NORTH HEAD More images and information on Sydney’s hidden gem, go to page 23

Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub is a nationally and state-listed endangered scrub and heath vegetation community.

The barking owl is a medium-sized owl with bright yellow eyes and no facial disc. Upper parts are brown or greyish-brown, and the white breast is vertically streaked with brown. The large talons are yellow.

Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.). An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern New South Wales. These Australian native plants have a thick fi re-blackened trunk and long spiked Smooth-barked apple (Angophora costata), also known as Sydney red leaves. They are abundant in the heath habitat at North Head. The grass gum or rusty gum trees. Growing to heights of 15−30 metres, the russet- tree grows 1 to 5 metres in height and produces striking white-fl owered coloured angophoras shed their bark in spring to reveal spectacular new spikes which grow up to 1 metre long. salmon-coloured bark.

2 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 Contents features regulars

Footprints in water: In search From the President’s desk 7 of the elusive platypus 5 - Doug Gimesy

Book reviews Platypus ‘Death Traps’ 30 11 - Geoff Williams Be a part of the Australian Is it too late for the koala? 7 20 34 Wildlife Society’s conservation 13 - Linda Dennis work

Extinction is not an option - Membership form 17 Introducing Aussie Ark: Giving 35 hope to an entire ecosystem

Black Mountain: Forbidding 20 place or refuge - Sabine Borgis

Sydney’s hidden gem 23 - Suzanne Medway 13 23

The thin green line: A 27 consortium of partners and landowners enhancing a critical wildlife corridor - David Rush

17 26

Suzanne Medway AM 18 27 Editor, Australian Wildlife

On the cover: Front Cover: Platypus taken at Upper Tarago River, SUMMER Vol: 1/2017 Neerim, Victoria. Photo: Doug Gimesy Back Cover: A platypus out feeding at dawn. Photo: Doug Gimesy

Sabine Borgis Sub-Editor, Australian Wildlife

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 3 Australian Wildlife is the offi cial journal of the Australian Wildlife Society (Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia Limited). Founded in 1909, the Society is dedicated to the conservation of our unique Australian wildlife in all its forms. Print Post Approval No: PP243459/00117 Conserving Australia’s Wildlife ISSN 0155-266X since 1909 Price $10 (for non-members)

Membership Contact Directors 2017 Individual Members: $55 National Offi ce Patron Australian Wildlife Society Family Members: $70 (Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia Limited) His Excellency General the Honourable (being husband, wife and children jointly) Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) Concession: $50 PO Box 42 (pensioner, student, child) BRIGHTON LE SANDS NSW 2216 President E-mag Members: $30 Tel: (02) 9556 1537 Suzanne Medway AM (Australian Wildlife magazine will be distributed Email: [email protected] via email as a pdf document - no hard copy of the Hon Secretary/Chief Executive Offi cer Accounts: [email protected] magazine will be sent) Patrick W Medway AM Associate Members: $85 Editor “Australian Wildlife”: (being schools or incorporated or unincorporated [email protected] Vice Presidents associations with a principal object related to Website: aws.org.au Stephen Grabowski and Ken Mason conservation, nature study or education) Corporate Members: $125 Hon Treasurer (being incorprated or unincorporated associations Membership Hotline: Sash Denkovski not being associate members) Includes postage within Australia. Mob: 0424 287 297 Directors Add $40 for overseas postage Christine Banks Noel Cislowski AM Three Year Trevor Evans Membership Wayne Greenwood Dr Clive Williams OAM Individual Members: $150 Family Members: $190 Scientifi c Advisory Committee Correspondence to: Concession: $135 Dr Mike Augee - mammology/palaeontology Hon Secretary: E-mag Members: $81 Prof Richard Kingsford - environmental science Associate Members: $230 Australian Wildlife Society Geoffrey Ross - wildlife management issues Corporate Members: $340 PO Box 42 Includes postage within Australia. Jennie Gilbert - marine conservation BRIGHTON LE SANDS NSW 2216 Add $100 for overseas postage Vanessa Wilson - wildlife conservation and management Notice to our members Our Mission The Australian Wildlife Society (Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia Limited) is managed The Australian Wildlife Society (Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia Limited) is an and controlled by an elected board of ten volunteer directors. The Society is a registered independent, voluntary, non-profi t conservation organisation, formed in 1909, and company limited by guarantee with ASIC and is responsible for complying with all its is committed to the preservation of Australia’s precious fl ora and fauna. We act as regulations. a watchdog and provide advice to government agencies and institutions regarding environmental and conservation issues concerning all aspects of wildlife preservation. Any member who might like to consider serving as a director of the Society is invited to Our mission is to conserve Australia’s fauna and fl ora through education and contact the national offi ce for more details. The most important qualifi cation to serving as a involvement of the community. We are dedicated to the conservation of our unique director is ‘a commitment to and love of Australian wildlife’. Australian wildlife in all its forms through national environmental education programs, The Society holds regular monthly meetings on the fi rst Wednesday of each month in political lobbying, advocacy and hands on conservation work. Sydney. Our Society has always known that a conservation battle is never really won until The Editor would like to feature a member’s profi le in the fortnightly email newsletter and the victory is enshrined in legislation. We have always tried to convince politicians of occasionally in our quarterly magazine. Members are invited to consider submitting a short the necessity to include the preservation of Australia’s precious wildlife and its vital article with a photograph for possible publication. conservation habitat in all their planning and environmental issues and discussions.

Articles and comments expressed in this magazine do not necessarily refl ect the opinions of the Editor, Society or members. Articles contributed from outside sources are included for the reading enjoyment of members and to encourage discussion on different points of view. Articles may be copied or quoted with appropriate attribution.

4 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 From the President’s desk Suzanne Medway AM - President

Seeing a wild native animal is something special – unexpected and unpredictable. It’s a sign that nature is alive and well.

We all come into contact with wildlife Anti-zoo and animal rights groups All zoological and wildlife parks are at some time in our lives. We see and such as CAPS, PETA or the Born inspected annually by government smell wildƪ owers, listen to birds, Free Foundation claim that zoos agencies and must meet rigid and at night we may be lucky enough are inherently cruel. They highlight standards. to cross paths with a possum or a animals housed in small cages for “our wallaby. Seeing a wild native animal is entertainment” and claim all should be The Royal Zoological Society of New something special – unexpected and released back into the wild. South Wales is concerned with the unpredictable. It’s a sign that nature study and conservation of Australia’s But zoo design has moved a long is alive and well. Unfortunately, we native fauna, and the education of its way since the bad days of bare often see Australian wildlife dead on members and the general public on concrete cages, and indeed innovative the side of our roads – the victims these subjects. Its objectives are to enclosures these days can closely of roadkill. Hundreds of thousands promote and advance the science of replicate an animal’s wild habitats. of animals are killed each year after zoology, and to protect, preserve and conserve the indigenous animals of being hit by motor vehicles on Overall, zoos provide opportunities Australia and their associated habitats. Australian roads. For many people, to observe and engage with exotic their deaths are considered to be sad – animals, many of which may be The World Association of Zoos but inevitable. threatened with extinction in the and Aquariums is the voice of a wild. Seeing them up close can spark a global community of high standard, To experience wildlife in its natural passion for biology, conservation and conservation-based zoos and environment brings us in touch with the environment. aquariums. Its mission is to act as a a diơ erent world where people are the outsiders. Wildlife lives by natural rules, not by human values. If we try to feed or pat a wild animal, this will have an impact on it, particularly AGM and Annual as more and more people visit our natural areas. But for the majority of people, their only chance to see Luncheon native Australian wildlife is in zoos or The 109th AGM of the Wildlife Preservation Society of wildlife parks. Australia trading as Australian Wildlife Society will be The role of zoos in wildlife held on Wednesday 7 March 2018, to be followed by the conservation Society’s annual luncheon. The Agenda and luncheon details appear at the end of this magazine. Modern zoos aim to promote animal conservation, educate people, and In accordance with the Society’s Constitution, under Clause support further wildlife research. 10, three directors are retiring. Two directors are offering The three are entwined to ensure the themselves for re-election – this will leave a vacancy on animals are housed to the highest possible standards of welfare. Staơ the board. Any suitably qualifi ed member interested in are dedicated to providing species- serving on the Board should complete Schedule 3 of the speciƤ c housing, appropriate diets and Constitution (available from the national offi ce) and return husbandry to ensure that the animals’ the completed form by 15 February 2018. lives are as natural as possible in captivity.

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 5 catalyst for their joint conservation Ten Green Commandments for a better world action. Its role is to be a global communication platform for zoos and In consultation with our scientific advisory panel and driven by the ideals of aquariums committed to conservation our past National President, Dr Vincent Serventy AM, we adopted Ten Green and to excellence in zoo and aquarium Commandments for sustainable development of our Planet: management.

1. All people have a right to an Earth where they can live in good health and In the end, we will conserve only enjoy a fair quality of life. what we love; we will love only 2. No one has the right to substantially alter the natural world in a way that what we understand, and we will will damage the world’s basic resources. understand only what we are taught. (Baba Dioum, 1968) 3. All people must conserve the present diversity of the natural world. Extinction is forever. Our Society’s mission is to conserve 4. All people must plan their future, so the resources they use will be Australia’s fauna and ƪ ora through sustainable – and when they use non-sustainable materials, plan for a education and involvement of the future when these will be exhausted. community. We are dedicated to the conservation of our unique Australian 5. All people giving aid to others must be sure the help will increase the wildlife in all its forms through quality of life of those they assist, not forcing them into new ways of national environmental education living, destroying their culture. programs, political lobbying, 6. All people must use the world’s common resources carefully for all other advocacy and hands-on conservation people, both now and in the future. work. 7. All nations must carry out their obligations under all environmental agreements. A world court should decide on serious breaches, while You cannot begin to preserve other pressures such as boycotts must be used when more suitable for any species of animal until you the occasion. preserve the habitat in which it dwells. (Two in the Bush by 8. All nations must co-operate, not only in monitoring their environment Gerald Durrell, 1962, p. 349) but also in their obligations to the rest of the world. 9. All nations must develop a sustainable population policy and adhere to it. I would add my own top three ‘wishes’ for a better world: all people 10. All nations and all individuals must develop a new morality, not based have the right to clean air, clean water only on particular religions but with values of respect for the rights of all and clean soil. And we could add humans and also those of the natural environment. animals to that wish to have the same right.

The whiptail wallaby (Macropus parryi), also known as the pretty-faced wallaby, is a species of wallaby found in eastern Australia. It is locally common from Cooktown in Queensland to near Grafton in New South Wales.

6 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 in search of the elusive platypus Story and photos by Doug Gimesy

A cold morning ƒ•Š‡”‡ƒ Š‡•‹–‘–Š‡‡–ƒ† ƒ”‡ˆ—ŽŽ› ™ƒ–‡”™ƒ›•ˆ‘”’Žƒ–›’—• ‘•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘ǡ ”‡‘˜‡•ƒŽƒ”‰‡ƒŽ‡’Žƒ–›’—•„›–Š‡ –Š”‘—‰Š‡ˆˆ‘”–••— Šƒ•‡˜‹”‘‡–ƒŽ –ǯ•ͷƒǤǤ‘ƒ ”‹•’ƒ—–—‘”‹‰ǡ –ƒ‹Žǡ ƒ”‡ˆ—Ž–‘ƒ˜‘‹†–Š‡’‘‹•‘‘—••’—”•Ǥ ϐŽ‘™•ǡ”‡˜‡‰‡–ƒ–‹‘ƒ†™‡‡† ƒ†–Š‡•›‹• Ž‡ƒ”Ǥ–ƒ”••’ƒ”Ž‡ ˆ–‡”’—––‹‰Š‹•‡ —”‡Ž›‹ƒ ‘––‘ ƒƒ‰‡‡–Ǥ „”‹‰Š–Ž›‹–Š‡‹‰Š–•›ƒ††ƒ™‹• „ƒ‰ǡ™‡ƒ‡‘—”™ƒ›„ƒ –‘–Š‡ ƒ”ǡ •–‹ŽŽ‘˜‡”ƒŠ‘—”ƒ™ƒ›Ǥ ™Š‡”‡Š‡‹•‰‡–Ž›’Žƒ ‡†‘ƒ’ƒ†‘ It’s not that easy •™‡Ž‡ƒ˜‡–Š‡™ƒ”–Š‘ˆ‘—”ˆ‘—”Ǧ –Š‡˜ƒǯ•”‡ƒ”–”ƒ›Ǥ ‡••‹ ƒ—Ž˜‹”‡–‹ǡƒ ‘†‡–‡”‹‡™Š‡–Š‡”Œ—•––Š‹•‘‡ ™Š‡‡Ž†”‹˜‡ƒ†•–ƒ”–™ƒŽ‹‰ǡ‘—” •–—†‡–˜‘Ž—–‡‡”ˆ‘”–Š‹•–”‹’ǡ„”‹‰• ’Žƒ–›’—•™ƒ•‹–Š‹•‘‡•–”‡ƒŠƒ•‘– Š‡ƒ†Žƒ’•‹ŽŽ—‹ƒ–‡–Š‡‰”‘—†‹ ‘—––Š‡ϐ‹‡Ž†‹––‘Š‡Ž’‡ƒ•—”‡Š‹• „‡‡‡ƒ•›Ǥ‡Ž‡ˆ–‡Ž„‘—”‡ Š‘—”• ˆ”‘–‘ˆ—•–Š”‘—‰Š–Š‡‹•–‘ˆ‘—” ™‡‹‰Š–ǡ„‘†›Ž‡‰–Šƒ†„‹ŽŽŽ‡‰–Šǡƒ† ‡ƒ”Ž‹‡”–‘ƒ””‹˜‡ƒ–ƒ„‘—–ͳ’ǤǤƒ†•‡– „”‡ƒ–ŠǤ –ǯ•“—‹‡–ǡ”‡ƒŽŽ›“—‹‡–ǡƒ†ƒŽŽ Š‡Ž’–ƒ‡ƒ•ƒŽŽ•‹•ƒ’Ž‡ˆ”‘–Š‡ —’–‡‡–•ƒ–ϐ‹˜‡Ž‘ ƒ–‹‘••–”‡– Š‹‰2 ™‡Š‡ƒ”‹•–Š‡”—•–Ž‡‘ˆ‘—”™ƒ†‡”•ǡ–Š‡ ™‡„„‹‰‘Š‹•ˆ‡‡–ǤŠ‹•™‹ŽŽ„‡—•‡† ‘˜‡”ͳͲ‹Ž‘‡–”‡•‘ˆ–Š‡™ƒ–‡”™ƒ›Ǥ •‘—†‘ˆ‘—”ˆ‘‘–•–‡’•ƒ†–Š‡„—”„Ž‡‘ˆ „ƒ ‹–Š‡Žƒ„–‘ƒƒŽ›•‡–Š‡‘ˆ–Š‡ Šƒ––‘‘ƒ„‘—–ϐ‹˜‡Š‘—”•Ǥ ‡•‡– ”—‹‰™ƒ–‡”‹–Š‡†‹•–ƒ ‡Ǥ‡ƒ””‹˜‡ ’Žƒ–›’—•ƒ†Š‡Ž’–‘„‡––‡”—†‡”•–ƒ† —’ǡ–Š‡‡–•‡‡†–‘„‡ Š‡ ‡†‡˜‡”› ƒ––Š‡”‹˜‡”ǯ•‡†‰‡–‘‹•’‡ ––Š‡–™‘ Ž‘ ƒŽƒ†ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ‰‡‡–‹ †‹˜‡”•‹–›ƒ† –Š”‡‡Š‘—”•—–‹Ž–Š‡›ƒ”‡–ƒ‡†‘™ ˆ›‡‡–•ƒ†™‹–Š‡š ‹–‡†ƒ–‹ ‹’ƒ–‹‘ Š‹•ˆƒ‹Ž‹ƒŽ”‡Žƒ–‹‘•Š‹’•™‹–Š‘–Š‡” ƒ–†ƒ™–Š‡‡š–‘”‹‰ǡƒ†–Š‡–Š‡ ƒ• ‘•Š ”‹ˆϐ‹–Š•Ȃ‘‡‘ˆ—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒǯ• ƒ‹ƒŽ• ƒ’–—”‡†‹–Š‹•ƒ”‡ƒǤ ‘•Š –”‹’„ƒ •–ƒ”–•Ǥ›–Š‡–‹‡™‡ƒ””‹˜‡ ’Žƒ–›’—•‡š’‡”–•ƒ†‡‹‘”‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ ƒŽ•‘’ƒ••‡•ƒ‹ ”‘ Š‹’• ƒ‡”‘˜‡” Š‘‡ǡ‹–ǯ•„‡‡ƒ„‘—–ʹͶŠ‘—”•ǡ™‹–Š  ‘Ž‘‰‹•–ƒ–ȋƒ‹†‡’‡†‡– –Š‡‡ –‘•‡‡™Š‡–Š‡”–Š‡’Žƒ–›’—• ˜‡”›Ž‹––Ž‡•Ž‡‡’Ǥ ‡˜‹”‘‡–ƒŽ”‡•‡ƒ” Š ‘•—Ž–ƒ ›ǡ ƒ’–—”‡†–‘†ƒ›Šƒ•‡˜‡”„‡‡ ƒ—‰Š– ƒ†–Š‡–‡ƒ„‡Š‹†’Žƒ–›’—•ȌȂ „‡ˆ‘”‡Ǥ„‡‡’‰‘‡•‘ˆˆ”‡˜‡ƒŽ‹‰–Š‡ Šƒ––‹‰–‘ ‘•Šƒ•Š‡’ƒ •—’–Š‡ DzŠƒ–†‘›‘—–Š‹ǫdzDz ǡ‘–•—”‡Ǥ ’”‡•‡ ‡‘ˆƒ‹ ”‘ Š‹’ǡ•‘™‡Ž‡ƒ”–Šƒ– ‡–•ǡ ƒ•ǡDz •‹–ƒŽ™ƒ›•–Š‹•Šƒ”†–‘

Š‡”‡ǯ•‘˜‡‡–‹‘‡‡–ǡ„—–‹– –Š‹•„‘›™ƒ•ϐ‹”•– ƒ’–—”‡†ƒ•ƒŒ—˜‡‹Ž‡ ƒ’–—”‡‘‡ǫdz ‡–‡ŽŽ•‡‹–˜ƒ”‹‡•Ǥ

‘—Ž†„‡ƒϐ‹•Šǡ”ƒƒŽ‹‘”Œ—•––Š‡ϐŽ‘™‘ˆ ƒ„‘—–ƒ›‡ƒ”ƒ‰‘‹–Š‹• ”‡‡Ǥ DzŠ‡”‡ƒ”‡•‘‡•’‘–•™‡ ƒ’”‡––›

–Š‡”‹˜‡”Ǥdz — Š‰—ƒ”ƒ–‡‡ƒ ƒ’–—”‡ǡ‘–Š‡”’Žƒ ‡• Š‹•ϐ‹‡Ž†–”‹’™ƒ•’ƒ”–‘ˆƒ‡Ž„‘—”‡ ‹– ƒ–ƒ‡‘‡ǡ–™‘ǡ–Š”‡‡‘”ˆ‘—”–”‹’•Ǥ • ‘•Š™ƒ†‡•‹–‘–Š‡™ƒ–‡”–‘Ž‹ˆ–—’ ƒ–‡”’”‘Œ‡ ––Šƒ–Šƒ•„‡‡”—‹‰ †–Š‡ǡ‘ˆ ‘—”•‡ǡ–Š‡”‡ƒ”‡•‘‡ –Š‡‡†‘ˆ–Š‡†‘™•–”‡ƒ‡–ǡŠ‡–—”• ˆ‘”‘˜‡”ʹͲ›‡ƒ”•ǡ–‘†‡–‡”‹‡Š‘™ ’Žƒ ‡•™Š‡”‡™‡Šƒ˜‡‡˜‡” ƒ—‰Š– –‘‡™‹–Šƒ‰”‹ƒ†ƒ••ǡDz •›‘—” ’Žƒ–›’—•’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘•ƒ”‡ˆƒ”‹‰ ƒ›–Š‹‰ǤŠƒ–†‘‡•ǯ–‡ ‡••ƒ”‹Ž› ƒ‡”ƒ–—”‡†‘ǫdz Œ—’‹–‘–Š‡ ‘Ž† –Š”‘—‰Š‘—––Š‡ ‹–›ƒ†‹–•ˆ”‹‰‡•Ǥ ‡ƒ–Š‡›ƒ”‡ǯ––Š‡”‡Ǣ‹–Œ—•–‡ƒ• ™ƒ–‡”ǡ ƒ‡”ƒ‹‘‡Šƒ†ǡŽ‘™Ž‹‰Š– ƒ–ƒˆ”‘–Š‹••–—†›–Š‡Š‡Ž’• ™‡†‹†ǯ– ƒ– Šƒ›Ȃ–Šƒ–ǯ•–Š‡ ‹–Š‡‘–Š‡”ƒ†–ƒ‡ƒˆ‡™“—‹ •Š‘–• –Š‡™ƒ–‡”ƒ—–Š‘”‹–›–‘ƒƒ‰‡–Š‡ ŠƒŽŽ‡‰‡dzǤ

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 7 †‡ Ž‹‡•‹—„‡”•‹•‘‡Ž‘ ƒŽ ƒ”‡ƒ•ƒ†•–”‡ƒ•ȂŽ‡ƒ†‹‰–‘–Š‡ ’”—†‡–†‘™‰”ƒ†‹‰‘ˆ–Š‡•’‡ ‹‡• –‘Ǯ‡ƒ”–Š”‡ƒ–‡‡†ǯȂƒ†–Š‡‹’ƒ – ‘ˆ’”‡†‹ –‡† Šƒ‰‡•™”‘—‰Š–„› Ž‹ƒ–‡ Šƒ‰‡ƒ”‡‘ˆ ‘ ‡”ǡ„—–™‡ Œ—•–†‘ǯ–‘™ǡdzŠ‡•ƒ›•ǤDz ˆ™‡™ƒ– –‘‡•—”‡‡ˆˆ‡ –‹˜‡ƒƒ‰‡‡–ƒ† ‘•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘’Žƒ•ƒ”‡‹’Žƒ ‡–‘ ’”‘–‡ ––Š‹•‹ ‘‹ •’‡ ‹‡•ǡ™‡‡‡†–‘ †‘™Šƒ–™‡ ƒ–‘‘–‘Ž›—†‡”•–ƒ† –Š‡–Š”‡ƒ–•–Šƒ–ˆƒ ‡–Š‡ǡ„—–Š‘™ ƒ›–Š‡”‡ƒ”‡ƒ†™Š‡”‡–Š‡›ƒ”‡Ǥdz

ƒŠ‡ƒŽ ƒ™‡ˆ”‘–Š‡‹˜‡”•‹–›‘ˆ ǡƒ•’ƒ”–‘ˆŠ‡”Šǡ‹•Ž‘‘‹‰ƒ– Š‹•–‘”‹ ƒŽ”‡ ‘”†•‘ˆ–Š‡’Žƒ–›’—•–‘ „‡––‡”—†‡”•–ƒ†—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒǯ• Šƒ‰‹‰ ƒ––‹–—†‡•–‘™ƒ”†•–Š‡ƒ•™‡ŽŽƒ•–Š‡‹” Šƒ‰‹‰†‹•–”‹„—–‹‘ǤŠ‡•ƒ›•ǣDz‘‘‹‰ ƒ–‡™•’ƒ’‡”ƒ”–‹ Ž‡• ƒ ‡”–ƒ‹Ž›‰‹˜‡ Looking for similarities and differences. Student volunteer Jessica Pulvirenti measures the bill —••‘‡‹†‡ƒ‘ˆ™Š‡”‡’Žƒ–›’—•—•‡†–‘ dimensions of a captured platypus as Josh Griffths helps holds this monotreme still. Such data is „‡‹•‘‡’Žƒ ‡•Ǥ ‘™‡˜‡”ǡ–Š‡ƒ —”ƒ › used to help compare morphological differences that may exist between populations. ‘ˆ–Š‹•ƒ’’”‘ƒ Š‹•Ž‹‹–‡†ǡƒ•‹–”‡Ž‹‡•‘ Šƒ ‡‡ ‘—–‡”•ƒ†–Š‡•‹‰Š–‹‰„‡‹‰ Why so hard? How many †‹ˆϐ‹ —Ž––‘•–—†›‹–Š‡™‹Ž†ǡ–Šƒ–‡˜‡ ‡™•™‘”–Š›Ǥdz are there? Numbers and ƒˆ–‡”ƒŽŽ–Š‹•–‹‡ǡ™‡•–‹ŽŽ†‘ǯ–Šƒ˜‡ Dz ‘”‡šƒ’Ž‡ǡƒ‡™•’ƒ’‡””‡’‘”–‹–Š‡ ƒ•‘Ž‹†‰”ƒ•’‘ˆ–Š‡‹”ƒ„—†ƒ ‡‘” prevalence Kerang New Times†ƒ–‡†—‰—•–ͳͻͲͺ †‹•–”‹„—–‹‘Ǥ ’‡ƒ‹‰™‹–Š”‘ ”ƒ–ǡƒƒ ‘–‡†–Šƒ–ʹʹ’Žƒ–›’—•‡•™‡”‡ ƒ—‰Š– ™Š‘Šƒ••’‡––Š‡Žƒ•–Ͷͷ›‡ƒ”• Dz•ˆƒ”ƒ• ƒƒ™ƒ”‡ǡ–Š‡”‡ƒ”‡‘ ‹–Š‡ƒ””ƒ‹˜‡”‡ƒ”‡Ž„‘—”‡ǯ• •–—†›‹‰’Žƒ–›’—•ǡŠ‡–‡ŽŽ•‡ǡDzŠ‡•‡ ”‡‰‹‘ƒŽǡ•–ƒ–‡‘”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ‡•–‹ƒ–‡• ”‹ ‡••”‹†‰‡Ǥ ‘™‡˜‡”ǡ ǯ‘–•—”‡ •‡‹Ǧƒ“—ƒ–‹ ‡‰‰ǦŽƒ›‹‰ƒƒŽ•ƒ”‡ ‘ˆ’Žƒ–›’—•—„‡”•ǡƒ†–Šƒ–ǯ•ƒ –Šƒ–ƒ›Šƒ˜‡„‡‡•‡‡‹–Šƒ–’ƒ”–‘ˆ •‘‡Ž—•‹˜‡ǡ•‘™‹†‡Ž›†‹•–”‹„—–‡†„—–•‘ ’”‘„Ž‡ǤŠ‡”‡ƒ”‡†‘ —‡–‡† –Š‡”‹˜‡”ˆ‘”ƒ˜‡”›Ž‘‰–‹‡Ǥdz

Setting up to capture. As part of Melbourne Water’s monitoring program, researchers set up fyke nets in the afternoon to try to capture the elusive platypus. These are checked every three to four hours.

8 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 ‹‹Žƒ”Ž›ǡ†—”‹‰ƒϐŽ‘‘†‹ ƒ—ƒ”› ͳͻ͵͵ǡThe Biz”‡’‘”–‡†–Šƒ–Dz•Š‘ƒŽ‘ˆ ’Žƒ–›’—•Ȃ—„‡”‹‰ͳͷȂ™‡”‡•‡‡ ‹–Š‡•—„—”„‘ˆƒ•—Žƒȋ‡™‘—–Š ƒŽ‡•ȌǤdz ‘™‡˜‡”ǡ”‘ ”ƒ–•ƒ›• –Šƒ––Š‡›ƒ”‡‘™˜‡”›— ‘‘ ‹–Š‡ ‡‘”‰‡•‹˜‡”ƒ†‘Ž‘‰‡” ”‡’‘”–‡†‹–Š‹•‘—–‡”•—„—”„‘ˆ ›†‡›Ǥ

‘™Šƒ–‡Ž•‡ ƒ„‡†‘‡–‘Š‡Ž’—•‰‡– ƒ„‡––‡”‹†‡ƒ‘ˆ’Žƒ–›’—•†‹•–”‹„—–‹‘ ƒ†—„‡”•ǫŠ‹•‹•™Š‡”‡–Š‡ ‰”‘™–Š‘ˆ ‹–‹œ‡• ‹‡ ‡ƒ†–Š‡ †‡˜‡Ž‘’‡–‘ˆ‡™–‡ Š‘Ž‘‰›•— Š ƒ•‡ ƒŠ‡Ž’Ǥ New technology to help citizen science Dz‘ ƒŽ‘™Ž‡†‰‡‹•ƒ‹˜ƒŽ—ƒ„Ž‡ •‘—” ‡‘ˆ‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ǡƒ†’‘–‡–‹ƒŽŽ› ‹’‘”–ƒ–‘„•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘•ƒ”‡‘ˆ–‡ Skin sample collection for genetic testing. A small sample of skin between the toes is taken to look at ƒ†‡„›Ž‘ ƒŽ”‡•‹†‡–•ƒ†‘—–†‘‘” population genetic health, to understand genetic diversity, population viability and familial relationships. ”‡ ”‡ƒ–‹‘‹•–•™Š‹ Š ƒ„‡‘˜‡”Ž‘‘‡† ‹‡ ‘Ž‘‰‹ ƒŽ•–—†‹‡•ǤŠ‹•‹•™Š‡”‡ ‡˜‡•ƒŽŽˆ”ƒ‰‡–•‘ˆƒŽŽ‘™ ƒ•–Š‘›Š‘™ƒ —”ƒ–‡‹–‹•ǡƒ† •ƒ”–’Š‘‡ƒ’’•Ž‹‡platypusSPOT —•–‘†‡–‡”‹‡™Š‡–Š‡”ƒ’ƒ”–‹ —Žƒ” Š‡‰‘‡•‘–‘ƒ††ǡDz—”•–—†‹‡••Š‘™ ƒŠ‡Ž’ǡdz•ƒ›• ‘•ŠǤDz –‘ˆˆ‡”•™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ •’‡ ‹‡•‹•‹–Šƒ–•ƒ’Ž‡Ǥ –‡””‡•–”‹ƒŽ –Šƒ–‹–ǯ•— Š‘”‡•‡•‹–‹˜‡–Šƒ ‡–Š—•‹ƒ•–•ƒ‘’’‘”–—‹–›–‘ ‡˜‹”‘‡–•ǡŠ‘™‡˜‡”ǡ–Š‡ ŠƒŽŽ‡‰‡ —””‡–‡––‹‰‡–Š‘†•ǡ™‹–Šƒ„‘—– ‘–”‹„—–‡–‘ƒ ‘—‹–›Ǧ†”‹˜‡ ‹•–Šƒ–›‘—‡‡†–‘Šƒ˜‡–ƒ‡–Š‡ ƒͻͷ’‡” ‡–ƒ —”ƒ ›‘ˆ†‡–‡”‹‹‰ †ƒ–ƒ„ƒ•‡‘’Žƒ–›’—•†‹•–”‹„—–‹‘Ǥ •ƒ’Ž‡ˆ”‘™Š‡”‡–Š‡ƒ‹ƒŽŠƒ•„‡‡ –Š‡’”‡•‡ ‡‘ˆ’Žƒ–›’—•ƒ–ƒ•‹–‡Ǥˆ Š‹Ž‡•‘‡Šƒ˜‡ƒ”‰—‡†–Šƒ––Š‡ •–ƒ†‹‰ǡ‘”ƒ–Ž‡ƒ•–˜‡”› Ž‘•‡Ǥ—––Š‡ ‘—”•‡‹–ǯ•— Š‡ƒ•‹‡”ǡ“—‹ ‡”ƒ† “—ƒŽ‹–›‘ˆ†ƒ–ƒˆ”‘ ‹–‹œ‡”‡•‡ƒ” Š‡”• ‰”‡ƒ––Š‹‰ƒ„‘—–’Žƒ–›’—•‹•–Šƒ––Š‡‹” Š‡ƒ’‡”–Šƒ‡––‹‰Ǥ‘—•‹’Ž›‰‘–‘ ƒ„‡—”‡Ž‹ƒ„Ž‡ǡ’Š‘–‘‰”ƒ’Š‹  ‰‡–•™ƒ•Š‡††‘™•–”‡ƒǡ•‘›‘— ƒ•’‘–‹–Š‡”‹˜‡”ǡ–ƒ‡ƒ™ƒ–‡”•ƒ’Ž‡ǡ ‡˜‹†‡ ‡‘ˆ‘„•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘•‡–‡”‡†‘ ƒ‰‡–ƒ‹†‡ƒ™Š‡–Š‡”‘‡Šƒ•”‡ ‡–Ž› •‡†‹––‘–Š‡Žƒ„ǡƒ†–Šƒ–ǯ•‹–Ǥ‘Ž‘‰ platypusSPOTŠ‡Ž’•‹‹‹•‡–Š‹• „‡‡—’•–”‡ƒ•‹’Ž›„›–ƒ‹‰ƒ™ƒ–‡” ‹‰Š–•‘—–™‹–Š‡–•ǡ Š‡ ‹‰‡˜‡”› ‹••—‡ƒ•™‡ŽŽƒ•”‡’‡ƒ–•‹‰Š–‹‰•„› •ƒ’Ž‡Ǥ –ǯ•Ž‹‡ „—–‹ƒ”‹˜‡”Ǥdz ˆ‡™Š‘—”•Ǥdz †‹ˆˆ‡”‡–’‡‘’Ž‡ ”‡ƒ–‡••‡ŽˆǦ˜‡”‹ˆ›‹‰ †ƒ–ƒǤ‘”‡‹’‘”–ƒ–Ž›ǡ–Š‹•ƒ’’Ž‹ ƒ–‹‘ ƒŽŽ‘™•†ƒ–ƒ–‘„‡ ‘ŽŽ‡ –‡†ˆ”‘ƒ— Š Žƒ”‰‡”’‘‘Ž‘ˆ‘„•‡”˜‡”•ǡ‘˜‡”ƒ™‹†‡” ‰‡‘‰”ƒ’Š‹ ”ƒ‰‡ƒ†ƒ ”‘••Ž‘‰‡” –‹‡•’ƒ•Ǥ –Œ—•–‹•ǯ–ˆ‡ƒ•‹„Ž‡ˆ‘” ”‡•‡ƒ” Š• ‹‡–‹•–•ƒŽ‘‡–‘ ‘ŽŽ‡ –†ƒ–ƒ ‘–Š‹•• ƒŽ‡ǡ‡•’‡ ‹ƒŽŽ›ˆ‘”ƒ•’‡ ‹‡•ƒ• ‡Ž—•‹˜‡ƒ•–Š‡’Žƒ–›’—•Ǥdz ” ‹Žƒ†‹‘ƒ––Š‡‡–”‡ˆ‘”  ‘•›•–‡ ‹‡ ‡ƒ–ǡ™Š‘‹• ’ƒ”–‘ˆ–Š‡Žƒ–›’—•‘•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘ ‹–‹ƒ–‹˜‡ƒ†‹•Ž‡ƒ†‹‰ƒƒƒŽ›•‹• ‘ˆ—„‡”•ƒ††‹•–”‹„—–‹‘ƒ ”‘•• —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒǡƒ††‡†ǣDz‡‡‡†ƒ•— Š ‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘‘–Š‡‹”†‹•–”‹„—–‹‘ƒ•™‡ ƒ‰‡–ǡƒ†‹–‹•‡•’‡ ‹ƒŽŽ›‹’‘”–ƒ– ‹ˆ™‡ ƒϐ‹†‘—–™Š‡”‡’Žƒ–›’—•‡• ‘Ž‘‰‡”‡š‹•–ƒ›‘”‡ƒ•ƒ”‡•—Ž–‘ˆ Š—ƒ‹’ƒ –•Ǥdz eDNA ‡‘ˆ–Š‡‘•–‡š ‹–‹‰‡™”‡•‡ƒ” Š Sampling the waters for eDNA testing. The fi rst part of looking for environmental DNA is collecting –‘‘Ž•‹•‡˜‹”‘‡–ƒŽȋ‡ȌǤ a water sample. Here, Lisa Kirkland, a member of the research team for EnviroDNA, draws up a –Š‘›˜ƒ‘‘›‡ǡƒ• ‹‡–‹•–ƒ– sample of water in a syringe. This water is extracted, then fi ltered through a 0.22 micron fi lter on ˜‹”‘ǡ‡š’Žƒ‹•ǣDz‹ƒŽ•ƒ”‡ site, then sent to the lab for DNA extraction and analysis. This sample will then be refrigerated and •Ž‘—‰Š‹‰‘ˆˆƒŽŽ–Š‡–‹‡ǡƒ† transported to the laboratory for analysis.

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 9 ”‹ƒƒ”‡•–‘ˆ”‘‡Ž„‘—”‡ ƒ–‡”‹• —””‡–Ž›”‘ŽŽ‹‰‘—–ƒ’Žƒ –‘—•‡ ‹–‹œ‡• ‹‡ ‡ƒ†‡ –‡ Š‘Ž‘‰›–‘‘”‡‡ˆˆ‡ –‹˜‡Ž›‘‹–‘” ˜—Ž‡”ƒ„Ž‡’Žƒ–›’—•’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘•ƒ† ƒ••‹•–™‹–Š•–”ƒ–‡‰‹ ‡†— ƒ–‹‘ƒ† ‹ˆ”ƒ•–”— –—”‡†‡ ‹•‹‘Ǧƒ‹‰Ǥ

DzŠ‡™‘†‡”ˆ—Ž–Š‹‰ƒ„‘—– ‘„‹‹‰ ‹–‹œ‡• ‹‡ ‡ƒ†–Š‹•–‡ Š‘Ž‘‰›‹• –Šƒ–„›‡‰ƒ‰‹‰”‡•‹†‡–•‹ ‘ŽŽ‡ –‹‰ –Š‡™ƒ–‡”•ƒ’Ž‡•ǡ™‡‡’‘™‡” –Š‡ ‘—‹–›–‘’ƒ”–‹ ‹’ƒ–‡‹ ™ƒ–‡”™ƒ›ƒƒ‰‡‡–ǡƒ•™‡ŽŽƒ• ”ƒ‹•‹‰ƒ™ƒ”‡‡••‘ˆ’Žƒ–›’—•ƒ† –Š‡–Š”‡ƒ–•–Š‡›ˆƒ ‡ǡdzŠ‡•ƒ›•ǤDz –ǯ• ƒŽ•‘ˆƒ•–ƒ†ƒˆˆ‘”†ƒ„Ž‡ǡ—Ž–‹’Ž‡•‹–‡• ƒ„‡ ‘˜‡”‡†“—‹ Ž›ǡƒ†‹–ǯ•ƒ„‘—– ƒ–‡–Š‘ˆ–Š‡ ‘•–‘ˆŽ‹˜‡–”ƒ’’‹‰Ǥ ‡ƒ”‡—•‹‰–Š‡†ƒ–ƒ ‘ŽŽ‡ –‡†„› ‹–‹œ‡• ‹‡–‹•–•–‘‰—‹†‡™ƒ–‡”™ƒ› ƒƒ‰‡‡–™‘”•–Šƒ–™‹ŽŽ‡Šƒ ‡ ’Žƒ–›’—•Šƒ„‹–ƒ–Ǥdz Testing for platypus DNA. DNA from a river water sample is extracted in the laboratory so it can be analysed to look for any platypus DNA that may have been washed downstream. ˆ ‘—”•‡‡––‹‰•—”˜‡›•™‹ŽŽƒŽ™ƒ›• „‡‹’‘”–ƒ–ǤŠ‡›‡ƒ„Ž‡–Š‡ ‹†‡–‹ϐ‹ ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ‹†‹˜‹†—ƒŽ’Žƒ–›’—•‡•ǡ –Š‡‹”•‡šǡƒ‰‡ƒ†Š‡ƒŽ–Šǡƒ†–Š‡ ‘ŽŽ‡ –‹‘‘ˆ‰‡‡–‹ •ƒ’Ž‡•Ǥ

—–‘™™‹–Š‡ǡ™‹–Š•— ŠƒŽƒ”‰‡ ‘–‹‡–ƒ†ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ†‹•–”‹„—–‹‘ •–‹ŽŽ‘–„‡‹‰™‡ŽŽ—†‡”•–‘‘†ǡ‹–ǯ•ƒ ‡š ‹–‹‰‡™–‘‘Ž–Šƒ– ƒ„‡––‡”Š‡Ž’ —•—†‡”•–ƒ†™Š‡”‡’Žƒ–›’—•‡••–‹ŽŽ ‡š‹•–Ǥ

Dz›†”‡ƒ‹•–Šƒ–ƒ–•‘‡•–ƒ‰‡•‘‘ ™‡ ƒ‰‡–ˆ—†‹‰–‘•—’’‘”––Š‡ ”‘ŽŽ‘—–‘ˆƒƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ‹–‹œ‡• ‹‡ ‡ ƒ’ƒ‹‰ǡ™Š‡”‡–Š‘—•ƒ†•‘ˆ’‡‘’Ž‡ ˆ”‘ƒŽŽƒ”‘—†—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ ƒ•ƒ’Ž‡ –Š‡‹”Ž‘ ƒŽ™ƒ–‡”™ƒ›•ƒŽŽ‘™‹‰‡ –‡ Š‘Ž‘‰›–‘‰‹˜‡—•ƒ„‡––‡”‹†‡ƒ‘ˆ –Š‡‹”†‹•–”‹„—–‹‘ǡdz•ƒ‹† ‘•Š ”‹ˆϐ‹–ŠǤ

‹ŽŽ‹–‰‹˜‡ƒ†‡ϐ‹‹–‹˜‡ƒ•™‡”–‘™Š‡”‡ ƒŽŽ–Š‡’Žƒ–›’—•ƒ›„‡ˆ‘—†ǫ‘ǡ„—– ‹–™‹ŽŽ ‡”–ƒ‹Ž›‰‹˜‡—•ƒ— Š„‡––‡” ‹†‡ƒ‘ˆ†‹•–”‹„—–‹‘–Šƒ™‡ —””‡–Ž› Šƒ˜‡ǡƒ†–Šƒ–ǯ•‹’‘”–ƒ–Ǥ

‘–‡ǣ˜‡”•‹‘‘ˆ–Š‹•ƒ”–‹ Ž‡™ƒ• ‘”‹‰‹ƒŽŽ›’—„Ž‹•Š‡†‹Australian Geographic.

REFERENCES: Newspaper reports: Kerang New Timesȋ‹ ǤǣͳͻͲͳǦͳͻͳͺȌǡ—‡•†ƒ› ʹͷ—‰—•–ͳͻͲͺǡ’ƒ‰‡ʹ

ʹʹŽƒ–›’—•ǥǤ”‹ ‡•”‹†‰‡ Citizen science helps fi ll the gaps. As the platypus is generally so elusive, local sightings and recordings can be an invaluable source of information to help scientists better determine their Bizȋ ƒ‹”ϐ‹‡Ž†ǡǣͳͻʹͺǦͳͻ͹ʹȌǡ ”‹†ƒ›ʹ͹ ƒ—ƒ”›ͳͻ͵͵ǡ’ƒ‰‡Ͷ national distribution. The evolution of smartphone apps like platypusSPOT allows for easy collection of data from many people. ‘˜‡Ž•‹‰Š–ǥ•Š‘ƒŽ‘ˆ’Žƒ–›’—•ǥ

10 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 PLATYPUS ‘DEATH TRAPS’ Geoff Williams, Australian Platypus Conservancy

Š‡†‹• ‘˜‡”›Žƒ•–ƒ›‘ˆϐ‹˜‡ –”ƒ’•Ǥˆˆ‡ –‹˜‡Žƒ™‡ˆ‘” ‡‡–‹• ƒ–”ƒ’–Šƒ–™‹ŽŽ‡š Ž—†‡–Š‡•’‡ ‹‡•™Š‹Ž‡ ’Žƒ–›’—•‡•†”‘™‡†‹–™‘‘’‡”ƒ ˜‹”–—ƒŽŽ›‹’‘••‹„Ž‡ǡ‘’‡”ƒŠ‘—•‡ •–‹ŽŽƒŽŽ‘™‹‰Žƒ”‰‡›ƒ„„‹‡•–‘‡–‡”Ǥ Š‘—•‡›ƒ„„›–”ƒ’••‡–‹ƒ„‡”–‘— Š‡ –”ƒ’•ƒ”‡”‡Žƒ–‹˜‡Ž›•ƒŽŽƒ†  ‘”†‹‰Ž›ǡ”‡ ‡–ϐ‹‡Ž†–”‹ƒŽ• ”‡‡‡ƒ”‡Ž„‘—”‡“—‹–‡”‹‰Š–Ž› ‹ ‘•’‹ —‘—•ƒ†‘ˆ–‡†‡’Ž‘›‡†‹ ‘†— –‡†„›–Š‡ƒ†”‘ Š‘””‹ϐ‹‡†‘•–’‡‘’Ž‡Ǥ‡’”‡••‹‰Ž›ǡ –Š‡‡˜‡‹‰‘”‘˜‡”‹‰Š–Ǥ•ƒ”‡•—Ž–ǡ ”ƒ–‘ˆ–Š‡‹˜‡”•‹–›‘ˆŠƒ˜‡ –Š‹•‹ ‹†‡–™ƒ•Œ—•––Š‡Žƒ–‡•–‹ƒ ‹ŽŽ‡‰ƒŽ†‡’Ž‘›‡–‹•™‹†‡•’”‡ƒ†Ǥ ‘ ‡–”ƒ–‡†‘–‡•–‹‰™Š‡–Š‡” Ž‘‰Ž‹•–‘ˆ‘™„›Ǧ ƒ– Š‘”–ƒŽ‹–‹‡• Š‡”‡•—Ž–‹‰†‡ƒ–Š‘ˆ™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡‹ ƒ††‹‰ƒǮ‡• ƒ’‡Šƒ– Šǯ–‘ƒ–”ƒ’ǯ•”‘‘ˆ ‹‡ Ž‘•‡†›ƒ„„›–”ƒ’•‹˜‘Ž˜‹‰–Š‡ –”ƒ’•‹•ƒ•‹‰‹ϐ‹ ƒ–ƒ‹ƒŽ™‡Žˆƒ”‡ ™‘—Ž†ƒŽŽ‘™’Žƒ–›’—•–‘‡• ƒ’‡„‡ˆ‘”‡ ’Žƒ–›’—•ƒ†ƒŽ•‘‘–Š‡”ƒ‹”Ǧ„”‡ƒ–Š‹‰ ‹••—‡Ǥ  ƒ•‡•™Š‡”‡–Š‹• ƒ—•‡•ƒ †”‘™‹‰Ǥ ‘™‡˜‡”ǡ™Š‹Ž‡–Š‡ƒŒ‘”‹–› •’‡ ‹‡••— Šƒ•”ƒƒŽ‹ȋ–Š‡—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ •‹œ‡ƒ„Ž‡’”‘’‘”–‹‘‘ˆƒƒŽ”‡ƒ†›•ƒŽŽ ‘ˆ’Žƒ–›’—•‡•‡š‹–‡†•— ‡••ˆ—ŽŽ›ǡƒˆ–‡” ™ƒ–‡”Ǧ”ƒ–Ȍƒ†ˆ”‡•Š™ƒ–‡”–—”–Ž‡•Ǥ ’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘–‘„‡™‹’‡†‘—–Ȃƒ•™ƒ• –Š‹•‡š–‡•‹˜‡”‡•‡ƒ” Šǡ‹–Šƒ•‘™„‡‡ –”—‡ƒŽ‘‰ƒ„‡”–‘— Š‡”‡‡Ȃ‹–ƒŽ•‘ ‘ Ž—†‡†–Šƒ––Š‡‘„Œ‡ –‹˜‡‘ˆƒͳͲͲ ‡ ”‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽϐ‹•Š‹‰”‡‰—Žƒ–‹‘•Šƒ˜‡ Šƒ•‰‡—‹‡ ‘•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘‹’Ž‹ ƒ–‹‘•Ǥ –”ƒ†‹–‹‘ƒŽŽ›ƒ––‡’–‡†–‘ƒ††”‡•• ’‡” ‡–’Žƒ–›’—•Ǧ•ƒˆ‡‡ Ž‘•‡†›ƒ„„› –Š‡’”‘„Ž‡„›’”‘Š‹„‹–‹‰–Š‡—•‡ Š‡”‡‹•Ž‹––Ž‡”‡ƒ•‘–‘„‡Ž‹‡˜‡–Šƒ– –”ƒ’‹•—Ž‹‡Ž›‡˜‡”–‘„‡ƒ Š‹‡˜‡†Ǥ ‘ˆ‡ Ž‘•‡†–”ƒ’•‹™ƒ–‡”•™Š‡”‡ ‹ ”‡ƒ•‡† ‘—‹–›‡†— ƒ–‹‘ƒ† Š‡ǡ–Š‡”‡ˆ‘”‡ǡ„‡Ž‹‡˜‡•–Šƒ– –Š‡’Žƒ–›’—•‹•‘™–‘‘ —”Ǥ  Žƒ™‡ˆ‘” ‡‡–™‹ŽŽ„‡•—ˆϐ‹ ‹‡– ƒ†ƒ–‹‰ƒ–‘–ƒŽ„ƒ‘–Š‡—•‡‘ˆ ‹ –‘”‹ƒǡ—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒƒ’‹–ƒŽ‡””‹–‘”› –‘•‘Ž˜‡–Š‹•‹••—‡ǤŽ•‘ǡ”ƒƒŽ‹ƒ† ‘’‡”ƒŠ‘—•‡–”ƒ’•ƒ†‘–Š‡”‡ Ž‘•‡† ƒ†‘•–’ƒ”–•‘ˆ‡™‘—–ŠƒŽ‡• –—”–Ž‡•”‡ƒ‹ƒ–”‹•‹ƒ›’Žƒ ‡• ›ƒ„„›–”ƒ’•™‹ŽŽ‘™„‡–Š‡‘Ž›”‡ƒŽ‹•–‹  ƒ†—‡‡•Žƒ†–Š‹•‡••‡–‹ƒŽŽ›‡ƒ• ™Š‡”‡‡ Ž‘•‡†–”ƒ’• ƒ„‡•‡–Ž‡‰ƒŽŽ›ǡ ™ƒ›–‘‹‹‹•‡–Š‡”‹•–Šƒ–™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡‹• –Šƒ––”ƒ’• ƒ‘Ž›„‡Ž‡‰ƒŽŽ›†‡’Ž‘›‡† ’ƒ”–‹ —Žƒ”Ž›‹‘—–Š—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ™Š‡”‡ Šƒ”‡†ƒ•ƒ ‘•‡“—‡ ‡‘ˆ”‡ ”‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ‹’”‹˜ƒ–‡ˆƒ”†ƒ•Ǥˆ‘”–—ƒ–‡Ž›ǡ –”ƒ’†‡’Ž‘›‡–‹ƒŽŽ™ƒ–‡”•‹•ƒŽŽ‘™‡†Ǥ ›ƒ„„›‹‰Ǥ— Šƒ„ƒ™‹ŽŽ”‡“—‹”‡ ‘’‡”ƒŠ‘—•‡–”ƒ’•Ȃ–Š‡‘•–’‘’—Žƒ” ϐ‹•Š‹‰”‡‰—Žƒ–‹‘•–‘„‡ƒ‡†‡†‹ –›’‡‘ˆ‡ Ž‘•‡†–”ƒ’Ȃƒ”‡•‘Ž†‹ Š‡—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒŽƒ–›’—•‘•‡”˜ƒ › ƒŽŽ•–ƒ–‡•ƒ†–‡””‹–‘”‹‡•ȋƒ’ƒ”–ˆ”‘ –Š‡‹”–Š‘—•ƒ†•ǡ‘ˆ–‡ƒ––Š‡ ‘•–‘ˆ ȋȌŠƒ•„‡‡™‘”‹‰ˆ‘”•‡˜‡”ƒŽ ‡•–‡”—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒƒ†ƒ•ƒ‹ƒǡ™Š‡”‡ Œ—•–ƒˆ‡™†‘ŽŽƒ”•‡ƒ ŠǤ‘‹–Ǧ‘ˆǦ•ƒŽ‡ ›‡ƒ”•–‘ƒ††”‡••–Š‡‹••—‡‘ˆ–”ƒ’Ǧ”‡Žƒ–‡† ’”‘Š‹„‹–‹‘•ƒ”‡ƒŽ”‡ƒ†›‹’Žƒ ‡ȌǤ ‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘”‡‰ƒ”†‹‰”‡•–”‹ –‹‘•‘ ‘”–ƒŽ‹–›ǡ’ƒ”–‹ —Žƒ”Ž›„› ƒ””›‹‰‘—– –”ƒ’—•‡‹•‘ˆ–‡™‘‡ˆ—ŽŽ›‹ƒ†‡“—ƒ–‡Ǣ •–—†‹‡•–‘‹†‡–‹ˆ›•ƒˆ‡”›ƒ„„›–”ƒ’ Above: Adult male platypus found dead in ”‡–ƒ‹Ž‡”•ƒ”‡‘–‘„Ž‹‰‡†–‘‹ˆ‘” †‡•‹‰•ǤŠ‡’Žƒ–›’—•ǯ••–”‡ƒŽ‹‡† enclosed cray trap in Yarra River. Photo: Mike —•–‘‡”•ƒ„‘—–”‡•–”‹ –‹‘•‘—•ƒ‰‡ •Šƒ’‡ƒ†ƒ„‹Ž‹–›–‘•“—‡‡œ‡–Š”‘—‰Š Sverns. Image provided by DEWLP (Department ‘”’”‘˜‹†‡‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹˜‡Žƒ„‡ŽŽ‹‰‘ •ƒŽŽ‘’‡‹‰•ƒ‡‹–†‹ˆϐ‹ —Ž––‘†‡•‹‰ of Environment, Land, Water and Planning)

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 11 –‡”‡•–‹‰Ž›ǡ„‘–Š ‹•Šȋ–Š‡’‡ƒ ”‡’”‡•‡–ƒ–‹˜‡„‘†›ˆ‘””‡ ”‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ƒ‰Ž‡”•‹‹ –‘”‹ƒȌƒ†–Š‡‡ ”‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ‹•Š‹‰‡™‘—–ŠƒŽ‡•†˜‹•‘”› ‘— ‹Žȋ ȌŠƒ˜‡‘™ ƒŽŽ‡†ˆ‘” •— Šƒ„ƒǡƒ†‹–‹•„‡Ž‹‡˜‡†–Šƒ–•–‡’• ƒ”‡‘™„‡‹‰–ƒ‡‹‡™‘—–Š ƒŽ‡•–‘ ‘•‹†‡””‡‰—Žƒ–‘”›ƒ –‹‘‹ ”‡•’‘•‡–‘ ǯ•’‘•‹–‹‘Ǥ

–‹•ƒ ‘™Ž‡†‰‡†–Šƒ––Š‡”‡ƒ”‡ƒ› Š‹‰ŠŽ›”‡•’‘•‹„Ž‡—•‡”•‘ˆ‡ Ž‘•‡† ›ƒ„„›–”ƒ’•ǡ‹ Ž—†‹‰Žƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”•™Š‘ Šƒ˜‡„‡‡›ƒ„„›‹‰ˆ‘”‰‡‡”ƒ–‹‘• ‹ˆƒ”†ƒ•™‹–Š‘—– ƒ—•‹‰ƒ› Šƒ”–‘‘Ǧ–ƒ”‰‡–•’‡ ‹‡•Ǥ ‘™‡˜‡”ǡ ‹–•Š‘—Ž†ƒŽ•‘„‡”‡ ‘‰‹•‡†–Šƒ– ƒŽ–‡”ƒ–‹˜‡”‡ ”‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ›ƒ„„›‹‰ ‡–Š‘†•Ȃ•— Šƒ•Š‘‘’ȀŽ‹ˆ–‡–•Ȃ‡š‹•– –Šƒ–ƒ”‡„‘–Š’”‘†— –‹˜‡ƒ†•ƒˆ‡ˆ‘” Two of the fi ve platypuses found dead in opera house traps in Labertouche Creek. Photo: Mike Sverns ƒ‹”Ǧ„”‡ƒ–Š‹‰™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡Ǥ Š‡’Žƒ–›’—•‹•ƒ‹ ‘‹ •’‡ ‹‡•ǡƒ† –Š‡˜ƒ•–ƒŒ‘”‹–›‘ˆ—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ•™‘—Ž† ‘–ƒ ‡’–ƒ›‘ˆ–Š‡„‡‹‰‹ŽŽ‡†ˆ‘” –Š‡•ƒ‡‘ˆƒˆ‡™”‡ ”‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ›ƒ„„‹‡•Ǥ

IT’S TIME TO BAN THE USE OF ENCLOSED YABBY TRAPS

Editor’s note: Geoff Williams has been Director of the Australian Platypus Conservancy since its foundation in 1994. Before that, he was Director of Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria Yabbies can be captured safely and effectively (1988−1993) and Assistant Director of A healthy platypus. Photo: Geoff Williams in hoop or lift nets. Photo: Geoff Williams Sydney’s Taronga Zoo (1985−1988).

Two opera house traps containing fi ve drowned platypuses, discovered in Labertouche Creek. Photo: Mike Sverns

12 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 IS IT TOO LATE FOR THE KOALA? Linda Dennis We all know that the koala is in terrible Australian sheep infected with the that some koala food eucalyptus trouble. We know of the major threats disease and as a result, koalas are trees are highly sensitive to salt. With – apart from us, which is the biggie. now being found with this strain of climate change comes the risk of rising There is disease, habitat loss, urban chlamydia. sea levels and if the salt doesn’t cause development, logging, climate change, complete dieback of trees, then it will There are multiple strains of chlamydia bushƤre, domestic predator attack and cause stunted growth and poor nutrient in our environment aơecting a range roadkill and injury. levels leaving little food for koalas on of diơerent hosts, 12 strains to be the coast. It has been determined that exact. Chlamydia pneumoniae is the In early June I attended the 2017 National 23 percent of koala habitat in swamp strain that aơects the koala (and also Koala Conference – ‘Their Future is forests will be aơected by sealevel rise humans!) with Chlamydia percorum in our Hands’ χ in Port Macquarie, in 100 years. Perhaps this is not as great now also being found. New South Wales, hosted by the Port as other immediate threats; however, Macquarie Koala Hospital. Around 200 Victorian koalas fare better when it unless we start making some major of the very best koala minds (and also, comes to chlamydia with fewer animals changes, we are looking at the severe me!) came together to talk the koala being tested for the disease. One decline of good koala habitat within talk. There were scientists, veterinarians, speaker noted that it might be the Ƥve years. One of these changes could university students and professors, chlamydia-free southern koalas that be simply collecting eucalypt seed from environmentalists, zookeepers, save the species from extinction. saline areas for planting on the coast. conservation campaigners, ecologists and wildlife carers. The list of speakers However, oxalate nephrosis (kidney In most states, Ƥnancial growth is was incredibly impressive and the range disease) is rife in southern koalas. considered more important than of topics just as much so. Unlike chlamydia, this disease is maintaining good quality habitat for non-treatable and only those animals our wildlife. Logging has increased It was a little – OK, a lot χ depressing brought into care and on a continual tenfold in many areas and, sadly, the to hear that chlamydia is now found medical regime can be saved. So maybe in every single koala in Queensland. It Above: Westhaven Barry, a koala that had the koala is not so safe after all! doesn’t help the species when domestic scoliosis. He was in permanent care at Port livestock are carriers for Chlamydia How will climate change aơect koalas? Macquarie Koala Hospital before his death a percorum with 30 to 40 percent of Sadly, in several ways, one issue being couple of years ago. Photo: Linda Dennis

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 13 dollar outweighs Australian native ƪora and fauna every time. Tracey Wilson from Mosswood Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Victoria made the most heart-wrenching impact at the conference. Tracey Ƥrst spoke to us at the 2013 conference about the terrible logging issues in her region of Portland by the Australian blue gum logging industry. Today, things are no better. Fair to say, probably worse. After the last conference, the ABC’s 7.30 Report broke the news of inhumane practices due to lack of koala management within the logging industry to a national audience. Koalas were found dead, burnt, impaled or with limbs severed. We were all shocked and appalled. These practices continue today. Thanks to Tracey’s public outcries, a detailed Koala Management Plan was implemented by the Victorian government with instructions such as that a permit must be applied for by the industry whenever there are impacts to koalas. However, we have been told that most standards are not followed. Josey Sharrad from IFAW and Bear, the koala detection dog. Photo: IFAW Portland in the south-west of Victoria (south-east Australia) is the largest port for hardwood chips in the world. The species of eucalypt planted within the industry are blue gums, and in all fairness, this is a species that is not thought to be high on the koala diet. When there is little else to be eaten by the koalas, it becomes rather tantalising to their palates – and subsequently, they are seen as pests within the logging industry. The area now has over 80,000 hectares of blue gum plantation in once good koala habitat, and there are around eight koalas found within one hectare of a plantation. Important habitat trees, such as manna gum, are left within the logging zone for koala use; however, if a koala vacates one of those trees for any length of time, the tree is cut down. The Portland region is looking at mass koala starvation and continued death and injury. Translocation is not an option as there is nowhere for the animals to go and the cost of a translocation would be met χ by whom? Neither the logging industry nor the government has shown interest in koalas within logging zones so it’s safe to say the cost would not be met by them. An alternative idea of hormone injections to sterilise koalas is also very Koala being treated at Australia Zoo after being hit by a car. Photo: Linda Dennis expensive – so again, who will pay?

14 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 There is also the issue of koalas moving out of the logging zones (after harvesting) and into neighbouring private land and as a result, stands of manna gum are being stripped bare by displaced and very, very hungry koalas. So not only is there an issue with the lack of koala management with the logging industry but there is also an issue with many landowners illegally shooting koalas to protect environmentally important trees. It’s a double-edged sword. I told you, the news is pretty depressing. But there is some good stuơ happening out there! We heard of two separate projects using trained dogs to assist in koala management. In the Port Macquarie region Steve Austin, a well-known Sydney-based dog trainer, is assisting the council in running training sessions that teach dogs living in koala habitat not to interact with (or kill) koalas. In the trial period of this project, 30 dog owners and their dogs were involved, and L to R: Award winners Damien Higgins, Lorraine Vass, Faye Wedrowicz, Adam Polkinghorne and we were told the results so far have been Tracey Wilson. very positive. Data dissemination and reassessment of the project was conducted in September 2017. In a parallel project, Steve Austin is also training dogs to seek and Ƥnd koalas by searching for koala scats. During the conference dinner, Steve gave us a rather impressive presentation using one of his highly trained dogs, Taz, to sniơ out koala poo, which Steve had placed at a random spot among the audience. Finding a small amount of poo would not be an easy feat in a room of eager, noisy, celebratory conference delegates! But Ƥnd the poo Taz did – in a matter of seconds – and was rewarded with a game of fetch-the-ball afterwards, which for Taz is what it’s all about. A partnership – or as they like to call it, ‘koalaborative’ work – between the University of the Sunshine Coast, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Queensland Koala Crusaders have another koala dog project underway. The dogs, all rescued shelter dogs like the internet sensation ‘Bear’, are put through stringent training by the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC). USC speciƤcally looks for dogs with speciƤc qualities: obsession with balls, high energy, and generally very demanding – qualities that sadly mean these dogs are often not considered suitable as pets. But they are perfect as detection dogs once given proper training. Bear is highly focused and brilliant at focusing on one thing – which makes him perfectly suited for the job. He also has zero prey drive, which is essential for wildlife detection dogs as they need to focus purely Happy snap of a koala! Photo: Linda Dennis

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 15 on the scent and not the animal, ultimately ignoring the animal when they follow the scent to its destination. Like Taz, Bear is driven by the ball and is rewarded with play time after a successful koala Ƥnd. The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, led by Clinical Director Cheyne Flanagan, is a supportive bunch of koala conservationists and carers who see the importance of lifting up others with a similar dream in their endeavour to save koalas. This year’s conference, organised and implemented by the hospital, saw the Inaugural Golden Leaf Awards of Excellence, giving recognition to those in the koala conservation community who have shone brightly in their Ƥelds. The awards, beautifully designed and handmade by Scott Castle (Assistant Clinical Director), were awarded to: Research Institution Award Associate Professor Adam Polkinghorne University Sunshine Coast, QLD Young Upcoming Researcher Award Faye Wedrowicz Federation University, VIC Individual Award Tracey Wilson Mosswood Koala and Wildlife Shelter Koroit, VIC Spirit in Science χ Community Outreach Award Associate Professor Damien Higgins Koala Health Hub Steve Austin’s koala detection dog, just after she found the koala scat. Photo: Linda Dennis University Sydney, NSW Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility Award President Lorraine Vass Friends of the Koala Northern Rivers, NSW At the 2013 National Koala Conference Meghan Halverson, founder of the Queensland Koala Crusaders said: “While we are talking, they are dying.” They are words to haunt your dreams. At this conference, her message was not much cheerier: “We are still talking, and they are still dying.” It is clear that all those striving to save the koala are working harder and smarter and together to ensure the survival of the species. But is it too late? How are you going to ensure that the koala is not pushed over the edge to extinction? Footnote: some of the conference presentations are now available to download at: http://www.koalahospital. org.au/national-koala-conference- Koala being treated at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. Photo: Linda Dennis presentations

16 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 Extinction is not an option Introducing Aussie Ark: Giving hope to an entire ecosystem

Aussie Ark is an innovative conservation On completion of this phase of The vision initiative committed to delivering results the project, Aussie Ark will seek for some of Australia’s most imperilled to expand into further stages of With a vision of returning various mammals, including the Tasmanian additional species. The project marsupial species to the eastern devil and the eastern quoll. will also provide a sanctuary for a highlands of Australia, Aussie Ark will provide on-the-ground conservation This incredible project aims to diversity of threatened plants and on a scale never before attempted. establish insurance populations of animals that currently exist in the By focussing on the protection of key six of Australia’s most threatened region, including numerous species species in feral-proof fenced reserves, mammal species in a semi-wild, of orchids, the yellow-bellied glider additional future release to large predator-free zone in the Barrington and the Hastings River mouse. protected areas is feasible. Tops of New South Wales. Building upon the innovative and Aussie Ark along with sister facility The Aussie Ark project is a world-recognised Devil Ark model, the Devil Ark is set in the beautiful continuation of the innovative and next stage of Aussie Ark involves the heritage-listed Barrington Tops in highly successful Devil Ark which has construction of a 375-hectare feral-free New South Wales, eastern Australia. demonstrated what can be achieved. fenced area; allowing for the initial Set on 500 hectares and 1,350 The quoll, in its four Australian holding of eastern quolls, eastern metres above sea level, Aussie Ark species forms, plays an important bettongs, Tasmanian devils, southern provides the ideal location for the role in Australia’s ecosystems. This brown bandicoots, long-nosed establishment of large-scale holdings potoroos and Parma wallabies. of eight mammals. Above: Tasmanian devil

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 17 role includes keeping it clean through scavenging on carrion on the forest ƪ oor. It is also a natural predator which maintains the balance in the bush. Extinction of the eastern quoll from the mainland of Australia occurred in 1963 due to red foxes and cats. A small population currently thrives in Tasmania. Aussie Ark intends to establish a robust insurance population, harvestable and suitable for semi-wild release leading to eventual reintroduction to the wild.

The Tasmanian devil is critical to the wilderness of Tasmania; it plays an important role in the ecosystem as the top order predator, protecting many smaller mammal species from the invasion and threat of foxes and cats. They help keep the balance right! Over 90 percent of the species is already gone due to the devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), which has traversed almost the entire state of Tasmania. A vaccine was Ƥ rst trialled in 2015; and some devils are also showing resistance to DFTD. An international study involving multiple institutions over six years has shown that immunotherapy can cure Tasmanian devils of the Eastern quoll deadly devil facial tumour disease.

Bandicoot

18 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 The research was led by the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research with input from the School of Medicine. It also involved the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and the Universities of Sydney, Southampton, Southern Denmark and Cambridge. Building a good understanding of the devil’s immune system, which goes hand in hand with the development of a vaccine, involves years of painstaking laboratory work.

The Parma wallaby is currently listed as near threatened and vulnerable in New South Wales. In recent decades their population has crashed and is now conƤ ned to thinning populations along the coast and central and northern ranges in New South Wales. Bettong The main threats to the wallaby are habitat destruction and fragmentation, especially of the forest understorey, and the predation by introduced predators such as the cat and fox that have a high presence in the wallaby’s habitat.

The bandicoot in New South Wales is now considered endangered and rare. Populations are isolated and contracting due to threats of Ƥ re regimes, habitat destruction, habitat degradation and predation by cats and foxes. Most local extinctions have been within the last decade. This species in an ecological engineer. It helps aerate soil and leaf litter assisting in natural litter breakdown, penetration of seedlings, organic mixing and thus improving nutrient availability for plants. These animals also help Parma wallaby spread mycorrhizal fungi through the ecosystem, which assist plants in nutrient absorption.

The potoroo was once widespread along the east coast of Australia, but this marsupial’s range has decreased and its population is now considered unstable. Populations are now scattered and insecure with local extinctions taking place. Isolation of populations makes it diƥ cult for breeding. Two close relatives of this rat-kangaroo species are already extinct and with so many present-day threats to the potoroo, its future is uncertain. This species is important in improving the health of the bush in which it lives by dispersing a host of beneƤ cial fungal spores as they forage and move around.

Website: http://www.aussieark.org.au/ Long nose potoroo. Photo: Sharon Wormleaton

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 19 Black Mountain Forbidding place or refuge? Sabine Borgis

Anyone who has ever travelled on the Mulligan Highway (the inland road) in ‘˜‡”Ž›‹‰•‡†‹‡–•‡”‘†‡†–‘‡š’‘•‡ Far North Queensland would be familiar with Black Mountain, 25 kilometres –Š‡‰”ƒ‹–‡ǡ Š‡‹ ƒŽƒ†’Š›•‹ ƒŽ south of Cooktown. You simply cannot miss it, unless you are driving in the ™‡ƒ–Š‡”‹‰„‡‰ƒ–Š‡’”‘ ‡••‘ˆ dark. After driving through miles of savannah woodland, interrupted only „”‡ƒ‹‰—’–Š‡”‘ ƒŽ‘‰ƒ‡–™‘” by the townships of Mount Carbine and Lakeland, suddenly there it is, like ‘ˆˆ”ƒ –—”‡•ǤŠ‹•’”‘ ‡••‹• ‘–‹—‹‰ piles of black boulders imposed on the landscape like charred remains. Black Mountain (Kalkajaka) National Park, part of the Black Trevethan Range, covers –‘†ƒ›ǡŽ‡ƒ˜‹‰„‘—Ž†‡”•• ƒ––‡”‡†‘–Š‡ an area totalling only approximately 600 hectares, at the northern end of the •—”ˆƒ ‡ƒ•‡˜‹†‡ ‡†„›•‘‡•—”ˆƒ ‡• Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. •Š‘™‹‰Ž‹‰Š–‡” ‘Ž‘—”‡†”‘ Ǥ –‹•ƒ Žƒ†ˆ‘”‘–—Ž‹‡–Š‡ƒ›„‘—Ž†‡” Source of mystery and legend ˜‡–—”‡„‡Ž‘™–Š‡•—”ˆƒ ‡ǡ‡”‡Ž› ϐ‹‡Ž†•ˆ‘—†‘ƒ•ƒ‹ƒǯ•†‘Ž‡”‹–‡ „‘—Ž†‡”ǦŠ‘’’‹‰ƒŽ‹––Ž‡—–‹Ž–Š‡Š‡ƒ– ’‡ƒ•ǡ„—–‘Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹–Š‡ Š‡‹†‹‰‡‘—•ƒ•–‡”——ƒŽƒŒ‹ ƒ†•‘‡ˆ”‘ƒϐ‹”‡•‘‡™Š‡”‡†”‘˜‡ ’”‘ ‡••”‡•’‘•‹„Ž‡ˆ‘”‹–• ‘–‹—‹‰ —•–‘†‹ƒ• ƒŽŽŽƒ ‘—–ƒ‹ —•„ƒ –‘–Š‡ƒ‹”Ǧ ‘†‹–‹‘‡† ƒ”ǤŠ‡”‡ †‹•‹–‡‰”ƒ–‹‘‹•‘–ˆ”‘•–•Šƒ––‡”‹‰„—– ƒŽƒŒƒƒǡ™Š‹ Š‡ƒ•Ǯ’Žƒ ‡‘ˆ•’‡ƒ”ǯǡ Š‡ƒ–Ǧ•Šƒ––‡”‹‰ǤŠ‡„Žƒ  ‘Ž‘—”‹‰‘ˆ ƒ†–Š‡›Šƒ˜‡•‡˜‡”ƒŽ”‡ƒ‹‰•–‘”‹‡• Šƒ˜‡„‡‡‘–Š‡”–ƒŽ‡•Ȃ‘””—‘—”•Ȃ‘ˆ –Š‡Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹”‘ •‹•ƒ––”‹„—–‡† ƒ†•’‡ ‹ƒŽ —Ž–—”ƒŽ•‹–‡•™‹–Š‹–Š‡ƒ”‡ƒǤ –Š‡†‹•ƒ’’‡ƒ”ƒ ‡‘ˆ’‡‘’Ž‡ǡŠ‘”•‡•ƒ† –‘ƒϐ‹Ž‘ˆ‹ ”‘• ‘’‹ ϐ‹Žƒ‡–‘—• ˆ›‘—‰‘‘‰Ž‡ǮŽƒ ‘—–ƒ‹ǯǡ›‘—™‹ŽŽ ƒ––Ž‡ǡ‘”–Š‡‹””‡Ǧ‡‡”‰‹‰ˆ”‘–Š‹• ›ƒ‘„ƒ –‡”‹ƒǤ‘‡Šƒ˜‡•—‰‰‡•–‡†‹–‹• ϐ‹†‘–‘Ž›•‹–‡•†‡• ”‹„‹‰‹–•ƒ–—”ƒŽ Ǯ—†‡”™‘”Ž†ǯ–‡””‹ϐ‹‡†ǤŠ‡›–Š•‡˜‡ Š‹•–‘”›„—–ƒŽ•‘–Š‘•‡ƒ‹‰”‡ˆ‡”‡ ‡ •–”‡– Š•‘ˆƒ”ƒ• •ǡƒŽ‹‡•ƒ†‘–Š‡” Ž‹ Š‡ǢƒŽ–Š‘—‰Š †‹†•‡‡•‡˜‡”ƒŽ•’‡ ‹‡• –‘‹–•›•–‡”‹‘—•’Š‡‘‡ƒǤŠ‡ƒ› •–”ƒ‰‡ ”‡ƒ–—”‡•ǡ™Š‹ Šƒ”‡ Ž‡ƒ”Ž› ‘ˆŽ‹ Š‡ƒŽ•‘ǡ–Š‡•‡™‡”‡‘–„Žƒ  ’ƒ••ƒ‰‡•ƒ† Šƒ„‡”•„‡‡ƒ–ŠŽƒ  ‘—–•‹†‡›‡š’‡”–‹•‡ǥ ƒ†‘ —””‡†‹— Š•ƒŽŽ‡”’ƒ– Š‡•Ǥ ‘—–ƒ‹ƒ”‡•ƒ‹†–‘‰‹˜‡”‹•‡–‘•–”ƒ‰‡ Ž‘‘–Š”‘—‰Šƒƒ‰‹ˆ›‹‰Ž‡• Geomorphological origins ‘‹•‡•ƒ†‡„›–Š‡™‹†ƒ†™ƒ–‡”ǡƒ† ‘ϐ‹”‡†–Š‡’”‡•‡ ‡‘ˆƒϐ‹Žƒ‡–‘—• ’‘ ‡–•‘ˆˆ‘—Žƒ‹”Ǥ„‘˜‡–Š‡•—”ˆƒ ‡ǡ ‡•’‹–‡‹–•†ƒ”ƒ’’‡ƒ”ƒ ‡ǡ–Š‡ ƒ–ǤŠ‹•†ƒ” ‘ƒ–‹‰Šƒ•ƒ’Š›•‹ ƒŽ –Š‡”‡Šƒ˜‡„‡‡”‡’‘”–•‘ˆ‡š’Ž‘†‹‰ Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ƒ –—ƒŽŽ› ‡ˆˆ‡ –ǣ— Š‘”‡•‘Žƒ””ƒ†‹ƒ–‹‘‹• ”‘ •ƒ†‡˜‡ƒ‹” ”ƒˆ––—”„—Ž‡ ‡Ǥ ‘•‹•–•‘ˆŽ‹‰Š–Ǧ‰”‡›‰”ƒ‹–‡ǡˆ‘”‡† Š‡•‡ƒ”‡ƒŽŽ“—‹–‡’Žƒ—•‹„Ž‡ǡ–Š‘—‰Š  ƒ’’”‘š‹ƒ–‡Ž›ʹ͸Ͳ‹ŽŽ‹‘›‡ƒ”•ƒ‰‘ Above: Black Mountain boulderfrog (Cophixalus ƒ‘– ‘ϐ‹”ƒ›‘ˆ–Š‡•‡’Š‡‘‡ƒ †—”‹‰–Š‡‡”‹ƒ’‡”‹‘†ǡ™Š‡ƒ saxatilis), female (foreground) and male ƒ•‹–™ƒ•‡‹–Š‡”™‹†›ǡ‘”†‹†™‡ „‘†›‘ˆƒ‰ƒ ‘‘Ž‡†•Ž‘™Ž›Ǥ•–Š‡ (background). Photo: © 2010 Eric Vanderduys

20 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 ƒ„•‘”„‡†„›–Š‡„‘—Ž†‡”•ǡ ƒ—•‹‰–Š‡ –‘Š‡ƒ–—’ ‘•‹†‡”ƒ„Ž›ǤŠ‡— Š ‘Ž†‡””ƒ‹†”‘’••–”‹‡–Š‡•—”ˆƒ ‡ǡ–Š‹• ƒ ƒ—•‡–Š‡”‘ –‘•Šƒ––‡”‡š’Ž‘•‹˜‡Ž›ǡ –Š—•ƒ ‡Ž‡”ƒ–‹‰–Š‡’”‘ ‡••‘ˆ „”‡ƒ‹‰—’Ǥ— ‹Ž›‹–†‹†‘–”ƒ‹™Š‹Ž‡ ™‡™‡”‡–Š‡”‡Ǥ A lithorefugium for endemic species •‹Š‘•’‹–ƒ„Ž‡ƒ•Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹ ƒ›ƒ’’‡ƒ”–‘’‡‘’Ž‡ǡ‹–‹•‘ˆ‡ ‘Ž‘‰‹ ƒŽ •‹‰‹ϐ‹ ƒ ‡ƒ•ƒ•‘Ǧ ƒŽŽ‡†Ž‹–Š‘”‡ˆ—‰‹— Ȃƒ‰‡‘Ž‘‰‹ ƒŽˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘–Šƒ–’”‘˜‹†‡• •—‹–ƒ„Ž‡‡˜‹”‘‡–ƒŽ ‘†‹–‹‘•ˆ‘” •‘‡•’‡ ‹‡•–Šƒ–Šƒ˜‡„‡ ‘‡‡š–‹ – ‹–Š‡•—””‘—†‹‰ƒ”‡ƒǤŠ‡ƒ› ƒ˜‡•ƒ†’ƒ••ƒ‰‡•’”‘˜‹†‡•Š‡Ž–‡” ˆ”‘–Š‡Š‡ƒ–ƒ†„—•Šϐ‹”‡•Ǥ”‘’‹ ƒŽ ”ƒ‹ˆ‘”‡•–™‘—Ž†Šƒ˜‡‘ ‡ ‘˜‡”‡†–Š‹• Black Mountain gecko (Nactus galgajuga). Photo: © 2011 Stephen Zozaya ƒ”‡ƒ„—–ƒ•–Š‡ Ž‹ƒ–‡„‡ ƒ‡‘”‡ ƒ”‹†ǡ‹–”‡–”‡ƒ–‡†–‘–Š‡ ‘ƒ•–Ǥ–—†‹‡• ‘’ƒ”‹‰–Š‡‘ˆ–Š‡‡†‡‹  •’‡ ‹‡•‘ˆŽƒ ‘—–ƒ‹–‘”‡Žƒ–‡† ‘‡•Ž‹˜‹‰‹‡ƒ”„›”ƒ‹ˆ‘”‡•–Šƒ˜‡ ‘ϐ‹”‡†–Š‹•‡˜‘Ž—–‹‘ƒ”› ‘‡ –‹‘ ȋ—‡‡•Žƒ†—•‡—ǡʹͲͳͳȌǤ ‡‰‡–ƒ–‹‘‹•˜‡”›•’ƒ”•‡ƒ‘‰•––Š‡ Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹„‘—Ž†‡”•„‡ ƒ—•‡‘ˆƒ Žƒ ‘ˆ•‘‹ŽǤƒ–‹˜‡ϐ‹‰–”‡‡•ƒ”‡ƒ„Ž‡–‘ ‡š–‡†–Š‡‹”Ž‘‰”‘‘–•–‘”‡ƒ Š™ƒ–‡” ƒ††‹••‘Ž˜‡†—–”‹‡–•—†‡”–Š‡ „‘—Ž†‡”•Ǥ‘‡‘ˆ–Š‡Šƒ”†‹‡””ƒ‹ˆ‘”‡•– •’‡ ‹‡••— Šƒ••–‹‰‹‰–”‡‡•ǡ—„”‡ŽŽƒ –”‡‡•ǡˆ‡”•ƒ†˜‹‡•Šƒ˜‡‡•–ƒ„Ž‹•Š‡† ƒ––Š‡ˆ‘‘–‘ˆ–Š‡‘—–ƒ‹Ǥ Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹‹•Š‘‡–‘–Š”‡‡ ‡†‡‹ ƒ‹ƒŽ•’‡ ‹‡•ǡŽ‹•–‡†ƒ• ˜—Ž‡”ƒ„Ž‡ǣ–Š‡Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹ ”ƒ‹„‘™Ǧ•‹ȋLiburnascincus scirtetisȌǡ Boulders in Black Mountain National Park. Stinging tree growing amongst boulders. –Š‡Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹„‘—Ž†‡”ˆ”‘‰ Photo: Sabine Borgis Photo: Sabine Borgis ȋCophixalus saxatilisȌƒ†–Š‡Žƒ  ‘—–ƒ‹‰‡ ‘ȋNactus galgajugaȌǤ Š‡Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹”ƒ‹„‘™Ǧ•‹‹• †‹•–‹‰—‹•Š‡†„›‹–•†ƒ” ‘Ž‘—”ǡŽ‘‰ Ž‡‰•ƒ†Ǯ†— ǯ•„‹ŽŽǯ•‘—–Ǥ •—Ž‹‰Š– ‹–‰Ž‹•–‡•‰”‡‡™‹–Š›‡ŽŽ‘™•’‡ •‘ ‹–•Ž‹„•ƒ†ƒ‰‘Ž†‡•–”‹’‡”—‹‰ ƒŽ‘‰‹–•„ƒ Ǥ –‹•ƒ –‹˜‡†—”‹‰–Š‡ †ƒ›ǡŠ—–‹‰‘–Š‡„‘—Ž†‡”•‘”„ƒ•‹‰ ‹•—Ž‹‰Š–ǡ„—–”‡–”‡ƒ–‹‰–‘•Š‡Ž–‡” ˆ”‘–Š‡ϐ‹‡” ‡•–Š‡ƒ–Ǥ Š‡Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹„‘—Ž†‡”ˆ”‘‰ „‡Ž‘‰•–‘–Š‡ˆƒ‹Ž›‹ ”‘Š›Ž‹†ƒ‡ǡ ‘”ƒŽŽ›ˆ‘—†‘Ž›‹”ƒ‹ˆ‘”‡•–Ž‡ƒˆ Ž‹––‡”Ǥ –‹•™ƒŽ—–Ǧ•‹œ‡†ǡ–Š‡„”‹‰Š– ›‡ŽŽ‘™ˆ‡ƒŽ‡„‡‹‰•Ž‹‰Š–Ž›Žƒ”‰‡”–Šƒ –Š‡‘––Ž‡†Ǧ„”‘™ƒŽ‡ǤŠ‡ˆ‡ƒŽ‡ „‘—Ž†‡”ˆ”‘‰†‘‡•‘–Žƒ›‹–•‡‰‰•‹ ™ƒ–‡”Ǥ –•›‘—‰†‘‘–‰‘–Š”‘—‰Šƒ –ƒ†’‘Ž‡•–ƒ‰‡Ǣˆ”‘‰Ž‡–•†‡˜‡Ž‘’†‹”‡ –› ˆ”‘–Š‡‡‰‰•ǤŠ‡ˆ”‘‰•‡‡”‰‡ƒ–‹‰Š– View of Black Mountain from the lookout. Photo: Sabine Borgis

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 21 –‘ˆ‘”ƒ‰‡ˆ‘”‹•‡ –•‘–Š‡„‘—Ž†‡”•ƒ† ƒ‘‰•––Š‡ϐ‹‰•ƒ†ˆ”‹‰‹‰‘•‘‘ ˆ‘”‡•–ǤŠ‡ƒŽ‡ǯ• ƒŽŽ‹•†‡• ”‹„‡†ƒ•ƒ Ǯ•Šƒ”’–ƒ’’‹‰ǯ•‘—†Ǥ

Š‡Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹‰‡ ‘‹•ƒŽ•‘ ‘ –—”ƒŽƒ†˜‡”›ƒ‰‹Ž‡Ǥ –‹•‘ˆ ‘––Ž‡†’—”’Ž‹•ŠǦ„”‘™ ‘Ž‘—”ǡ „‡ƒ—–‹ˆ—ŽŽ› ƒ‘—ϐŽƒ‰‡†ƒ‰ƒ‹•––Š‡ ‰”ƒ‹–‡„‘—Ž†‡”•ǡƒ†‘ƒ˜‡”ƒ‰‡ϐ‹˜‡ ‡–‹‡–”‡•Ž‘‰ǤŠ‡‰‡ ‘–ƒ‡•‹–• •’‡ ‹‡•ƒ‡ˆ”‘ƒ•’‡ŽŽ‹‰˜ƒ”‹ƒ–‘ˆ –Š‡„‘”‹‰‹ƒŽƒ‡ˆ‘”Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹Ǥ

ˆ‘”–—ƒ–‡Ž›ǡ™‡ ‘—Ž†‘–•–ƒ›‘ ‹–‘–Š‡‹‰Š––‘–”›–‘•’‘––Š‡ˆ”‘‰ƒ† –Š‡‰‡ ‘ǡ„—––Š‡•‹’”‘˜‡†˜‡”› ‡ƒ•›–‘ϐ‹†ƒ•‹–‹•ƒ –‹˜‡†—”‹‰–Š‡ †ƒ›Ǣ™‡•ƒ™ƒ–Ž‡ƒ•––™‘•‹•„ƒ•‹‰ ‹–Š‡ƒˆ–‡”‘‘•—‘–Š‡„‘—Ž†‡”•Ǥ

Žƒ ‘—–ƒ‹‹•Š‘‡–‘ƒ›‘–Š‡” ƒ‹ƒŽ•’‡ ‹‡•ǡ‹ Ž—†‹‰‘–Š‡”‰‡ ‘• ƒ†•‹•Ǣ•‡˜‡”ƒŽ’›–Š‘•’‡ ‹‡•ǡ †‡ƒ–Šƒ††‡”ƒ†„”‘™–”‡‡•ƒ‡Ǣ „Žƒ ‹–‡ƒ†—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ•™‹ϐŽ‡–Ǣ•‡˜‡”ƒŽ ƒ–‹˜‡”‘†‡–•’‡ ‹‡•Ǣ–Š‡‡†ƒ‰‡”‡† ‘”–Š‡”“—‘ŽŽǢ ‘†ƒǯ•”‘ Ǧ Black Mountain rainbow-skink (Liburnascincus scirtetis), basking in the afternoon sun. ™ƒŽŽƒ„›Ǣ–Š”‡‡•’‡ ‹‡•‘ˆϐŽ›‹‰Ǧˆ‘šƒ† Photo: Sabine Borgis —‡”‘—•‹•‡ –‹˜‘”‘—•„ƒ–••’‡ ‹‡•ǡ ƒ•™‡ŽŽƒ•–Š‡˜—Ž‡”ƒ„Ž‡ ƒ”‹˜‘”‘—• ‰Š‘•–„ƒ–ǡ™Š‹ Šˆ‡‡†•‘–Š‡ƒ„—†ƒ– •ƒŽŽ‡”„ƒ–•ǡŽ‹œƒ”†•ƒ†ˆ”‘‰•Ǥ

–Œ—•–‰‘‡•–‘•Š‘™–Šƒ–•‹œ‡‹•ǯ–ƒŽ™ƒ›• ‡˜‡”›–Š‹‰™Š‡‹– ‘‡•–‘”‡•‡”˜‡•Ǥ ˜‡•— Šƒ•ƒŽŽƒ†•‡‡‹‰Ž› ‹Š‘•’‹–ƒ„Ž‡ƒ”‡ƒ ƒ„‡‘ˆ‰”‡ƒ– ‡ ‘Ž‘‰‹ ƒŽ•‹‰‹ϐ‹ ƒ ‡ƒ††‡•‡”˜‡• ‘—”’”‘–‡ –‹‘Ǥ ˆ‘”‘‡Ž‘‘ˆ‘”™ƒ”†–‘ ”‡˜‹•‹–‹‰–Š‹•‹–”‹‰—‹‰’Žƒ ‡‘‡†ƒ›Ǥ

References and further reading ‡’ƒ”–‡–‘ˆƒ–‹‘ƒŽƒ”•ǡ’‘”–ƒ† ƒ ‹‰ȋʹͲͳ͹ȌǡǮŽƒ ‘—–ƒ‹ȋƒŽƒŒƒƒȌ ƒ–‹‘ƒŽƒ”ǣƒ–—”‡ǡ—Ž–—”‡ƒ† ‹•–‘”›ǯǡ Š––’•ǣȀȀ™™™Ǥ’•”Ǥ“Ž†Ǥ‰‘˜Ǥƒ—Ȁ’ƒ”•Ȁ„Žƒ Ǧ ‘—–ƒ‹Ȁ —Ž–—”‡ǤŠ–Ž š’Ž‘”‡ ‹††‡ƒ†• ƒ’‡• ȋʹͲͳ͸ȌǡǮŽƒ ‘—–ƒ‹ǯǡŠ––’•ǣȀȀ™™™Ǥ ‡š’Ž‘”‡Š‹††‡Žƒ†• ƒ’‡•“Ǥ ‘Ǥƒ—Ȁ„Žƒ Ǧ ‘—–ƒ‹ —‡‡•Žƒ†—•‡—‡–™‘”Ž‘‰ȋʹͲͳͳȌǡ Ǯ‘ ”‡ˆ—‰‹ƒǯǡŠ––’•ǣȀȀ„Ž‘‰Ǥ“Ǥ“Ž†Ǥ‰‘˜Ǥ ƒ—ȀʹͲͳͳȀͲͺȀ ’Š‹„‹ƒ‡„ȋʹͲͳ͹Ȍǡ‹˜‡”•‹–›‘ˆƒŽ‹ˆ‘”‹ƒ ‡”‡Ž‡›ǡǮCophixalus saxatilisǯǡŠ––’•ǣȀȀ ƒ’Š‹„‹ƒ™‡„Ǥ‘”‰Ȁ ‰‹Ȁƒ’Š‹„̴“—‡”›ǫ™Š‡”‡Ǧ ‰‡—•α‘’Š‹šƒŽ—•Ƭ™Š‡”‡Ǧ•’‡ ‹‡•α•ƒšƒ–‹Ž‹• ‹‹’‡†‹ƒȋʹͲͳ͹ȌǡǮ‹ ”‘Š›Ž‹†ƒ‡ǯǡŠ––’•ǣȀȀ ‡Ǥ™‹‹’‡†‹ƒǤ‘”‰Ȁ™‹‹Ȁ‹ ”‘Š›Ž‹†ƒ‡ ƒ †‘ƒŽ†ǡ–‡™ƒ”–ȋʹͲͲʹȌǡ—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ‡’–‹Ž‡ Ž‹‡ƒ–ƒ„ƒ•‡ǡǮŽƒ ‘—–ƒ‹”‘ Ǧ•‹ǯǡ Š––’ǣȀȀ™™™Ǥƒ”‘†Ǥ ‘Ǥƒ—Ȁƒ”‘†Ȁ”‡’–‹Ž‹ƒȀ “—ƒƒ–ƒȀ ‹ ‹†ƒ‡Ȁ‹„—”ƒ• ‹ —•Ȁ• ‹”–‡–‹• Black Mountain National Park from the air. Photo: © 2017 CNES/Airbus/Google Earth ŽŽ™‡„•‹–‡•ƒ ‡••‡†‘ʹ‘˜‡„‡”ʹͲͳ͹Ǥ

22 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 Sydney’s Hidden Gem Suzanne Medway

Right in the Sydney suburb of Manly is North ‘–ƒ„Ž‡•’‡ ‹‡•‹ Ž—†‡ƒ‡†ƒ‰‡”‡† ’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡Ž‘‰Ǧ‘•‡†„ƒ†‹ ‘‘– Head Sanctuary - Sydney’s secret getaway ȋPerameles nasutaȌǡƒ•™‡ŽŽƒ• –Š”‡ƒ–‡‡†•’‡ ‹‡••— Šƒ•–Š‡‡ƒ•–‡” ‡ ‡–Ž››Š—•„ƒ†ƒ† ƒ†ƒ‰”‘—’ ‹ Š‹Š‹•–‘”›ƒ†ƒ•’‡ ‹ƒŽ’Žƒ ‡ˆ‘”–Š‡ „‡–Ǧ™‹‰„ƒ–ȋMiniopterus schreibersii ‘ˆˆ”‹‡†••’‡––™‘†ƒ›•‡š’Ž‘”‹‰ „‘”‹‰‹ƒŽ’‡‘’Ž‡ǡ–Š‡†”ƒƒ–‹  Ž‹ˆˆ•‘ˆ oceanensisȌǡ‰”‡›ǦŠ‡ƒ†‡†ϐŽ›‹‰Ǧˆ‘š –Š‹•ˆƒ• ‹ƒ–‹‰™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡™‘†‡”Žƒ† ‘”–Š ‡ƒ†ˆ‘”ƒ‡‘”ƒ„Ž‡‡–”›–‘ ȋPteropus poliocephalusȌǡ’‘™‡”ˆ—Ž‘™Ž ƒ†ƒ”˜‡ŽŽ‡†ƒ–•— Šƒ–”‡ƒ•—”‡ ›†‡› ƒ”„‘—”™‹–Š•—’‡”„˜‹‡™•‘ˆ ȋNinox strenuaȌƒ†„ƒ”‹‰‘™ŽȋNinox ”‹‰Š–‘–Š‡†‘‘”•–‡’‘ˆ•— Šƒ„—•› –Š‡Šƒ”„‘—”ˆ”‘–Š‡ Ž‹ˆˆ–‘’•Ǥ connivensȌǤ ‡–”‘’‘Ž‹–ƒ ‹–›ƒ•›†‡›Ǥ Š‡„—•ŠŽƒ†ƒ–‘”–Š ‡ƒ†ƒ –—ƒ”› Long-nosed bandicoot Š‡”‡ƒ”‡‘˜‡”ͳͲ‹Ž‘‡–”‡•‘ˆ‡ƒ•› ’”‘˜‹†‡•Šƒ„‹–ƒ–ˆ‘”ƒ™‹†‡”ƒ‰‡‘ˆ ‘”–Š ‡ƒ†ƒ –—ƒ”›‹•Š‘‡–‘–Š‡ ™ƒŽ‹‰–”ƒ •–‘‡š’Ž‘”‡Ǥ‘— ƒ™ƒŽ ƒ–‹˜‡•’‡ ‹‡•Ǥ•™‡™ƒŽ‡†ǡ™‡‡’– Ž‘‰Ǧ‘•‡†„ƒ†‹ ‘‘–ǤŠ‡’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘ –Š”‘—‰Š˜‹”–—ƒŽŽ›—–‘— Š‡†„—•ŠŽƒ† ƒ‡›‡‘—–ˆ‘”„‹”†•Ž‹‡‡™ ‘ŽŽƒ† ƒ–‘”–Š ‡ƒ†‹•‹†ƒ‰‡”‘ˆ‡š–‹ –‹‘ ™‹–Š•—’‡”„Šƒ”„‘—”˜‹‡™•ƒ†ƒ”˜‡Ž Š‘‡›‡ƒ–‡”•ǡ™Š‹–‡„”‘™‡†• ”—„Ǧ ƒ†Šƒ•„‡‡Ž‹•–‡†ƒ•ƒ‡†ƒ‰‡”‡† ƒ––Š‡†‹˜‡”•‡”ƒ‰‡‘ˆˆƒ—ƒƒ†ϐŽ‘”ƒǤ ™”‡•ǡ”ƒ‹„‘™Ž‘”‹‡‡–•ǡƒ†Ž‹––Ž‡ ’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘Ǥ ‡–Š‹•„ƒ†‹ ‘‘–™ƒ• ™ƒ––Ž‡„‹”†•Ǥ ™‹†‡Ž›†‹•–”‹„—–‡†ƒŽ‘‰–Š‡‡ƒ•– ‘ƒ•– ƒŽ‹‰–Š”‘—‰Š‘”–Š ‡ƒ†ǯ•’‡ƒ ‡ˆ—Ž ‘ˆ—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒǤ –™ƒ•‘ ‡™‹†‡•’”‡ƒ†ƒ† —”‹‰‘—”„”‹‡ˆ˜‹•‹–™‡™‡”‡Ž— ›–‘ ƒ†’”‹•–‹‡Š‡ƒ–ŠŽƒ†ǡ‹– ƒ„‡‡ƒ•› ‘‘‹›†‡›ǡ„—–‹–•”ƒ‰‡Šƒ• •‡‡ƒ’‘••—ǡƒ‡ Š‹†ƒǡ‘‘ƒ„—””ƒ• –‘ˆ‘”‰‡––Šƒ–›‘—ǯ”‡‘Ž›ͳͳ‹Ž‘‡–”‡• „‡‡‰”‡ƒ–Ž›”‡†— ‡†ƒ†‹–‹•‘™Ž‘ ƒŽŽ› ƒ†ƒ›•’‡ ‹‡•‘ˆ„‹”†•„—––‘‘—” ˆ”‘–Š‡Ǥ•›‘—‡š’Ž‘”‡ǡ›‘—ǯŽŽ ‡š–‹ –‹ƒ›’ƒ”–•‘ˆ‹–•ˆ‘”‡””ƒ‰‡Ǥ ‡ ‘—–‡”†‹˜‡”•‡™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ƒ†ϐŽ‘”ƒǡ †‹•ƒ’’‘‹–‡–™‡†‹†‘–•’‘–ƒ› ‹Ž‹–ƒ”›”‡ƒ‹•ǡƒ†•–—‹‰˜‹‡™• „ƒ†‹ ‘‘–•Ǥ Š‹••’‡ ‹‡•‹•‘‹˜‘”‘—•ǡ™‹–Šƒ ‘ˆ–Š‡ ‹–›ƒ†Šƒ”„‘—”Ǥ ‘’’‘”–—‹•–‹ †‹‡–’”‹ƒ”‹Ž› ‘•‹•–‹‰ Fauna of North Head ‘ˆ‹˜‡”–‡„”ƒ–‡•ƒ†Š›’‘‰‡ƒŽˆ—‰‹ǡ ”‡ƒ”ƒ„Ž‡•‡––‹‰ǡ‘”–Š ‡ƒ† —‡–‘‹–•‰‡‘‰”ƒ’Š›ƒ†Š‹•–‘”›ǡ‘”–Š ƒ†Ž‡ƒ˜‡• Šƒ”ƒ –‡”‹•–‹  ‘‡Ǧ•Šƒ’‡† ƒ –—ƒ”›‹•Š‘‡–‘†‡Ž‹ ƒ–‡ƒ† ‡ƒ†‹•”‡Žƒ–‹˜‡Ž›‹•‘Žƒ–‡††‡•’‹–‡‹–• †‹‰‰‹‰•Ǥ‘‰Ǧ‘•‡†„ƒ†‹ ‘‘–•”‡Ž› †‹˜‡”•‡ϐŽ‘”ƒƒ†ˆƒ—ƒ ‘’Ž‡–‡™‹–Š ’”‘š‹‹–›–‘›†‡›ǤŠ‹•ƒ†ƒ –‹˜‡ ‘‘•ƒ‹ ˜‡‰‡–ƒ–‹‘ǡ—•‹‰‘’‡ Šƒ‰‹‰•™ƒ’•Ǥ –•™‹Ž†ǡ‹•Žƒ†ǦŽ‹‡ ™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ƒƒ‰‡‡–Šƒ•ƒŽŽ‘™‡†ƒ ƒ”‡ƒ•ˆ‘”ˆ‘”ƒ‰‹‰ƒ–‹‰Š–ƒ††‡•‡ ƒ–—”‡Šƒ•ƒ†‡‘”–Š ‡ƒ†ƒ –—ƒ”› —„‡”‘ˆ•’‡ ‹‡•–‘’‡”•‹•–‹–Š‡ —†‡”‰”‘™–Šˆ‘”‡•–‹‰†—”‹‰–Š‡†ƒ›Ǥ ƒ’Žƒ ‡ˆ‘”‹•‘Žƒ–‹‘ǡ‘„•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘ƒ† ƒ”‡ƒǡ™‹–Š‘”–Š ‡ƒ†ƒ –—ƒ”›Š‘‡ Š‡›‡•–‹•ŠƒŽŽ‘™†‡’”‡••‹‘•‘–Š‡ ‘–‡’Žƒ–‹‘Ǥ –‘ƒ†‹˜‡”•‡ƒ””ƒ›‘ˆϐŽ‘”ƒƒ†ˆƒ—ƒǤ ‰”‘—†ƒ‘‰•––Š‹ ˜‡‰‡–ƒ–‹‘Ǥ

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 23 Š‹••’‡ ‹‡•„”‡‡†• ‘–‹—‘—•Ž› ƒŽ–Š‘—‰Š‹–Šƒ•ƒ’‡ƒ‹”‡’”‘†— –‹˜‡ ƒ –‹˜‹–›‹Žƒ–‡•’”‹‰ƒ†‡ƒ”Ž›•—‡”Ǥ ˆ‡ƒŽ‡ ƒ’”‘†— ‡—’–‘ˆ‘—”Ž‹––‡”• ’‡”›‡ƒ”ǡ‡ƒ Š™‹–Š–™‘–‘–Š”‡‡›‘—‰Ǥ ƒŒ‘”–Š”‡ƒ–•–‘–Š‹••’‡ ‹‡•‹ Ž—†‡ Šƒ„‹–ƒ–Ž‘••–Š”‘—‰ŠŽƒ† Ž‡ƒ”ƒ ‡ƒ† —”„ƒ‹•ƒ–‹‘ǡ‹–”‘†— ‡†’”‡†ƒ–‘”• ȋˆ‘šǡ ƒ–ǡƒ††‘‰Ȍƒ†˜‡Š‹ Ž‡•–”‹‡• ȋ”‘ƒ†‹ŽŽȌǤŠ‡‹•‘Žƒ–‡†‘”–Š ‡ƒ† ’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘‹•’ƒ”–‹ —Žƒ”Ž›•—• ‡’–‹„Ž‡ –‘ƒŽ‘••‘ˆ‰‡‡–‹ ˜ƒ”‹ƒ–‹‘ƒˆˆ‡ –‹‰ ’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘˜‹ƒ„‹Ž‹–›Ǥ Short-beaked echidna •‘—”‰”‘—’™ƒ•‘˜‹‰ƒ„‘—––Š‡ ‘”–Š ‡ƒ†•‹–‡ǡ™‡™‡”‡˜‡”›‡š ‹–‡† –‘•’‘–ƒ‡ Š‹†ƒǤ‡†‹†ǯ–™ƒ––‘ ‰‡––‘‘ Ž‘•‡ƒ††‹•–—”„–Š‡ƒ‹ƒŽƒ• White-browed scrub wrens are mostly dark olive-brown. Males and females are similar, but the ‹–™ƒ•ˆ‘”ƒ‰‹‰ǡ„—–ƒ•‹–Šƒ•‘™‡ƒ’‘• females are slightly duller, particularly on the face. ‘”ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ƒ„‹Ž‹–›‹– —”Ž‡†‹–‘ƒ„ƒŽŽ ƒ†•’”‡ƒ†‘—–‹–••’‹‡•–‘”‡’‡Ž—•Ǥ Š‡•Š‘”–Ǧ„‡ƒ‡†‡ Š‹†ƒŠƒ• ‡š–”‡‡Ž›•–”‘‰ˆ”‘–Ž‹„•ƒ† Žƒ™•ǡ™Š‹ ŠƒŽŽ‘™‹––‘„—””‘™“—‹ Ž› ™‹–Š‰”‡ƒ–’‘™‡”Ǥ•‹–‡‡†•–‘„‡ ƒ„Ž‡–‘•—”˜‹˜‡—†‡”‰”‘—†ǡ‹–Šƒ• ƒ•‹‰‹ϐ‹ ƒ––‘Ž‡”ƒ ‡–‘Š‹‰ŠŽ‡˜‡Ž• ‘ˆ ƒ”„‘†‹‘š‹†‡ƒ†Ž‘™Ž‡˜‡Ž•‘ˆ ‘š›‰‡Ǥ –Žƒ •–Š‡ƒ„‹Ž‹–›–‘•™‡ƒ– ƒ† ƒ‘–†‡ƒŽ™‹–ŠŠ‡ƒ–™‡ŽŽǡ•‘‹– –‡†•–‘ƒ˜‘‹††ƒ›–‹‡ƒ –‹˜‹–›‹Š‘– ™‡ƒ–Š‡”Ǥ – ƒ•™‹‹ˆ‡‡†‡†Ǥ ‡ƒŽ‡‡ Š‹†ƒ•Žƒ›‘‡‡‰‰ƒ›‡ƒ”ƒ† –Š‡ƒ–‹‰’‡”‹‘†‹•–Š‡‘Ž›–‹‡–Š‡ ‘–Š‡”™‹•‡•‘Ž‹–ƒ”›ƒ‹ƒŽ•‡‡–‘‡ ƒ‘–Š‡”Ǣ–Š‡ƒŽ‡Šƒ•‘ˆ—”–Š‡” ‘–ƒ – ™‹–Š–Š‡ˆ‡ƒŽ‡‘”Š‹•‘ˆˆ•’”‹‰ƒˆ–‡” The powerful owl is the largest owl in Australasia. It is a typical hawk-owl, with large yellow eyes ƒ–‹‰Ǥ›‘—‰‡ Š‹†ƒ‹•–Š‡•‹œ‡‘ˆƒ and no facial disc. The call of this species may be heard at any time of the year, but it is more vocal ‰”ƒ’‡„—–‰”‘™•”ƒ’‹†Ž›‘‹–•‘–Š‡”ǯ• during the autumn breeding season. It has a slow, deep and resonant double hoot, with the female’s ‹Žǡ™Š‹ Š‹•˜‡”›”‹ Š‹—–”‹‡–•Ǥ being higher pitched and expressing an upward infl ection on the second note. ƒ„›‡ Š‹†ƒ•‡˜‡–—ƒŽŽ›‰”‘™–‘‘ Žƒ”‰‡ƒ†•’‹›–‘•–ƒ›‹–Š‡’‘— Š ƒ†ǡƒ”‘—†•‡˜‡™‡‡•ƒˆ–‡”Šƒ– Š‹‰ǡ ƒ”‡‡š’‡ŽŽ‡†ˆ”‘–Š‡’‘— Š‹–‘–Š‡ ‘–Š‡”ǯ•„—””‘™Ǥ–ƒ”‘—†•‹š‘–Š• ‘ˆƒ‰‡ǡ–Š‡›Ž‡ƒ˜‡–Š‡„—””‘™ƒ†Šƒ˜‡ ‘‘”‡ ‘–ƒ –™‹–Š–Š‡‹”‘–Š‡”•Ǥ Flora of North Head Š‡†‘‹ƒ–Šƒ„‹–ƒ–‘ˆ‘”–Š ‡ƒ† ƒ –—ƒ”›‹•–Š‡‡†ƒ‰‡”‡†‡ ‘Ž‘‰‹ ƒŽ ‘—‹–›ƒ•–‡”—„—”„•ƒ•‹ƒ  ”—„Ǥƒ•–‡”—„—”„•ƒ•‹ƒ  ”—„ȋȌ‘™ ‘˜‡”•Ž‡••–Šƒ ͵’‡” ‡–‘ˆ‹–•‘”‹‰‹ƒŽ†‹•–”‹„—–‹‘Ǥ ‘”–Š ‡ƒ†‹•Š‘‡–‘ŠƒŽˆ‘ˆƒŽŽ–Š‡ ”‡ƒ‹‹‰ǡ™‹–ŠͶͻŠ‡ –ƒ”‡• The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is one of four living species of echidna and the ™‹–Š‹–Š‡‘”–Š ‡ƒ†ƒ –—ƒ”›ƒ† only member of the genus Tachyglossus. It is covered in fur and spines and has a distinctive snout ʹͺŠ‡ –ƒ”‡•‘•—””‘—†‹‰›†‡› and a specialised tongue, which it uses to catch its insect prey at a great speed. Like the other ƒ”„‘—”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽƒ”ǤŠ‹•‡ ‘Ž‘‰‹ ƒŽ extant monotremes, the short-beaked echidna lays eggs; the monotremes are the only group of ‘—‹–› ‘–ƒ‹•ƒ™‹†‡ ‘’‘•‹–‹‘ mammals to do so. ‘ˆϐŽ‘”ƒ•’‡ ‹‡•‹ Ž—†‹‰ ‘ƒ•–ƒŽ

24 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 „ƒ•‹ƒȋBanksia •’’., Leptospermum laevigatumȌǡ‰”ƒ••–”‡‡ȋXanthorrhoea resiniferaȌƒ†•ƒŽŽƒ–‹˜‡ˆ‘”„•ǡ‰”ƒ••‡• ƒ†•Š”—„•Ǥ ‘™‡˜‡”ǡ•‡ –‹‘•‘ˆ–Š‡ ƒ”‡Š‹‰ŠŽ›ƒ‰‡†ǡ™‹–Š–‡ƒ–”‡‡ȋL. laevigatumȌ†‘‹ƒ–‹‰ƒ†‡š Ž—†‹‰ –Š‡”‡‰‡‡”ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ‘–Š‡”’Žƒ–•Ǥ Š‡”‡‹•ƒ‡–™‘”‘ˆŠƒ‰‹‰•™ƒ’ ™‡–Žƒ†•‹‘”–Š ‡ƒ†ǡ™‹–Š’‘ ‡–• ‘ˆŠ‡ƒ–Šǡˆ‡”•ǡ•Š”—„Žƒ†ƒ†ˆ‘”‡•–Ǥ ‡˜‡”ƒŽ”ƒ”‡ƒ†‡†ƒ‰‡”‡†ϐŽ‘”ƒ •’‡ ‹‡•ƒŽ•‘’‡”•‹•–Š‡”‡‹ Ž—†‹‰ ƒϐ‹‡Ž†ǯ••–”‹‰›„ƒ”ȋEucalyptus camϔieldiiȌǡ–Š‡•—•Š‹‡™ƒ––Ž‡ •—„•’‡ ‹‡•ȋAcacia terminalis •’’. terminalisȌƒ†Šƒ‹”›‰‡‡„—‰ ȋPersoonia hirsutaȌǤ Australian Wildlife Society and The little wattlebird is a medium to large honeyeater, but is the smallest of the wattlebirds. It is North Head mostly dark grey-brown above, with faint white shafts on each of the feathers. ʹͲͲʹƒ–”‹ ‡†™ƒ›ǡ–Š‡ ”‡•‹†‡–‘ˆ–Š‡‘ ‹‡–›ǡ”‡’”‡•‡–‡† –Š‡ ‘•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘‘˜‡‡–ƒ–ƒ ‘ˆ‡”‡ ‡–‘†‡–‡”‹‡–Š‡ˆ—–—”‡‘ˆ ‘”–Š ‡ƒ†Ǥ Š‹•’”‡•‡–ƒ–‹‘–‹–Ž‡† Ǯ‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ƒ –—ƒ”›ˆ‘”‘”–Š ‡ƒ†ǯ Š‡‡’Šƒ•‹•‡†–Šƒ––‘•ƒ˜‡—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ ™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ǡ™‡—•–•ƒ˜‡–Š‡Šƒ„‹–ƒ–ƒ† ”‡ ‘‡†‡†‡•–ƒ„Ž‹•Š‹‰ƒ‡™ •ƒ –—ƒ”›ˆ‘”™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ƒ–‘”–Š ‡ƒ†Ǥ ‡‡š’Žƒ‹‡†–Šƒ– ”‡ƒ–‹‰ƒ•ƒ –—ƒ”› ƒ–‘”–Š ‡ƒ†™‘—Ž†’”‡•‡–ƒ—‹“—‡ ‘’’‘”–—‹–›–‘’”‡•‡”˜‡–Š‡‡š‹•–‹‰ ϐŽ‘”ƒƒ†ˆƒ—ƒƒ† ”‡ƒ–‡ƒ•ƒˆ‡ Šƒ„‹–ƒ–ˆ‘”ƒŽŽ–Š”‡ƒ–‡‡†•’‡ ‹‡••— Š ƒ•–Š‡Ž‘‰Ǧ‘•‡†„ƒ†‹ ‘‘–ƒ†ƒŽ‘ ƒŽ ‘Ž‘›‘ˆŽ‹––Ž‡’‡‰—‹•Ǥ ‹––Ž‡’‡‰—‹•™‡”‡‘™–‘‡•–‘ Coastal banksia is a species of tree that grows along the east coast and is one of the most widely –Š‡›†‡› ƒ”„‘—”ˆ‘”‡•Š‘”‡•™‹–Š‹ distributed banksia species. Its leaves have dark green upper surfaces and white undersides, a –Š‡—ƒ”ƒ–‹‡–ƒ–‹‘‰”‘—†•ƒ† contrast that can be striking on windy days. ‘”–Šƒ‘‰•–Š‘—•‡•–‘™ƒ”†•ƒŽ› „—–‘™Š‡”‡‡Ž•‡‘–Š‡ƒ‹Žƒ†‘ˆ —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒǤ Š‡ƒŽ› ‘Ž‘›™ƒ•ǡƒ†•–‹ŽŽ‹•ǡ —†‡” ‘•–ƒ––Š”‡ƒ–ˆ”‘Š—ƒ ƒ –‹˜‹–‹‡•ƒ††‘‡•–‹ ƒ†ˆ‡”ƒŽ ƒ‹ƒŽ•ǤŠ‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽƒ”•ƒ† ‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡‡”˜‹ ‡‹•‘™’”‘–‡ –‹‰ –Š‹•”ƒ”‡ ‘Ž‘›ƒ†–”›‹‰–‘‡‡’‹–• Ž‘ ƒ–‹‘”‡Žƒ–‹˜‡Ž›•‡ ”‡–Ǥ ƒ–”‹ †‹• —••‡†ˆ‘—”’‘••‹„Ž‡‘’–‹‘• ˆ‘”–Š‡ˆ—–—”‡‘ˆ‘”–Š ‡ƒ†ǣ Ȉ ”‡ƒ–‡ƒƒ–—”ƒŽ•ƒ –—ƒ”›ˆ‘” ™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡Ǣ Ȉ ”‡ƒ–‡ƒ ‘‡” ‹ƒŽŽ›•—•–ƒ‹ƒ„Ž‡ ™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡•ƒ –—ƒ”›Ǣ Ȉ ”‡ƒ–‡ƒ ‘„‹‡†–‘—”‹•–˜‡–—”‡ ‹ ‘”’‘”ƒ–‹‰ƒ™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡•ƒ –—ƒ”›Ǣ ‘” Sunshine wattle has fl uffy pale golden fl owers which are actually a cluster of six to fi fteen small Ȉ †‘‘–Š‹‰Ǥ fl owers growing on an open scrubby bush of up to 2 metres high.

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 25 —–Š‹•”‡ ‘‡†ƒ–‹‘™ƒ•–Š‡ ”‡ƒ–‹‘‘ˆƒƒ–—”ƒŽ•ƒ –—ƒ”›‘” ƒ–—”‡”‡•‡”˜‡ˆ‘”™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡–‘„‡ ‡•–ƒ„Ž‹•Š‡†„›–Š‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽƒ”•ƒ† ‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡‡”˜‹ ‡ȋȌǡ™Š‹ Š™‘—Ž† Šƒ˜‡”‡•’‘•‹„‹Ž‹–›ˆ‘”–Š‡ƒ–‹˜‡ ™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡Ǥ ‡ƒŽ•‘•—‰‰‡•–‡†–Šƒ––Š‡ Š‹•–‘”‹ •‹–‡‘ˆ–Š‡—ƒ”ƒ–‹‡–ƒ–‹‘ „‡’”‡•‡”˜‡†–‘‡ ‘—”ƒ‰‡‘Ž›ƒ•ƒŽŽ —„‡”‘ˆ–‘—”‹•–˜‹•‹–ƒ–‹‘•–‘’”‘–‡ – –Š‡‡š‹•–‹‰™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡Ǥ ‡•—‰‰‡•–‡†–Šƒ––Š‡‹ ‘”’‘”ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ –Š‡—ƒ”ƒ–‹‡–ƒ–‹‘™‘—Ž†‡ƒ„Ž‡ƒ ‘‡” ‹ƒŽŽ›˜‹ƒ„Ž‡™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡•ƒ –—ƒ”› ƒ•ƒ›–‘—”‹•–•ƒŽ”‡ƒ†›˜‹•‹–ƒŽ›ǡƒ† ’”‡•‡”˜‹‰–Š‹•™‘”Ž†Ǧ Žƒ•••‹–‡™‘—Ž† ‡ ‘—”ƒ‰‡‡ ‘–‘—”‹•–‘–Š‡ƒ”‡ƒǤ ‡ ‘ Ž—†‡†–Šƒ–‡š’‡”–•–ƒˆˆ™‘—Ž† The New Holland honeyeater is mostly black and white, with a large yellow wing patch and yellow „‡”‡“—‹”‡†–‘’”‘–‡ ––Š‡‡š‹•–‹‰ sides on the tail. It has a small white ear patch, a thin white whisker at the base of the bill and white ƒ–‹˜‡™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ƒ†–Šƒ––Š‡™Š‘Ž‡ƒ”‡ƒ eyes. It is an active bird, rarely sitting still long enough to give an extended view. Sexes are similar in ™‘—Ž†‡‡†–‘„‡ˆ‡ ‡†’”‘’‡”Ž›–‘ looks, but females are slightly smaller in size. ‡”ƒ†‹ ƒ–‡ˆ‡”ƒŽƒ‹ƒŽ•Ǥ ˆ–‡”–Š‡ ‘ˆ‡”‡ ‡ǡŠ‘•–‡†„›–Š‡ ‹”‡ –‘”‘ˆ–Š‡”‹ƒ ‹ŽŽ‹‰ƒǡ –Š‡ ‡†‡”ƒŽ ‘˜‡”‡––”ƒ•ˆ‡””‡† –Š‡‘™‡”•Š‹’‘ˆ–Š‡Žƒ†–‘–Š‡ –ƒ–‡ ‘˜‡”‡–ǤŠ‡ –ƒ–‡ ‘˜‡”‡–ǡ‹–—”ǡ‡‰ƒ‰‡† —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡‘•‡”˜ƒ ›ˆ”‘ ‡•–‡”—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ–‘ƒƒ‰‡ƒ† ‘†— ––Š‡”‡•‡ƒ” Š‹–‘–Š‡™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ ƒ–‘”–Š ‡ƒ†Ǥ

‘†ƒ›ǡ–Š‡ˆƒ—ƒƒ†ϐŽ‘”ƒƒ”‡ˆ—ŽŽ› ’”‘–‡ –‡†ˆ‘”ˆ—–—”‡‰‡‡”ƒ–‹‘•Ǥ

The long-nosed bandicoot is a nocturnal medium-sized marsupial. This species is 31−43 centimetres in length and weighs between 600 and 1100 grams. It has a short, thin tail and grey-brown fur.

The grey-headed fl ying-fox is the largest Australian bat, with a head and body length of 23−29 centimetres. It has dark grey fur on the body, lighter grey fur on the head and a russet collar encircling the neck. The wing membranes are black and the wingspan can be up to 1 The delicate fl annel fl ower is so named because of the soft woolly feel of the plant. Its white or pink metre. It can be distinguished from other fl ying- fl owers bloom all year long, with an extra burst of colour in the spring. foxes by the leg fur, which extends to the ankle.

26 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 THE THIN GREEN LINE A consortium of partners and landowners enhancing a critical wildlife corridor David Rush

ʹͲͳʹǡ–Š‡ ŽŽƒ™ƒ””ƒǦŠ‘ƒŽŠƒ˜‡ ”‡ƒ– Pinch Point ‰ƒ’•„‡–™‡‡–Š‡ ‘•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘ƒ”‡ƒ• ƒ•–‡”ƒ‰‡•‡‰‹‘ƒŽƒ”–‡”•Š‹’ –—†‹‡•‘–Š‡ ŽŽƒ™ƒ””ƒ• ƒ”’‡–ǡ ƒ†–Š‡Šƒ„‹–ƒ––Šƒ–•—’’‘”–•–Š‹•”‹ Š ‹†‡–‹ϐ‹‡†•‡˜‡”ƒŽ’”‹‘”‹–›ˆ‘ —• ‘””‹†‘”• ‘ƒ•–ƒŽŽƒ‹•ƒ†Žƒ–‡ƒ—ƒ”‡ƒ•Šƒ˜‡ „‹‘†‹˜‡”•‹–›™Š‹ Š‹•ƒ–‹–•–Š‹‡•– ‹–Š‡”‡‰‹‘™Š‡”‡‡˜‹”‘‡–ƒŽ‡‡† ‹†‡–‹ϐ‹‡†ƒ”‹ Šƒ††‹˜‡”•‡‹š‘ˆ ’‘‹–”‡‰ƒ”†‹‰ ‘‡ –‹˜‹–›„‡–™‡‡ ƒ†•‘ ‹ƒŽƒ† ‘—‹–› ƒ’ƒ ‹–› ƒ–‹˜‡ƒ‹ƒŽ•‹ Ž—†‹‰ͶͲƒ‹ƒŽ ›†‡›ƒ†–Š‡‹ –‘”‹ƒ„‘”†‡”Ǥ ‘˜‡”Žƒ’Ǥ‡‘ˆ–Š‡•‡ ‘””‹†‘”•ǡ‘–Š‡ •’‡ ‹‡•Ž‹•–‡†ƒ•–Š”‡ƒ–‡‡†™‹–Š•‘‡ ‹–Š‘—– ‘‡ –‡† ‘””‹†‘”•ƒ† ŽŽƒ™ƒ””ƒ• ƒ”’‡–‡ƒ•–‘ˆ‘„‡”–•‘ǡ •’‡ ‹‡•–Šƒ–ƒ”‡‘Ž›ˆ‘—†ƒŽ‘‰–Š‡ ‡ˆˆ‡ –‹˜‡’‡•–•’‡ ‹‡• ‘–”‘Žǡƒ›‘ˆ ”‡ ‡‹˜‡†ƒ˜‹”‘‡–ƒŽ”—•– • ƒ”’‡–ǤŠ‡”ƒ‹ˆ‘”‡•–•ƒ†‘‹•– –Š‡”ƒ”‡ƒ†–Š”‡ƒ–‡‡†•’‡ ‹‡•™‹ŽŽ ‰”ƒ–‹ʹͲͳ͸ǤƒŽŽ‡†Š‹ ‡‹‰–Š‡Š‹ ‡— ƒŽ›’–ˆ‘”‡•–•‘ˆ–Š‡‡• ƒ”’‡–ƒ”‡ „‡ ‘‡‹ ”‡ƒ•‹‰Ž›‹•‘Žƒ–‡†ǡƒ†–Š‡‹” ”‡‡‹‡‘ˆ–Š‡ ŽŽƒ™ƒ””ƒ• ƒ”’‡– ”‡ ‘‰‹•‡†Š‹‰ŠǦ“—ƒŽ‹–›Šƒ„‹–ƒ–ˆ‘”–Š‡ ’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘•ƒ†‰‡‡–‹ †‹˜‡”•‹–›™‹ŽŽ ȋŠ‹ ”‡‡‹‡ˆ‘”•Š‘”–Ȍǡ–Š‡’”‘Œ‡ – •‘‘–›‘™Žǡ•–—––‡”‹‰ˆ”‘‰ǡ—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ ƒŽ•‘†‡ Ž‹‡Ǥ Šƒ•ƒŽ•‘ƒ––”ƒ –‡†ˆ—†‹‰ˆ”‘–Š‡ „”—•ŠǦ–—”‡›ǡŽ‘‰”—‡”ǡ‰”‡›ǦŠ‡ƒ†‡† A partnership approach —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡‘ ‹‡–›Ǥ ϐŽ›‹‰ˆ‘šǡ•’‘––‡†Ǧ–ƒ‹Ž‡†“—‘ŽŽǡŽ‘‰Ǧ ‘•‡†’‘–‘”‘‘ƒ† ‹‰ŠŽƒ†ǯ•ˆ‘”‡•–  ”‡ƒ•‹‰Šƒ„‹–ƒ– ‘‡ –‹˜‹–›ƒ† ‡ ‡–Ž›ǡƒ”ƒ”‡Ž‘‰Ǧ‘•‡†’‘–‘”‘‘™ƒ• •‹ǡŒ—•––‘ƒ‡ƒˆ‡™Ǥ ”‡†— ‹‰ˆ‡”ƒŽƒ‹ƒŽ‹’ƒ –•‹•ǡ ƒ’–—”‡†‹ƒ‘–‹‘ ƒ‡”ƒǡ‹†‹ ƒ–‹‰ –Š‡”‡ˆ‘”‡ǡƒ˜‹–ƒŽ’ƒ”–‘ˆ–Š‡•–”ƒ–‡‰›–‘ –Š‡‹’‘”–ƒ ‡‘ˆ–Š‡Š‹ ”‡‡ ‘‡‘ˆ–Š‡ˆ‘”‡•–•‘ˆ–Š‡ ŽŽƒ™ƒ””ƒ Ǯ–Š‹ ‡ǯ–Š‹•–Š‹‰”‡‡Ž‹‡ǡ’ƒ”–‹ —Žƒ”Ž› ‹‡’”‘Œ‡ –ƒ†’”‹˜ƒ–‡Žƒ†Š‘Ž†‡” • ƒ”’‡–ƒ†’Žƒ–‡ƒ—ƒ”‡ƒ•ƒ”‡™‡ŽŽ ‹–Š‡ˆƒ ‡‘ˆ Ž‹ƒ–‡ Šƒ‰‡ǤŠ‡’”‘Œ‡ – ‹˜‘Ž˜‡‡–‹”‡†— ‹‰ˆ‡”ƒŽƒ‹ƒŽ• ”‡’”‡•‡–‡†‹ƒ—„‡”‘ˆˆ‘”ƒŽ ‹•’ƒ”–‘ˆ–Š‡˜‹”‘‡–ƒŽ”—•– ƒ†‡Šƒ ‹‰ ‘””‹†‘”•ˆ‘”™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ ‘•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘ƒ”‡ƒ•–Šƒ–’”‘˜‹†‡ —•Š‘‡ –’”‘‰”ƒ™Š‹ Š™‹ŽŽ”— ‹–Š‹•—‹“—‡’ƒ”–‘ˆ•‘—–ŠǦ‡ƒ•–‡™ •‹‰‹ϐ‹ ƒ–”‡ˆ—‰‡ˆ‘”ƒ–‹˜‡’Žƒ–•ƒ† ˆ”‘ʹͲͳ͸–‘ʹͲʹ͸ȋ–Š‡ϐ‹”•–•‹š›‡ƒ”• ‘—–ŠƒŽ‡•Ǥ ƒ‹ƒŽ•Ǥ ‘™‡˜‡”ǡ–Š‡”‡‡š‹•–•‹‰‹ϐ‹ ƒ– ƒ”‡ˆ—†‡†ȌǤ –‹˜‘Ž˜‡•ƒ ‘•‘”–‹—

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 27 ‘ˆ ‘—‹–›ǡ‰‘˜‡”‡–ƒ† ‘”‰ƒ‹•ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ’ƒ”–‡”•‹ Ž—†‹‰Ž‡ƒ† ’ƒ”–‡”–Š‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽƒ”•••‘ ‹ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆȋȌǡ‹‰‡ ƒ””‹„‡‡‘— ‹Žǡ ‘—–Šƒ•–‘ ƒŽƒ†‡”˜‹ ‡•ȋȌǡ ‹˜‡”•‹–›‘ˆ‘ŽŽ‘‰‘‰ǡ ŽŽƒ™ƒ””ƒ „‘”‹‰‹ƒŽƒ†‘— ‹Žǡƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ƒ”•ƒ†‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡‡”˜‹ ‡ȋȌǡ ˆϐ‹ ‡‘ˆ˜‹”‘‡–ƒ† ‡”‹–ƒ‰‡ ȋ Ȍƒ†Žƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”•Ǥ

Š‡Š‹ ”‡‡‹‡’”‘Œ‡ –‡‰ƒ‰‡• Žƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”•–Š”‘—‰Š™‘”•Š‘’•ǡ –”ƒ‹‹‰‘’’‘”–—‹–‹‡•ƒ†ˆ—†‹‰ ƒ••‹•–ƒ ‡ˆ‘”•–‘ ˆ‡ ‹‰ƒ–‡”‹ƒŽ•ǡ –”‡‡’Žƒ–‹‰ƒ†™‡‡† ‘–”‘ŽǤ ‘–Š‡”‹’‘”–ƒ– ‘’‘‡–‘ˆ–Š‡ ’”‘Œ‡ –‹•Žƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”‡†— ƒ–‹‘ƒ„‘—– –Š‡‡š‹•–‡ ‡ƒ†‹’ƒ –•‘ˆˆ‘š‡•ƒ† ˆ‡”ƒŽ ƒ–•‘ƒ–‹˜‡ƒ‹ƒŽ•Ǥ

New partner ‡ƒ”Ž›ʹͲͳ͹ǡ–Š‡Š‹ ”‡‡‹‡ ’”‘Œ‡ –ƒ––”ƒ –‡†–Š‡ƒ––‡–‹‘‘ˆƒ ‡™’ƒ”–‡”ǡ–Š‡—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ ‘ ‹‡–›ǤŠ‡‘ ‹‡–›ǯ•„‘ƒ”†‘ˆ †‹”‡ –‘”•ƒ’’”‘˜‡†ƒ††‹–‹‘ƒŽˆ—†‹‰ ‘ˆ̈́ͷǡͲͲͲ–‘’—” Šƒ•‡ˆ‘šƒ†ˆ‡”ƒŽ ƒ––”ƒ’•ƒ††‡Ž‹˜‡”™‘”•Š‘’• „‡–™‡‡ —‡ƒ†‡’–‡„‡”ʹͲͳ͹Ǥ Š‹”–›Ǧ–™‘Žƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”•ƒ––‡†‡†–Š‡ ™‘”•Š‘’•™Š‹ Š™‡”‡†‡Ž‹˜‡”‡† Œ‘‹–Ž›„›ȋ–Š‡˜‡”–‡„”ƒ–‡’‡•– ƒ‹ƒŽ ‘’‘‡–Ȍƒ†–Š‡ȋ–Š‡ ‘–‹‘ ƒ‡”ƒ• ‘’‘‡–ȌǤ‡™‡”‡ †‡Ž‹‰Š–‡†™Š‡‘‡‘ˆ–Š‡‘–‹‘ ƒ‡”ƒ• ƒ’–—”‡†ƒ–Š”‡ƒ–‡‡†Ž‘‰Ǧ ‘•‡†’‘–‘”‘‘‘ƒ’”‘’‡”–›‘”–ŠǦ Thin Green Line project location – a pinch point in the Great Eastern Escarpment. ‡ƒ•–‘ˆ‘„‡”–•‘Ǥ ‘š‡•™‡”‡ƒŽ•‘

The brown antechinus, also known as Stuart’s antechinus and Macleay’s marsupial mouse, is a species of small carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae.

28 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 ƒ’–—”‡†‹–Š‡ƒŒ‘”‹–›‘ˆ ƒ‡”ƒ•ǡ ƒ†–Š‹•Šƒ•Ž‡†–‘ƒ‘”‡‹–‡•‹˜‡ ‡‰ƒ‰‡‡–‘ˆŽƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”•‹ˆ‡”ƒŽ ƒ‹ƒŽ ‘–”‘Ž‹–Š‹•ƒ”‡ƒǤ

ƒ›‘ˆ–Š‡•‡Žƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”•™‹ŽŽ–ƒ‡ —’–Š‡—•‡‘ˆ–”ƒ’•„‡ ƒ—•‡ǡˆ‘”ƒ ˜ƒ”‹‡–›‘ˆ”‡ƒ•‘•ǡ‘–ƒŽŽ‘ˆ–Š‡ ƒ —•‡„ƒ‹–•ˆ‘”ˆ‘š‘””ƒ„„‹– ‘–”‘ŽǤ ‘™‡˜‡”ǡ–Š‡–”ƒ’•™‹ŽŽ„‡ƒ‰‘‘† ‘’–‹‘ˆ‘”–Š‡ǡƒ†–Š‡›™‹ŽŽŒ‘‹ ‘–Š‡”Žƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”•™Š‘Šƒ˜‡ƒŽ•‘ ƒ––‡†‡†–”ƒ‹‹‰™‘”•Š‘’•‡ƒ•–‘ˆ –Š‡‘„‡”–•‘ƒ”‡ƒ‹”‡ ‡–›‡ƒ”•Ǥ Š‡ˆ‘š ‘–”‘Ž‡ˆˆ‘”–™‹ŽŽ„‡–”—Ž› Žƒ†• ƒ’‡• ƒŽ‡™‹–Š–Š‡‹˜‘Ž˜‡‡– ‘ˆ–Š‡ ‡”ƒŽ ‹‰Š–‡”•’”‘‰”ƒ ƒ†–Š‡ —ƒŽŽ‹†‘”’”‘Œ‡ –™Š‹ Š‹• ƒ‘–Š‡”’ƒ”–‡”•Š‹’™‹–ŠŽƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”• ‘’‡”ƒ–‹‰™‹–Š‹ƒ†‡š–‡†‹‰ˆ‘”ƒ ‘‡Ǧ‹Ž‘‡–”‡„—ˆˆ‡”ƒ”‘—†—††‡”‘‘ Cat traps are made available to private landholders. ƒ–‹‘ƒŽƒ”ƒ†ƒ””‡ ”‘—†• ƒ–—”‡‡•‡”˜‡Ǥ

Consistent message Š‡ ‘•‹†‡”‹‰™Šƒ––Š‡’”‘Œ‡ – •— ‡••™‘—Ž†Ž‘‘Ž‹‡ǡ™‡™‘—Ž†•‡‡ ƒ–”‡†‘ˆˆ‡™‡”ˆ‡”ƒŽƒ‹ƒŽ•ƒ ”‘•• –Š‡Š‹ ”‡‡‹‡Žƒ†• ƒ’‡™‹–Šƒ ‘””‡•’‘†‹‰‹ ”‡ƒ•‡‹–Š”‡ƒ–‡‡† •’‡ ‹‡•’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘—„‡”•ƒ† †‹•–”‹„—–‹‘Ǥ—–‹–‹•†‹ˆϐ‹ —Ž––‘‘‹–‘” –Š”‡ƒ–‡‡†•’‡ ‹‡•„‡ ƒ—•‡–Š‡”‡ƒ”‡ •‘ˆ‡™‘ˆ–Š‡Ǥ‡™ƒ›–‘‡ƒ•—”‡ •— ‡••‹•–‘‘‹–‘”‘”‡ ‘‘ ‰”‘—†Ǧ†™‡ŽŽ‹‰ƒ–‹˜‡•’‡ ‹‡• ‹ Ž—†‹‰„—•Š”ƒ–•ǡ„”‘™ƒ–‡ Š‹—•ǡ Ž‘‰Ǧ‘•‡†„ƒ†‹ ‘‘–•ƒ†•‘‡‘ˆ–Š‡ ƒ”„‘”‡ƒŽƒƒŽ••— Šƒ••—‰ƒ”‰Ž‹†‡”• ƒ†”‹‰Ǧ–ƒ‹Ž‡†’‘••—•Ǥ‡•‡ƒ” Š‡”• ˆ”‘–Š‡‹˜‡”•‹–›‘ˆ‘ŽŽ‘‰‘‰ƒ”‡ National Parks Association and Local Land Services training local farmers how to dispose of feral ‹˜‘Ž˜‡†‹–Š‹•Ǥƒ†Š‘Ž†‡””‡ ‘”†•‘ˆ cats, dogs, foxes and rabbits to save our native animals in and around Barren Grounds Nature –Š‡—„‡”‘ˆˆ‡”ƒŽƒ‹ƒŽ• ‘–”‘ŽŽ‡† Reserve and national parks. ‹•ƒ‘–Š‡”™ƒ›–‘‡ƒ•—”‡•— ‡••Ǥ Š‹Ž‡–Š‹• ƒ„‡†‘‡™‹–Š„ƒ‹–‹‰ ’”‘‰”ƒ•ǡ–”ƒ’’‹‰ƒ†•Š‘‘–‹‰ ”‡ ‘”†•–‡†–‘„‡‘”‡ƒ —”ƒ–‡Ǥ ‹˜‡–Š‡”ƒ‰‡‘ˆ†‹ˆˆ‡”‡–’ƒ”–‡”• ‹˜‘Ž˜‡†‹–Š‡’”‘Œ‡ –ǡ‹–‹•‹’‘”–ƒ– –Šƒ–’”‘Œ‡ –‡••ƒ‰‡•ƒ”‡’”‘‘–‡† ƒ††‡Ž‹˜‡”‡† ‘•‹•–‡–Ž›Ǥ‘–Š‹• ‡†ǡ’‡‘’Ž‡ƒ”‡”‡‹†‡†–Šƒ–ˆ‡”ƒŽ ƒ‹ƒŽ ‘–”‘Ž‹•‡˜‡”›Žƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”ǯ• ”‡•’‘•‹„‹Ž‹–›ǤŠ‡”‡Šƒ•‡˜‡”„‡‡ƒ „‡––‡”–‹‡–‘‰‡–‹˜‘Ž˜‡†‹’‡•–ƒ‹ƒŽ ƒƒ‰‡‡–ǡƒ†Žƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”•ƒ”‡ƒ•‡† –‘ Š‘‘•‡–Š‡‹”’”‡ˆ‡””‡†‡–Š‘†‘ˆˆ‡”ƒŽ ƒ‹ƒŽ ‘–”‘ŽǤŠƒ–‡˜‡”–Š‡‡–Š‘†• —•‡†ǡ–Š‡‹’‘”–ƒ––Š‹‰‹•–‘„‡ ‹˜‘Ž˜‡†ƒ†–‘ ‘–‹—‡–‘„‡‹˜‘Ž˜‡† •‡ƒ•‘ƒŽŽ›ˆ‘”ƒ—„‡”‘ˆ›‡ƒ”•‹ƒ ‘‘”†‹ƒ–‡†‡ˆˆ‘”–™‹–Š‘–Š‡”•‹–Š‡ •ƒ‡Žƒ†• ƒ’‡ƒ––Š‡•ƒ‡–‹‡ǤŠ‹• The long-nosed potoroo is a species of potoroo. These small marsupials are part of the ™‹ŽŽ’”‘˜‹†‡–Š‡„‡•–”‡•—Ž–•Ǥ rat-kangaroo family.

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 29 Get involved ƒ”‰‡–ƒ”‡ƒ•ˆ‘”–Š‡’”‘Œ‡ –ƒ”‡‘—– —””ƒ›ǡƒ “—ƒ”‹‡ƒ••ǡ‘‰ƒ””ƒǡ ‘„‡”–•‘ǡ––Š‘›•ǡ‡ŽŽ• ‹ŽŽǡ ƒ’•ƒ  ‹ŽŽǡŠ‡ƒ•ƒ– ”‘—†ǡ ‹‰Š–• ‹ŽŽǡ ƒ„‡”‘‘‘—–ƒ‹ƒ† ’’‡”ƒ‰ƒ”‘‘‹˜‡”ƒŽŽ‡›ƒ”‡ƒ•Ǥ

ƒ†Š‘Ž†‡”•™Š‘™‘—Ž†Ž‹‡–‘‰‡– ‹˜‘Ž˜‡†‘”™Š‘™‘—Ž†Ž‹‡ˆ—”–Š‡” ‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ƒ”‡‡ ‘—”ƒ‰‡†–‘ ‘–ƒ – ’”‘Œ‡ –‘ˆϐ‹ ‡”ƒ˜‹†—•Š‘ͲͶͳͺͻ͹͹ ͶͲʹ‘”†ƒ˜‹†”̷’ƒ•™Ǥ‘”‰Ǥƒ—Ǥ Long-nosed potoroo captured by motion camera near Robertson in August 2017. ‘ƒ––‡†ƒ’‡•–ƒ‹ƒŽ ‘–”‘Ž–”ƒ‹‹‰ ‘—”•‡ǡ ‘–ƒ –Šƒ”Ž‡•‹‰‘”‡ŽŽ‹ ‘ͲͶͳͺʹͶͳʹͷͳ‘”‡ƒ‹Žǣ Šƒ”Ž‡•Ǥ •‹‰‘”‡ŽŽ‹̷ŽŽ•Ǥ•™Ǥ‰‘˜Ǥƒ—

Editor’s note: David Rush started his conservation career with the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and worked as a ranger and senior ranger with the ACT Parks and Conservation Service. He has also worked with various local and state government agencies including the NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW Crown Lands, and also dabbled in environmental consultancy work for Shoalhaven Council, NPWS and private enviro companies. David has been a tour guide for BridgeClimb, enjoys growing fruit and vegetables and has been involved karate for over 20 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science and currently coordinates the Thin Green Line and Berry Bush Links Bush The stuttering frog is a large species of frog that inhabits temperate and subtropical rainforest and Connect projects with partnership consortiums wet sclerophyll forest in Australia. in the Illawarra−Shoalhaven GER Region.

Book Reviews

Birdmania: A Remarkable Passion for Birds by Bernd Brunner A window on the world of birders-obsessive, passionate, quirky, and always interesting. Like bird watching itself, reading Birdmania is Ƥ lled with surprises and a sense of discovery. But in this collection it is the watchers, not the birds, who are on display χ ornithologists and bird lovers of every description, revealed in sketches and anecdotes that are quirky, intriguing, and always aơ ectionate. Highly enjoyable. χ Thor Hanson, author of Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle. An exquisitely beautiful book...These stories about birds are ultimately reƪ ections on the curious nature of humanity itself. Publisher: Allen & Unwin RRP: $34.99

All Animal Beings by Ken Drake What a gorgeous book, Ƥ lled with portraits of some of the most character-Ƥ lled beings! You could frame every photograph and feature them on your wall. All animal beings have their own unique personalities, they share our emotions, they share our fears, and they share our love. For many years we were taught that animals were mere automatons, driven purely by instinct. Only recently, in the last couple of decades, has science really caught up with what animal lovers have known for centuries and probably since the dawn of humanity. We forget that our raw emotions of love, lust, hate, hunger, happiness and fear are shared with each mammal and bird on the planet. Publisher: New Holland Publishers Australia RRP: $49.99

30 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 Australian Wildlife Society (ACN 134 808 790) Formed in 1909 and dedicated to the conservation of Australia’s wildlife Patron: His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

Conserving Australia’s Wildlife since 1909 109th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AGENDA Wednesday 7 March 2018 Commencing at 11.30am 1st Floor Meeting Room, NSW Masonic Club (Castlereagh Inn) 169 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW

1. Welcome and recording of those present.

2. To receive apologies.

3. Minutes of the 108th Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 1 March 2017.

4. President’s Report for 2017.

5. Treasurer’s Report for 2017. Receive and adopt the Balance Sheet and Income and Expenditure of the Society for the year ending 31 December 2017 in accordance with our Constitution.

6. Election for the Board of Directors of the Society:

a) Noel Cislowski retires in accordance with the Constitution (10.3) and will not stand for re-election b) Sash Denkovski retires in accordance with the Constitution (10.3) and being eligible, offers himself for re-election c) Ken Mason retires in accordance with the Constitution (10.3) and being eligible, offers himself for re-election d) Election of vacant offi ce in accordance with the Constitution (10.2)

7. Appoint the Auditors for 2018 - John Dickie and Co

8. Closure.

Issued by authority of the Board of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia Limited Trading as Australian Wildlife Society.

Patrick W Medway AM HONORARY SECRETARY/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 15 January 2018

All members are cordially invited to attend the annual President’s luncheon at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting.

National Offi ce: PO Box 42, Brighton Le Sands NSW 2216 Tel: 02 9556 1537 Mob: 0402 435 049 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wpsa.org.au

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 31 Directors of the Board of the Conserving Australia’s Wildlife Conserving Australia’s Wildlife since 1909 since 1909 Australian Wildlife Society Cordially invite you to the ANNUAL LUNCHEON of the Society Wednesday 7 March 2018 Commencing at 12 noon in Cellos Restaurant Level 4, Castlereagh Inn Boutique Hotel 169 Castlereagh Street Sydney

RSVP by 25 February 2018. Booking and prepayment essential

Acceptance form: I am pleased to accept your kind invitation to the Annual Luncheon.

$...... for ...... Tickets at $65 per person 2 course - main, dessert and coffee. Wines, beer and soft drink included.

Name ...... Address ......

...... Email ...... Cheques can be mailed to: Australian Wildlife Society PO Box 7336 Mt Annan NSW 2567 Telephone (02) 4647 7420 with credit card details. Direct debit: Australian Wildlife Society BSB: 062 235 Account No: 1069 6157 Confi rm details via email at [email protected]

32 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 Visit the Australian Wildlife Society website at www.aws.org.au to find out the latest on what is happening in our fight to preserve Australia’s unique wildlife

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 33 Be a part of the Australian Wildlife Society’s conservation future

To commit to being a part of our future, please complete this form. You may cancel your donation subscription at any time by notifying the national office. Australian Wildlife Society PO Box 7336 MT ANNAN NSW 2567 Email: [email protected] Telephone enquiries to: (02) 9556 1537

You may also commit by visiting www.aws.org.au and registering online Conserving Australia’s Wildlife since 1909 All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Your Details Name: Dr / Mr / Ms / Mrs / Miss

Address:

State: Postcode:

Phone: Home Work

Email:

I want to join the Friends of WPSA and give by automatic deduction each month to help protect our unique native wildlife and its important habitat

I will give via: Credit Card (please complete authority form below) Regular Payment can be made by EFT Credit Card Payments BSB: 062 235 Account No: 1069 6157 I am paying by: Visa MasterCard Card Security Code (CSC) ______Account Name: Australian Wildlife Society Card No. __/__/__/__/ __/__/__/__/ __/__/__/__/ __/__/__/__/ Expiry date ___ /___

Name on card Signature

I will give: $10 per month $15 per month $25 per month $50 per month My choice of $ per month

Signature Date

This authorisation is to remain in force until cancelled by the donor and in accordance with the terms described in the Agreement below. Deduction will be made on 15th of each month.

CREDIT CARD AUTHORITY 1. The Donor will be advised 14 days in advance of any changes to the Credit Card Authority arrangements. 2. For all arrangements relating to the Credit Card Authority arrangements, the Donor will need to write to PO Box 7336, Mt Annan NSW 2567 or email [email protected]. 3. Account details should be checked against a recent statement from your Financial Institution. 4. It is the donor’s responsibility to ensure sufficient funds are available when the payments are due to be drawn. 5. If the due date for payment falls on a non-working day or public holiday, the payment will be processed on the next working day. 6. For returned unpaid transactions, the following procedure will apply: AWS will advise the Donor of the unpaid transaction and request alternative arrangements to be made for payment if possible. 7. All Donor records and account details will be kept private and confidential to be disclosed only at the request of the donor or Financial Institution in connection with a claim made to an alleged incorrect or wrongful debit. 8. This authorisation is to remain in force until cancelled by the Donor.

34 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 Membership Form

Membership Become a member of the Australian Wildlife Society Conserving Australia’s Wildlife Simply fill out this form. since 1909 Name: ...... Address: ...... City/Suburb: ...... Postcode: ...... Telephone: ...... Fax: ...... Email: ...... Membership category (please tick) Three year membership (please tick) †Individual: $55 †Individual: $150 †Family: $70 †Family: $190 †Concession (pensioner/student/child): $50 †Concession (pensioner/student/child): $135 †E-mag (emailed as PDF, no hardcopy will be sent): $30 †E-mag (emailed as PDF, no hardcopy will be sent): $81 †Associate (library, school, conservation groups): $85 †Associate (library, school, conservation groups): $230 †Corporate: $125 †Corporate: $340 †Life: $2,000 (Includes postage within Australia. Add $60 for overseas postage) (Includes postage within Australia. Add $40 for overseas postage)

Payment details (please tick) Direct Debit Cheque Money Order Mastercard Visa Card Security Code (CSC) ______Card Number: Amount $ ...... Name on Card: ...... Expiry:...... Donation $ ...... Signature: ...... Total $ ...... 062 235 Mail to the: Australian Wildlife Society Direct debit: BSB: 1069 6157 PO Box 7336, MT ANNAN NSW 2567. Account No: Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia Email: [email protected] Website: www.wpsa.org.au Account Name: trading as the Australian Wildlife Society Tel: (02) 4647 7420

Membership Hotline: Mob: 0424 287 297 Note: All cheques to be made out to the Australian Wildlife Society

Consider - A Bequest Another way which you can support the work of the Australian Wildlife Society is to remember us in your will. If you would like to make a bequest, add the following codicil to your Will: I bequeath the sum of $...... to the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia trading as the Australian Wildlife Society for its general purposes and declare that the receipt of the Treasurer for the time being of the Society shall be complete discharge to my Executors in respect of any sum paid to the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia Limited trading as the Australian Wildlife Society. “The challenge to the present adult generation is to reduce the increasing pressures on the Earth and its resources - and to provide youth with an education that will prepare them emotionally and intellectually for the task ahead.

Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018 35 Photo: Doug Gimesy

36 Australian Wildlife Vol 1 - Summer 2018