WiHife and Native ~hnts study Group Wewshtter

WINTERISPRWG 2005 ISSUE 50 ISSN: 1038 7897-0

WELCOMEto our 50" issue! Doesn't the time seem to by, Moving on, I must thank all those mem thesedays. I do hope members that you have who have paid their subs. beenin good health, and that the winter bugs payers will have to bear t and flu Iwve stayed away. Unfortunately we unfortunately. Subs fiom 2005 on, are now haven't been so lucky down south, and the $10 pa.. It is a sign of the times, given our flu has been quite severe, and wanting to ever increasing postage and printing rates. hang on andan. Even our gardens seem out of sorts - our wattles are flowering weeks WELCOME to new and renewing before they should be, and seem to flower members - it's great to have you. Many earlier aqdearlier each year, and sometimes thanks too, for those members who have even flower twice in the year. Sh-ange and sent in articles. This is very much changing climatic patterns. What's it been appreciated, as it is YOUR newsletter. lf like in your area ? It's beenreally cold youhave contributed an article, and can't see here, andMt.Lafty has even had snow. 1 it in this edition, don't worry it's been held how some areas of Australia have had over for a future newsletter. It's really good wonderful, welcoming rain, at a time when to hear about what's happeningin your area it seems most needed, and when it looked So please, keepthe articles coming. like drought was here forever. There's been New members, Lynette & Peter Reilly an array of natural events - rue, &.drought, write that they live on a suburban block hgh wds, mini tornadoes, hugeseas and beside the sea at Runaway Bay on the Gold flood. There is so much mth in the words Coast. By using mostly local plants in the of the sopg "I love a sunburnt mu^" garden,they count themselveslucky to have . .. .. a land of sweepingplains a variety of birds, butterflies, and skinks. of rugged mountain ranges They have become avid birdwatchersand zpd droughts andflooding rains. are trying to lean mote about butterflies. So ate fiese phenomenal weather events 8 We all strive to learn more about our native thing oftoday, or has it always been SO?. plants and wildlife, and the relationships that Our native flora and fauna have had to exist between flora and fauna. I hope each adjust qd adapt over the years to such issue can provide some insight ~ntothis. extremes. Happy read~ng!Chris Neil Palfiaman, a new member, has sent a photo of flooding, west of the Darling. Thanks Neil it is heartening to know that \\a THIS EDITION rain has finally come to these parts. Gone batty! 8)' ('hris Jo11r.s Native Cresses and Cabbages b.~ Phil Wn/son.At's 7'0s Follow-on from Alphabet Soup An Australian Invasion by Dr. Bury Troill Media articles Book reviews...... and more GONE BATTY! By Chris Jones LIFESTYLE It is true, that inhabit cave and other Haunted houses, ghost bats, dark places, even drains, hollow bees and eerie wailing, mass flight, house walls - and they do come out at fight. Spooky qhatter, vampire bats, They are known to swoop fiom their huge $1 are creatures of the night . .. roosts or camp% to take to the air in the hundreds. But these nocturnal aerialists No this is not an introduction to a science became frightening by the noise that they fiction tlqller, but the world of bats. make, caIIed echolocation, in which they seekout their prey. Probably no has been so maligned as the , and yet it does much ECHOLOCATION service to our world, Did you know bats T3enoise heardis made by each bat uttering have an evolutionary history of some 55-60 about sixty high frequency sounds per million years? They are globally widespread second. When a sound strikes an object in and it is this that makes them the second the bat's fly-path, an echo bounces back to most abundant order of in the the animal's large ears, which serve as world. microphones, and the echo is interpreted by There are approximately 74 species the bat's brain. In this way the bat is able to of bats in Ausdia, roughlydivided into dodge obstacles or pursue an insect. two sub groups - (I) mega-bats - big bats, Echolocationalso allows the bat to navigrae hit bats and flying foxes (mainly fluit and in total darhms, preventing it from nectar eaters) and (2) micro-bats - small bumpinginto walls, other abstacles or even insectivsrous bats. They all belong to the other bats. Order Chrroptera. The noticeable differences between COMMUNAL LNING the speciesare found in the eyes. Mega-bats Bats live together in concentrated groups or leg. flying foxes) have large, round eyes, coloniesof a hundredOT more in onesmall while the insectivorous bats havevery small area. Theyhang upside dovtheir sharply eyes rhe size of pinheads. Fruit-eatingbats curvedclaws preventingthem from falling. also have no tail whereas an ir~sectivorous Theindex finger is also clawed in hitbats bat does. Bats are more common in the (flymg foxes). The bat is able to use it's tropics. wings to flip an insect into its mouth when in flight, to wrap around themselves in the VALUE cold, or to fan themselves in the heat. When These small, brown flying mammals should they are at rest they hang upside down by be much valued, as the insectivorous bats their feet and fold the wings against their help to ~ontrolinsect populahons, as they body. consume nearly their own weight in food each night. Fruit bats that feed on nectar, ONEXAMINATION pick up pollen on their fur and transfer it Upon close inspection a bat has large from flower to flower assisting in leather-like wing membranes, stretched taut pollination; and bats that eat native hit, between its forearms and weak hind legs. spread fmit seeds through the forest as they The kneesare generally bent forward, and migrate from one feedingarea to another. the body is hairy andmouse-shaped. They Since different fruit bat species feed at have five clawed tom on each foot and their different levels, most rainforest treesand sense of touch is remarkably well shrubs benefit born pollination and seed developed. The two most likely bats to be ! dispersal by bars. encountered are the flyingfox, and mastiff. ASGAP WILDLIFE & NATIVE PLANTS STUDY GROUP

NEW LfFE mosquitoes and caterpillars. Flying insects Female bats become mothers at may be caught while the bat is on the wing, approximately the same time because of or may. be taken directly by the mouth. delayed fertilization. After mating, they Larger insects are scooped up in the' bat's store dormant semen in the uterus, when a wing, collected and taken to a feeding place. single bqby usually is born to each mother. Small piles of unpalatable insect parts such As true placental mammals (eutherian), bats as wings and heads, may be found under bat give bl+ to well developed but hairless feeding roosts. Some bat species are adept at young, which are suckled on teats at the recovering insects fiom the ground, or fiom side of their chest. The young have large foliage. One species the large-footed myotis claws and strong jaws which it uses to cling (Myotisadversus) over streams and pools to its mother, while the mother uses her raking the surface with its large feet to catch wing to support them. Mothers carry their aquatic insects and even small fish. young until they become too heavy, and then . Where there are large bat colonies they are left at night in a nursery roost while there are also corresponding piles of bat the mother goes foraging. Independent flight guano (droppings), rich in nitrogen and usually occurs from one month when it phosphorus and in certain areas these have joins its mother and learns how and where to been mined for the substance to be used as find food. fertilizer. (Reardon. & Ravel, 1991) 0 BIG BATS..... There are 12 known species of fruit bats in FRUIT BATS -Family Pferopodidae Australiq belonging to the family The best known of the fruit bats in PIeropodidae in the suborder Australia, and the largest of all bats, are Megachiroptera, otherwise known as the the flying foxes. 'Most differ from bats of fruit eawg big bats or 'mega-bats. ' The other families in having comparatively most corpmonly hown are the flying foxes, plain or simply furred faces, without the which are frequently seen hanging fiom complex folds of skin that form nose-leaf branches in their communal roosts. Other and similar structures (which serve to smaller ~peciesinclude the tube-nosed bat control emitted sounds) or the complex and tiny blossom bats. As would be external ear shapes. expected the Australian hit bats use their sharp eyes and their well developed sense of The four largest species known as flying smell for finding hit and flowers which foxes have wingspans of more than a make up their diet. (Encyclopaedia ofAzatralinn metre, and can be recognised by their Wildlife.1997) long-snouted, fox-like faces. They live in large 'camps' containing thousands of 0 ... AND SMALLER BATS individuals, usually situated in rainforest, The insect eating bats are members of the mangroves or swamp trees, flying out suborder Microchiroplera, to which all other for considerable distances in search of Australiw bats belong. Most are quite small fruit and blossoms.' (Uorcombe.l980) with wqgspans of about a metre, a small body an4 weigh about 3 grams. Insect eating FLYING-FOXES bats are qble to see, but unlike hitbats they Flying-foxes feed on the nectar and use hearing rather than vision to navigate pollen of eucalypts, paperbarks and and to detect their insect prey. (Encyclopaeda banksia, and also eat rainforest fruit of Australipn Wildl*, 1997 ) Most insectivorous such as figs. Some species fly up to bats are opportunistic feeders, preying upon 30kms. a night to their feeding area, and whatever insects are abundant at the time. some migrate over a 1,000 kms. in a Insects cprnrnonly consumed by bats include year as they follow the flowering of the , bpetles, flying ants, lace-wings, flies, eucalypts. They also feed in orchards as ASGAP WILDLIFE & NATIVE PLANTS STUDY GROUP so mucp of their natural feeding areas in the coastal areas of northern and bas been destroyed by man. Of the eastem Australia. seven species known to occur in Australie there has only ever been one BLACK FLYING-FOX(iPteropus alecto) recording of the dusky flying fox These bats have a reddish brown (Pferopu~brunneus) probably now extinct. mantle, not black as their name would Two others - the large eared flying fox suggest. They are common in the (P.macrqtis) and the Torresian flying fox tropical north camping in coastal (unnamed species) are listed as rare. mangroves. Migration occurs of one population from New Guinea to the GREY-MEADED FLYING-FOX l?'terupr~s Torres Strait Islands from October pulrocepl~~ltrs) onwards each year, and they follow the These are very large grey-furred flying- ripening of mangoes. foxes with a pale reddish-yellow mantle around the shoulders and back of the (Information sourced from Encvclopaedia of head wbich is a lighter grey than the Australian Wildlife, Readers Digest, 1997 & M.Morcombe, An illustrated Encvclopaedia of body. These flying-foxes inhabit tropical Australian Wildlife, 1985) and syb-tropical coastal areas, and sometiqes beyond, being found along BARE-BACKEDFRUIT BAT (Dobsonia the eastern coast from central Qld. to moluccensis) Melbouvne, and occasionally Tasmania. The bare-backed fruit-bat lives only in They qate between March and April northern Cape York and nearby New each yaer with the young being born in Guinea. Its wings grow from the middle October. Although the Grey-headed of its back instead of the sides of its flying- fox may raid orchards, nectar body, which gives the fruit-bat a much filled blqssoms and wild rainforest fruits larger surface area for flight, and allows such aq figs make up a major part of it to manoeuvre, hover and fly their diqt. Their camps are usually trees backwards. It roosts safe from predators deep irl the rainforest or mangrove such as sea eagles and pythons in swampq. They are capable climbers, caves or boulder piles which are dimly using c)awed thumbs of their winged lit. Its agility assists in feeding in densely hands qp well as their feet. vegetated areas, such as deep in the canopy of the rainforest and along SPECThCLEQ FLYING-FOX (Pteropus rivers. It prefers native fruits but feeds co?tspic~l/pfirs) on eucalypt blossoms, and forages in These are yellow mantled, black open forests and woodlands on species coloureq rainforest bats of Far North such as the cycads. It mates at the end Qld. They live either in the rainforest or of the wet season and mothers give within 10 kms. of it.. They feed mainly birth by the start of the following wet on rainf~restfruits and have a symbiotic season when food is abundant. The relationghip with certain trees which young are weaned at about 4-5 months. depend entirely upon the bats for regenerption. TUBE- NOSED BATS These bats weigh only about 50 grams. LllTLE RED FLYING-FOX (Pteropus They have round heads, large red eyes, scnplfftlli) tubular nostrils and yellow spots on their The little rusty coloured red flying-fox ears and winged membranes. They are impprtant pollinators and distributors usually roost among the foliage of of seed? in forest ecosystems. They are rainforest trees where they are a nomgdic species that follow the camouflaged looking like dead leaves. blossorqing of eucalypts and paperbarks The most common of the three ASGAP WILDLIFE & NATIVE PLANTS STUDY GROUP

I Australign species of tube-nosed bats is northwards. It is now considered an the eastern tube-nosed bat (Nyctimene endangered species. (Reardon 8, robinsonli]found along the north-eastern Flavel.1991) It is thought that the coast Australia. Their diet consists of population may have been reduced, by fruits of various understorey plants, and the introduction of feral cats and foxes, in the canopy on fruits such as figs, the reduction of vegetation by grazing quando~gsand lilly-pillies. Their large, livestock and rabbis. There are thought + unusual shaped nostrils allow them to to be only about 10,000 ghost bats left breathe while gorging fruits. in Australia. The ghost bat has a nursery roost either in caves or abandoned mine shafts, where the young are born each BLOSSOM BATS September to November. The blo'~;sornbats are mouse size and important pollinators of rainforest and tropical plants. They feed on nectar from LEAF-NOSED BATS (Rhinonicteris flowers of many trees and shrubs, aurantius) including bananas and banksias and The leaf-nosed bats may be bright transfer pollen from one plant to another orange or drab brown depending on in the process. The tongues of blossom their moulting condition. They are very bats are highly adapted for feeding on small mouse-like bats weighing about nectar gnd can extend to the same 10gms. adthey roost together in a length 8s their head to reach into cave in the thousands There are seven flowers. The tips of their tongues have leaf-nosed bat species in Australia, most fleshy projections for collecting the living in the tropical north in caves. Most nectar ~lndtheir snouts are long and give birth at the start of the tropical wet -pointed. Unlike other bats the blossom season when insects are most bats breed twice a year. Like many abundant. The orange leaf-nosed bat when food is short or when it is flies close to the ground in open cold they hibernate. The common woodlands to catch small moths. blossorp-bat (Cyconycteris ausfra/is)lives The diadem leaf-nosed bat @longthe east coast of Australia as far (Hipposideros diadema) is an endangered south gs central NSW, while the bat which weighs about 50gms. This bat northerp blossom-bat (Macroglossus catches its food, usually large or minimus) lives in the northern tropics. moths, by hanging from a twig and ambushing prey, catching several insects at one time, partially chewing GH 0 ST BAT wacrodenna gigus) each one and storing the masticated The ghost bat is the second largest portions in cheek pouches. insectivorous bat in the world. It takes its The fawn leaf-nosed bat name from its pale colouring. It is (H.cervinus) is found in the Cape York sometimes called the false vampire bat. area with a total population of less than They fqed on large insects, birds and 5000 individuals. Others are Semon's small animals such as lizards and other leaf-nosed bat (H semonr) from the bats. It has excellent vision and powerful same region. The dusky leaf-nosed bat jaws, and takes its catch to a special (H.ater) may weigh as little as 4 gm. It is roost to eat it.(~orcombe,7985)The ghost widely distributed across northern bat used to be widespread throughout Australia. It uses large limestone caves Australig but now it is largely confined to or sandstone cliff crevices as roosting the tropics. Mummified specimens have sites. beenfoynd in South Australia's Flinders The endangered orange leaf- Ranges but its range has contracted nosed bat (Rhinonicterus aurantius) lives ASGAF WTLDLIFE& NATIVE PLANTS STUDY GROUP

in dry tropics and moults to a lemon big eyes and long, tapered wings that colour. allow them to fly very fast. They are not as agile however as other bats. They (Infomatlon sourced from Encvclopaedia of usually feed in forests or woodlands AusfraIiaq Wiid/ifeI Readem Digesf,,1997 & above the tree canopy. M.Moreovbe, An IIlusttaled Encyclopaedia of Australian Wldlifq 1985) The common sheath-tail bat (Taphozous georgianus) is widely distributed across northern Australia. It usually roosts in the twilight zone at the -esemble the leaf- entrance of caves or in the dimly lit nosed and have similar roosting crevices and slits of rocky outcrops. patterns, the obvious difference are the Although common sheath-tail bats live in flaps around the nostrils which form a the tropics, where insects are normally more prominent noseleaf, which are abundant they build up their body fats in used to beam echolocation calls. They summer to hedge against scarcity of have large ears and can move in prey in winter. When insects are in short different directions to view their supply they go into torpor to save surroundings. Horseshoe bats feed energy and do not re-feed until the close t~ the ground, catching mainly nights become warmer. Hill's sheath-tail bat (Thilli) from :;:!I:%.,- small moths, and the occasional .$ or s~ider. They have great Central Australia is similar in behaviour manoeyvrability in flight. and biology. The coastal sheath-tail The most common is the bat (Tausfralis} has a very restricted eastern horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus range in northern Qld. and rarely lives megaphyllus) which weighs about 12 further than 5kms from the coast. Most grams qnd is mouse sized. This species colonies roost in sea caves. Colonies of inhabits the mountains and coastal about 20 bats prefer coastal views. forests 9f the Great Dividing Range and Another rare and endangered bat is the is one of the commonest bats in the Arn hem s heath-tail bat (T.kapalagensis) Queensland tropics, where large discovered in the late 1970s is found colonies roost during the day in caves, only in Kakadu National Park. abandoned mine shafts, under bridges The most widespread sheath-tail and tree hollows. In southern Australia bat in the genus Sicilians is the yellow- only underground roosts can provide the bellied sheath-tail bat (S.flaviventris) high hqmidity required in raising the which has black fur on its back, and young. white, cream or yellow fur below. Other The large-eared horseshoe bat species of the genus are rare and (R.phillipinensis} has much larger ears restricted in distribution and are 9 (about half the size of its body). These endangered. The Papuan sheath-tail C;l bats are only found on the eastern side bat inhabits the north of Cape York; the of Cape York Peninsula. bare-rumped sheath-tail bat (S.saccolaimus) has one form in the Top Sheathdail Bats End and another in northern Qld. sheath-\ail bats are found throughout the world. There are eight species found Freetail Bats in Austrglia divided into two groups, with There are six species in Australia of those irlthe genus Taphozous living in these fast flying, insecteating bats that , caves .and those in the genus usually feed above the tree canopy. ' Saccolai~us living in tree hollows. Most live in tree hollows or buildings Sheath-tailed bats have a pointed snout, while the northern freetail bat ( jobensis) occasionally lives ASGAPWILDLIFE & NATIVE PLANTS STUDY GROUP

C in caves. A colony is known to exist ORDINARY BATS living in the jetty pylons at Derby on the Ordinary bats, family Vespertilionidae - northern coast of WA. Small groups often known as simple-nosed bats, have been spotted flying abouf 50m have plain faces without large nose above Open ground. The white-striped leaves. The tail is characteristic for it hetail pat (Nyctmomusaustmlis) has the extends to the very edge of the tail same qhatacten'stics as other freetail membrane but never beyond. Most bats bats hqwever is much larger in size. are mouse-sized and weigh from 3 - 15 Both feqd on invertebratessuch as large gms. There are 1i genera of this family beetles and moths, however the white- in Australia, comprising in excess of 40 striped bat also consumes scorpions species, some of which are highly found qn the ground. Both bats have specialized in their feeding, roosting or clearly defined territory divided by the preference for habitats such as wet Tropic qfCapricorn. gullies or patches of thick forest. They The other freetail bats are in the are sensitive to habitat disturbance. genus Mormopferus, with only four species recugnised at the present time, Bentwinq Bats however many more remain The large bentwing bat (Miniopterus unidentified. All appear to have a similar schreibersii) lives in forests throughout biology, roost in tree hollows, although the east coast and ranges, and in the in north Queenstand they also inhabit woodlands of the Kimberiey and $2 houses. They have thick ears, a Northern Territory. The little bentwing wrinkled upper lip and a flattened head bat.(M.australis) is found in the warmer that allpws them to crawl into small areas of the east coast. Bentwings form spaces to roost. large colonies and live in different caves There are three types of or mines depending on condition of southeqn freetail bat (M.planiceps). One breeding or hibernation. with shaggy grey fur inhabits the eucalypt forests and woodlands of the Pipistrelies and False Pipistrelles southegst, another has short fur and Two species live in Australia's tropical prefers grid conditions, while the third is northern woodlands - the rare Cape found ip southern Western Australia. York pipistrelle (Pipisfrellus adamsii) in There is also a little northern freetail the north east and the more common bat (M.I~rjae)and Beccari's freetail bat northern pipistrelle (P.westralis) in the (M.bqfl both of which live in the north-west. The northern pipistrelle northern tropics. The rarest is the prefers lo feed in the mangroves. endangered eastern freetail bat There are also two false (M.norfo1kensis) which has a very pi$strelle species, found only Australia. restricted distribution and is threatened The eastern false pipistrelle a by loggipg. (FalsistreMus tasmaniensis) lives in cool temperate eucalypt forests and can (/nformati~nsourced fmm Encyclopaedia of endure colder climates. The western Australian Wfdlife, Readers Digest.1997 & false pipistrelle (F.mackenziei) has been M.~orcorhbe. An Ilfustrated Encyclamedia of Audmliao WiEdIik,, 1985) recorded in the forests of south western WA. False pipistrelles roost in tree propatagturn hollows in small colonies of 30. One radio-metacarpal pouch colony was found in a hollow log on the hum \ / inner margin of car I ground in a jarrah forest in WA.

uropatagium plag(opatag;urn/ libia 94, tall

calcaneumOO~'PJ post-calcaneal lobe ASGAP WILDLIFE& NATIVE PLANTS STUDY GROUP

Tube-nosed insect bat and north-eastern NSW, are black with This is a very rare species (Murina a strip of white fur along their flanks. florium) Inhabiting the rainforests of the Both are considered endangered wet tropics of northern Queensland. It species. has sh~rtbroad wings which it often wraps qround its body like an umbrella Vespadeluses to keep dry in the misty mountain tops There are nine species in this group where it lives. It is thought that this bat which live only in Australia. Most are roosts during the day amongst foliage, common and several species are known and feqds at night on the nectar and to share the same habitat. In the insects of rainforest flowers. eucalypt forests of the southeast there are three abundant species- the large Large-footed mouseiearedbats forest bat (Vespadelus darlingtoni), the There 'are three highly specialized southern forest bat (V.regulus) and the species known. They feed over the little forest bat (V vulturnus). All roost in smooth gurfaces of lakes or ponds using the hollows of trees and feed on small echolocation to detect small ripples moths and other small insects. These made by aquatic insects or fish. They are very tiny bats weighing 3 -8 gms. roost iq caves, old mine shafts and Two other species can be found under bridges. A widely distributed in the central arid zone - the inland species Myotis moluccarum ranges along forest bat (V.baverstocki) which lives in the north coast of Australia southward to hollows of low trees and in buildings, the NSW border. M.macropus ranges and Finlayson's cave bat (V.finlaysoni) along the coast of NSW and Victoria, which roosts in caves and crevices of with some populations living inland on rocky outcrops. the border between Victoria and SA. The eastern cave bat M advergus has the smallest range found (V.troughtoni) is common in the coastal only in g small pocket, centred around tropics of Qld, where it feeds on Lismore in northern NSW. mosquitoes in late afternoon and evening. During its lifetime each bat consumes hundreds of thousands of Wattled Bats insects. The wattled bats are the most common The eastern forest bat of the ordinary bat species. They are (V.purnilis) lives in north-eastern NSW, black with a V-shaped patch of white fur another in south eastern Qld and yet on their undersides. Most live in tree another in the mountain rainforests of hollows. The chocolate wattled bat north Qld. Two other vespadeluses are (Chalinolobusmorio) named for the colour restricted to the tropics. of its fur, is common in southern The western cave bat Australiq. Gould's wattled bat (V.caurinus) is common from the Top (C.gouldii) has very dark brown head and End to the Kimberley, the rare yellow- shoulders and occurs across the lipped bat (V.douglasorum) which has continerlt with the exception of Cape yellow feet, head and arms is found only York. The hoary wattled bat in the high rainfall areas of the north (C.nigro~nseus)is black frosted with grey western Kimberleys. Small colonies live and found in northern Australia. All three in caves and bear offspring during the species live in eucalypt forests and wet season. woodlarlds. The little pied bat (C.picatus) of inland hustralia and the large-eared pied bqt (C.dwyeri) of south-eastern Qld

, Fruit-eating hfs baw no fail ulhilc insecfirwrous bats baa a dcjinilefail. ASGAP WILDLIFE& NATIVE PLANTS STUDY GROUP

$road-nosed bats ground to take beetles and other These are also common all over insects. Their weak legs cannot assist plustralip, and as their name suggests them to take off, so they jerk themselves have broad flat noses. The inland upwards by a flick of their Yvrists, wings broad-qosed bat (Scofmpensbalsfoni) folded, suddenly opening their wings and the lMe broad-nosed bat (S.g~yii) when clear of the ground. In Tasmania live in small colonies in tree hollows or the lesser long-eared bat is one of only in the hollow cores of timber fence two species found. The second is the posts. The eastern broad-nosed bat Tasmanian long-eared bat (N.shemni). (S,orionJ and the greater broad-nosed Lesser long-eared bats are usually bat (Soqteanaxrueppellii) live only along about nine crns. in length, and in colder the east coast, in forests and areas hibernate in winter. woodlaqds. The northern broad-nosed bat (Sptorepns sanbomii) tives in (Informafion SQUID& from Ewtopaedia of coastal forests in the tropical north and Austmlian WIdIife, Readers Digest, 7997 & M. Morcornbe. An Illustmted Encyclo~aedfaof east. Australian WiIcUife, 1985)

G~lden~tippedbat This is 'one of the most unusual bats The Life of a Bat found iq Australia, (Kefivoula papuensis) so named because of its golden tips on its woolly body fur. Unlike most bats it can fly amongstdense tangled vines where it searches for spiders. Found along theeastern mast of the mainland, it roostg by crawling into the nests of scrubwrpnswhich are mossy, spherical construpions hanging from a branch over a creek bed..

Long earedbats So narried bemuse of their large ears, which ab generally folded back at rest, thesebgts listen to the sounds of calling insects which they catch from bark ar leaves. They also feed on flying moths and ants. All nine species live in tree hollows, under loose bark, in buildings and under old sacks hanging in farm sheds. Tropical long-eared bats often roost in the skirt of dead fronds beneath Evening Bats the foliqge of palm and pandanustrees. Family VESPERTILIONIDAE Some species such as the lesserlong- 1 Ear length greater than eared pat (NyCtophi!us geoffroyi) are 20 mm...... 2 widespread throughout the mainland. OR This b~talthough shelters in tree Ear length less than hollows, rock crevices or cavesmay 20 mm...... 3 also be found hiding under large pieces 2 Y-shaped groove in LESSERLONG-EARED BAT of bark pn a tree trunk or even under a rostra1 elevation, Nyclophilus geoffroyi forearm shorter than A stone op the ground. When hunting for - insects these bats will land on the

No Y-shaped groove in roslral elevation, 7- GREATERLONG-EARED BAT forearm longer than Nyctophilus lirnoriensis 40 mm ASGAPWILDLIFE & NATIVE PLANTS STUDY GROUP

RESCUF parts of high protein baby cereal, Trapping of Bats is illegal without a Digestelac, honey and water can be permit. However on occasions you may offered on the end of a small brush. find an injured bat or flying fox. So what Insects such as fly pupae, mealworms do we do with it? Handle it very very or moths may be eaten when offered carefully. A scratch or bite from a bat with a pair of forceps. The bats should can cause severe illness. be kept warm before and after feeding to facilitate digestion. Leave a small dish Handlingfruit bats and flyinq foxes of mealworms in the enclosure to encourage Grasp behindthe head while the claws bats to feed themselves. are gently removed from whatever they (Information from Walraven, E. Guide to the Care are holqing. Loosely wrap the bat in a of Urban Wildlife, 7990) cloth legving the head protruding, and allow them to grip onto something. Transport is best in either a cage or box with a widely-spaced wire-mesh top so that the bat can hang comfortably. REFERENCES Alternatively strong sticks can be Encyclo~aedia of Australian Wildlife,(1 99 7) Readers Digest secured across the top of a box to enable the bat to hang. Gilbreath,A. Creatures of the Niqht.(1979) David McKay. Handliqg small insectivorous bats Most qn!be handled with bare hands Morcombe,M. (1985) An lllustrated and can be transported in calico bags. Encvclo~aediaof Australian Wildlife .Reed They shbuld be kept insulated and quiet. Reardon,T. & Flavel,S. (199 l)A Guide to the Temporary accommodation Bats of South Australia. SA Museum & FNS. For fruit bats an aviary with high Tunbridge,D. (1 99 1) Flinders Ranqes perches and shelter from the weather is Mammals. Kangaroo Press. desirable. For insectivorous bats a small enclosure Walraven,E. (f990)Guide to the Care of such as a cardboard box with towelling Urban Wildlife Allen & Unwin or some other material pinned on the inner 'vyall' is suitable, to keep these bats dudng their convalescence.

ruit bat a variety of soft fruits cut into small pieces or blended together can + offered. It should be supplemented with a high protein and calcium mix such as Complan which should pe sprinkled on the fruit. The food coptainer should be hung from the walls or roof of the aviary so that the bat can haqg comfortably while feeding.

For insgctivorous bats, hand feeding of small insects may be necessary in the first few days in captivity. A high protein, high eqergy paste made from equal Evening Bats Family VESPERTlLlONlDAE Evening Bats Continued Family VESPERT~L~ON~DAE continued 6 Calcaneum extends three- ...>:-. ,...... quarters of the distance ,- from heel to ~ail, / " COMMON BENT-WINGED BAT tragus pointed 3 Last phalanx on third 4 Miniopterus schreibersii LARGE-FOOTED MYOTIS digit longer than 30 mm OR Myotis adversus Calcaneum extends only r OR - half the distance from Last phalanx on third heel to tail, tragus rounded ...... digit shorter than 30 mm...... 4

7 TWOupper Incisors, not .... bifurcated, muzzle with 4 Small lobe on bottom lip naked, swollen, near corner of mouth...... glandular pads...... ,8 OR OR No lobe on bottom lip Four upper incisors, near corner of mouth ...... 6 first pair bifurcated and much larger than second...... -9 ...... 5 Dark-brown fur of head COULD'S WATTLED BAT and shoulders contrasts t- ChJlinolobus gouldii with light-brown fur of 8 Forearm 29-33 mm long LllTLE BROAD-NOSED BAT body, furearm 4C-40 nim -... III~~I-c~ninewidth (ICW) Scotorepens greyii long 3.9-4.7 mm

OR

ICW Body fur uniform CHOCOLATE WATTLED BAT chocolate-brown, forearm- Chalinolobus morio WESTERN BROAD-NOSED BAT Forearm 34-38 mm long 35-39 rnm long 0 Scotorepens balstoni ICW 4.8-5.6 mm 0 i-,

,.L.< -- ' -

'' ':,&4~ "' Body fur black except $-;&$p~v for a white stripe where wings meet belly, LITTLE PIED BAT 9 Four uppcr II~(Isors, forearm less than 36 rnrn Chalinolobus picatus first pair bilurc~ted t . Eptesicus species long - and much larger than - second - Free-tailed Bats Family MOLOSSIDAE

1

Forearm lon~eru than I WHITE-STRIPED MASTIFF 50 mm, prominent throat - L-- BAT pouch IrTadarida australis

Forearm less than 4C mm LIlTLEMASTIFF BAT long, throa~ pouch (two species) - Morrno~lerusolanice~s absent -

Fruit Bats Family PTEROPODIDAE

LllTLERED FLYING-FOX Forearm longer than Pteropus scapulatus . - 110 mm, fox-like face -

Sheath-tailed Bats Family EMBALLONURIDAE

Dull grey-brown fur all HILL'SSHEATH-TAILED BAT over body, forearm less -Taphoz-hilli than 72 rnm long -

Belly fur creamy yellow, YELLOW-BELLIEDSHEATH- back and head black, TAILEDBAT forearm longer than - .'i~ccolaimus flaviventris Native Cresses and Cabbages Interestingly, a pronounced By Phil Watson, APS Tas. characteristic of these family members is their distinctive 4-petalled, cross-like The spectnun of attributes and uses flowers. This feature was used to derive amongst the 3500 annuals or herbaceous the original family name of Crucrferae, perennials making up the Cabbage and Latin for Cross former. Cress family (Brassicaceae) are impressive. Of the well known members, Bush Tucker favourites the vegetable varieties of Brassica Water cresses, both native and oleracea ssp. (Cauliflower, Broccoli, htrochtced, have been part of our diets for Cabbage, Kohlrabi and Kale), the salad millenniums. Tim Low in his book "Bush leafL greens fiom the Water Cresses, the Tucker" pointed out that "this little herb staple root crops fiom the Radish and with the big name of Rorippa nasrurtium- Turnip tribes and the spicy Black and aquaticum, is the only well known Yellow Mustards (Brassica nigra & vegetable that has not been transformed Sinapis alba) have well deserved by centenaries of horticulture". The reputations. lsupermarket version is exactly the same For the native plants enthusiastic there as the wild plants found in drains and are the 150 Australian Brassicaceae of rivulets. It actually contains more Vitamin which 20 are indigenous Tasmanian C by weight than oranges! species. Typical are the numerous edible Following the Colonial Botanist Joseph species such as the peppery Slender Bitter Hooker's conclusion that the greens from Cress, Cardamine tenuifolia and moisture Native Cresses such as (Rorippa loving Perennial Marsh-Cress Rorippa dictyospemo, Cardamine gunnii 62 C. dic@osperma. renuifolio), afforded excellent pot- Unfortunately, within the family there herbage, the native varieties soon became are many persistent agricultural and popular as a means of reducing scurvy environmental wdof which none are amongst bushmen and sailors. more persistent than Charlock and White Weed (Sinapis arvensis & Cardaria Native Cresses were similarly collected by draba). The weeds, like many of the both the aborigines and early colonists, for others have originated fi-om medieval herb use as spicy bush greens andlor peppery gardens. herbs. Aborigines steamed them on hot As an offset to this weed problem, rocks within earthen pit-ovens, allowing today's floral display gardens have their peppery flavours to infuse through benefited fiom the hundreds of years of their kangaroos and other game meats. fastidious plant selection tcl. form mqny These spicy infusions were commonly well-loved flower favourites. These extracted fiom herbs such as the rare include the cheery winter flowering Rubble Pepper Cresses, Lepidium Wallflowers Cheiranihus sp., bold hyssoprfolium (distinguished from other colourfU1 Stocks Matthiola incana and the Lepidium sp. by the thick hairs on its sweetly scented Alyssum flower stalks), the Tasmanian Pepper varieties(Lobu1aria marifima). Cress L. pseudofasmanica and the Other members originally cultivated in endangered, endemic Thread Cress monastic gardens have given rise to an Stenopetalum linearis. Surprisingly, the array of useful plants. These include only location where they still flourish is medicinal herbs such as the decongestants under the drip lines of large gums, she- (Wintercress, Barbarea sp.) and oaks, wattles and even exotic pine bees, condiments (horseradish). However, one where competition is minimal. shoulh't forget the naturalinsecticides or Many leafy greens, incIuding the biofimigants (Mustard green crops) and endangered Native Winter Cress Barbarea the vegetable oiV-e sources australis were collected by aborigines along derived fiom Rape seed, now river flats and banks Their zesty, tender cornrnercialised under the marketing name young green shoots and their ground dried of Canola. seeds and pods acted as a spicy condiment whilst the seed pods were pickled as for game meats. capers. Another useful weed, introduced as Degradation threatens their existence ballast in early1800's, is the beach weed Disappointmgly, many of Tasmanian's American Sea Rocket Cakile edeniula. It Brassicaceae remain under threat of provides spicy mnstard-like young shoots extinction. For example, the limited river which emus adore. More importantly, the side habitats for Barbarea are being seeds often sustain the rare Orange subjected to altered flow regimes due to Bellied Parrot prior to migratory flights the effects of willows, in-stream dams and across Bass Strait. tree plantations. These de-g impacts Shepherd's Purse is another good reduce or often eliminate the natural flood example of the variety of uses given to cycles that are required for the Winter may of these weeds. Its young crisp Cress's seed germination. leaves were cooked in soups and stews, Over the history of pastoral activities, the whilst by grinding their dried peppery preferential grazing for these tasty inter- pods and &s, mustxd and a tenderking tussock Native Cress species, by sheep, salt were produced. The seeds were cattle and rabbits has all but eliminated sprouted and eaten like Watercress them fiom native-grass pastures. Sadly, presenting a rich in Vitamin C source. As the tiny much branched annual herb a medicine, in the form of a strong Southern Shepherd's Purse Ballantinu decoction, it stopped internal bleeding and anlipoda, which occurs in moss mats on was regularly used during childbirth to basaltic or granitic seepage areas, is rarely contract the uterus. Many of the Cabbage seen today, due to this rabbit and wallaby fw'sweeds contain sufficient amounts grazing, whilst the annual herb of the active ingredient isothiocyanate Hutchinson tasmanica, (last collected by ITC to gain herbalists recommendations Gunn in 1848), is now assumed to be as an anti-carcinogen. They also are noted extinct for the same reason. for their ability to break up congestion in the lungs but too much can cause a Brassica weeds are valued as medicine depression of the thyroid function. and food. Most Brassica weeds introduced from The first Weed called Woad England and America have long histories When the Roman's invaded England of cultivation for a variety of food and they were greeted by a horde of barbaric medicinal uses. These include the warriors painted with a bright blue dye agricultural weeds Wild Radish Rapanus extracted from the Woad plant (Isalis sp., Field Cress Lepidium campestre and tinctoria). This very resilient herb, which the yellow-flowering Indian Hedge is covered with masses of golden flowers Mustard Sisymbrium orientale along with in spring and forms a deep foraging root the garden weed, Shepherd's Purse system, was the source of a highly valued (Capsella bursa-pastoris). dye. By the 15" century, Woad was in The old English herb 'Splitting Jenny' OT such huge demand as a fabric dye; it 'Common Bitter Cress' (C. hirsula) is attracted the princely sum of 101- per cwt better know to nurserymen today as the at London markets. lks resulted in it irrepressible 'Flickweed'. From its ripe being cropped far and wide across pods seeds are ejected for metres. These England. However, by the 16~century germinate rapidly on any moist substrate many alternative dyes were available and creating a huge weed problem. The only Woad became less valued. The lack of positive feature is its tasty Water Cress- interest initiated its escape across the like foliage. countryside, finally becoming a bugbear Although attractive and tasty in salads, to farmers who desperately tried to the weedy Nasturtium (Tropueolum eradicate it. The modern day term majus) derives its name hrn Latin for weeding is a cormption of the olde term 'nose-twisting' alluding to its pungent 'woading' . leaves. These were cooked as tasty green, Brassica's active ingredients are ideal thurginensis marketed under the name of soil bio-fumigants 'Dipel'. These little bugs parasitise their Most of the older folk can remealier their bottled-shaped, cream coloured Mum's repetitive plead "Ear up your caterpillars and swiftly interrupt their Cabbage and Brussels sprouts or there lifecycle. will no dessert'. Little did our mums know that these vegetables wcrc a. con-*-:-.r LWLVU- acquired taste and deijnitely not for the It is hard to image the world without the sensitive palates of kids. This is due to the contributions made by many of the well strong flavours associated with the sulphur known Cabbage and Cress family containing compounds (Glucosinulates), members. However, care is needed to which after chewing; release a strong ensure that their gene pool remains as flavoured derivative called diverse as possible by including in Isoihiocyanaies or ITC. The attraction for revegetation projects, where possible this strong taste is akin to how a mature some of its rare indigenous rnefi~bers. palate has developed a liking for red wine. This ITC is very toxic to a range of plant pests and diseases. By growing mustard FOLLOW-ON FROMARTICLE 'Alphabet cover crops or including cabbages, Soup' by Leigh Murray which appeared in broccoli Brussels sprouts, native cresses Newsletter No.48 . etc, in agriculture crop rotations and vegetable gardens, the soil will be I have been contacted by APS NSW member naturally bio-fumigated by the residual Mark Abell. This is what Mark has to say ITC. Substantial enhancement in plant about the use of exotic and native fish for health of the following-on agricultural ponds. crops or vegetables is clearly evident. 'In the April issue, the "Alphabet Soup" Bio-diesel and Insecticides from reused article by Leigh Murray makes the Canola Oil recommendation to use "White-Cloud The Cabbage family member Canola Mountain Minnowsn as a fiog friendly pond leads the forefront in alternative he1 fish. The White-Cloud Mountain Minnow technology. Recycled Canola oil has (Tanichlhs albonubes) is a native fish of become valuable following its conversion Chin% it is a small peaceful fish and was to bio-diesel using a catalysed methanol. previously recommended for frog ponds as it Today petroleum based diesels are being tended to leave the tadpoles alone, plus at the mixed with this bio-diesel resulting in time the initial recommendations were made, significant reduction in air pollution. no feral populations were known. Ironically this process is leading refmeries Unfortunately these fish should no longer be away from the mineral oils and back to used in ponds. original vegetable based diesel fuels. An A number of feral breeding populations have important by-product of bio-diesel recently been found in the Sydney region. production is a Natural Mustard Some of these populations are likely to be the Insecticide containing ITC. result of pond escapes - a large enough downpour (rare though they are in recent Cabbage White Buttefl, is =-'---rlscklu' Or times) can cause poi'tds ro overflow & SOLILGuf foe? the fish in them to be washed into the nearest One important insect which devastates creek. More suitable fish for polids are the crops fiom the Cabbage family is the smaller local area native fish (nofe:Gambusia Cabbage White Butterfly. It is rapid flying is not a nativefish). These fish may be a little white butterfly, which is not only an more aggressive towards tadpoles, but a well artractive garden member but also supplies planted pond will ensure a good tadpole a major food source for our native birds. survival rate. Although it is a problem for all Brassica A poster was produced by ANGFA NSW growers, they are easily controlled by well (Australian & New Guinea Fishes timed applications of the parasitic Bacillus Association) on the "Freshwater Fish of the Sydney Region". This has photos of all of the Isit a frog or a reptile? native freshwater fish in the Sydney region & indicates which ones are considered to be "tadpole friendly". For more information you cancontact ANGFA NSW, contact details can be found on their web page - www.angfa- nsw.org . Fisheries are currently looking to produce a poster indicating suitable pond fish for different parts of NSW. For ~e Sydney region (& much of coastal NSW) the most suitable fish are:- Pacific Blue-eye [Pseudomugil signifie), Firetail Gudgeon (Hypseleotris galii), & Austrdian Smelt (Reiropinnasemoni).'

Mark further writes: ins& of mouth, skiYn lurigs,or, rarely,skin 'It is only recently that Mountain Clouds have Frogs eat insectsand other Rep& usuallycar animals, been confirmed in the wild. An ANGFA field animals but a few eat planrs ~p to Pearl Beach, last November confirmed the first feral population, since then at least 2 other separate populations have been found. digit nostril - - (finger) I ,Iris The Frog & Tadpole Study Group had been recommending them for fiog ponds for the last decade. When making their recommendation, they looked at what damage they did to tadpoles & the fact that they had been in the country for the better part of 100 years without having established any feral populations. Unfortunately, they did not take into account that they had only been used as an aquarium fish prior to their recommendation. The only safe option for ponds, is really local area native fish, I have a feeling that just about every fish that has been widely kept in ponds has become established in the wild somewhere. One of the original bloodlines for the Carp found in the waterways was originally Koi Carp. '

DISCLAIMER VIEWS AND OPINIONSEXPRESSED CN ARTICLES ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORSAND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS AND OPMIONSOF ASGAP OR STATEBRANCHES. AN AUSTRALIAN INVASlGP;; BUT WHAT IS THE P~wb~tbf PROTECTING OUR LAND WATERS Firstly, just what is an 'invasive species'? AND SEAS FROM INVkSiiiE PESTS. lnvasive spies is now the tern1 us& most By Dr. Bany Traill,Pmsident, Invasim species around the world to describe the problem of Council. Reprintedfrom Releaf 1s. 95 introduced species causing environmental problems. It is fairly useful jargon because it A few years ego I readFeral Futum, a book covers all types of plants and animals and by Tim Low which came out in 1999. In describes what they do - invade natural readingit I realised thatas an ec~logistand habitats. Different invasive species cause environmentalist had I missed something different problems when they move into a very basic. Untilthen I hadthe ideastuck in natural habitat, but there are some useful my headthat the problemwas largely one of generalisations we can make: pest speciesthat werealready in Australia- rabbits, foxes, cane toads, blackberry, 1.THEY COMPETE FOR RESOURCES olives, etc. Such specieswere largely not For example all weeds (including marine eradicable,but needed on round control weeds) compete for light, nutrients, andlor work to minimisetheir environmentaland space with indigenous plants. Grazing economicimpact. Tim's book made me animals such as rabbits and camels realise the unfortunatepoint that large compete for food with animals such as numbersof newenvironmental pest species bilbies and wallabies. European honeybees are still establishingin Australia,being either compete for nectar with honeyeaters and illegallyor legallyintroduced or accidentally native bees. broughtin. The rate of new invasive species 2.THEY EAT NATIVE SPECIES establishing is probably increasing. lnvasive animals eat our homeOgrown Talking about the issue with other species. Foxes, giant sea worms, cats, black environmentalists I realised that my lack of rats, Pacific sea stars, cane toads, knowledge was common. lnvasive species - European wasps, Tilapia fish, trout, weeds and feral animals - just weren't high European snails, rabbits, deer, camels, on the agenda. Certainly systematically donkeys, goats, pigs, cattle, horses and stopping new ones wasn't. water buffalo, etc. etc. etc.! ... all eat native animals and plants. tf too many are eaten A PROBLEM IN TWO PARTS this is of course a problem for the The problem of invasive species needs populations of the eaten! therefore to be addressed in two parts. Firstly, control and if possible eradication of 3.THEY CHANGE ECOSYSTEM existing invasive species where they already PROCESSES occur. Secondly, stopping new invasives lnvasive species can alter fundamental from threatening our environment. ecosystem processes and in doing so So not only is there a need to prevent become 'ecosystem transformers' damaging the spread of invasives already in the whole natural communities. country into parts of Australia where they The most noticeable example in Australia are currently absent but also to prevmf is weeds that increasa or decrez;~ fire fuel new introductions into Australia. loads and hence fire regimes. Gamba Historically little has been done beyond grass, a weed in Northern Australia greatly quarantine at the national borders about this increases fuel loads so that eucalypts are second part of the problem. Farm lobby killed in savannah fires. This turns treed groups systematically push for the savannahs into grasslands full of Gamba. maintenance of tight quarantine laws to Other weeds alter hydrological cycles. The protect agriculture, but there is little lobbying effect of some grazing animals may be to in regards to potential and known alter regeneration processes and turn environmental pests. woodlands into grasslands, or vice versa. Until quite recently, this lack of lobbying and campaigning to stop new environmental 4. THEY CAUSE DlSEASES pests has been a huge gap in conservation Introduced pathogens (bacteria, viruses, yrkin Australia. moulds etc.) can also become invasive species. tf they attack indigenous spedes have shown an incredible black hole in they can have huge impacts as indigenous quarantine of foreign plants. species are unlikely to have immune or Thousands of plants known to be other defences against new diseases. environmental and economic weeds Disease has been suggested as the reason overseas are still on the 'Permitted List' for the massive decline in qwll numbers in of plants to be imported into Australia. the early 1900s, which probably contributed Following strong lobbying, the Federal to the extinction of Eastern quolls on Government has agreed to revise the list mainland Australia. properly to include only species known not to be pest species. S.WElRD THINGS1 In Northern Australia many African pasture Someeffects are very idiosyncratic. Cane grasses and legumes were brought into the toads poison goannas, snakes and quolls country by CSlRO pasture scientists to try to that try to eat them. European honeybees improve pasture for cattle. Most that have cut hdes into some tube shaped native survived have become environmental flowers, to steal the nectar without weeds, some of them such as Gamba grass pollinating the flower, reducing seed are so severe they can alter whole production. ecosystems. But awareness is increasing now and THE SCALE OF THREAT controls are being put into place to slow the The current environmental impacts of spread of these horrific weeds. invasive species are huge, both in Australia There are some basic steps that need to and overseas. Systematic ove~ewsof be taken. generic threats to nature consistently list We need strong and enforcable national invasives as one of the top threats on laws that provide a first line of defence Earth. and stop new potential invaders coming Australia is particularly at risk because of into the country. its unique period of 30 million years of This needs to be backed up by a greater isolation as a continent. Quantification and number of quick response teams to wipe comparison of threats at the continental out invading species that ars scale is always difficult because of the establishing new populations. trickiness in comparing the effects of Eradication is usually only possible when different threats. However, I personally rate populations are small. And we need tighter invasives as probably the number two threat controls on trade so that potential invaders to nature in Australia, after climate change. can't be sold. This assumes that we retain recent The biggest source of new invading advances in controlling land clearing in species at the moment is gardens, and the Queensland and other states. nursery trade that supplies new plants. As a In part, the high degree of threat from minimum, we shouldn't be allowing the sala invasive species comes from the fact that of plants (or fish,or anything else) which has the risk cannot be removed. Every other the potential to go wild. known major threat can ultimately be Lastly and most importantly we need more remobed by human action, including people in conservation groups, the general climate change. But the Earth will always public, industry and government to know contain millions of species which have more about the scale of the problem- and the potential to move into Austrak arid he solutions. establish themselves. The invasions of our bushlands, seas and Active quarantine measures will still be rivers won't cease until more people knoh required in the next century even if we and care about stopping the next salvation somehow control or eradicate all existing Jane, the next Japanese kelp, or the next invasives. cane toad

STOPPING FURTHER INVASIGhiS There is a lot to do and increasingly more work is being done. Recent investigations MEDIA ARTICLES A male was trapped at Nowingi in an area supporting old growth mallee trees. Extensive toss of habii has been identified as the primary reason for the The article claims that dedine of the species.Harp traps and 'construction of the proposed toxic mist nets were used earlier this year by waste facility at Nowingi would Biosis to again find the bat.' endanger the habitat of the last known refuge of the Greater Long-eared bat (Nyfophilustimonensis)' in Victoria. 8ats far Bfadiversitvfrom Over the Hills & State Government commissioned a Plains.Val. 6 165.4 search as part of its Environment Effects 'All bat species in SA eat insects, Statement to locate the bat which not only mosquitoes but spues the'at ars proved fruitless. A flora and fauna pests to agriculture. Bats are the only survey conducted in the area in mammals that can sustain flight, and the November 2004 located only one bat. It Mt.Lofty ranges bat species are uniquely was said to be only the fifth time the Australian and do not occur anywhere species had been located in Victoria. else in the world. Bat species are 'Officially listed as a vulnerable thought to be in dedine, with the major species, the bats have been found in threat the loss of habitat caused by south central Queensland, central vegetation clearance. Bats need tree western New South Wales and north hollows to roost in during the day and a western Victoria. diversity of vegetation to forage in ,at Major Projects Victoria commissioned night. Biosis Research Pty Ltd. to undertake a Bats for Biodiversity began as a further targeted survey for the bat after community bat monitoring project the find in November. The later search (known as Batwatch) in the Mt.Lofty was conducted in late January and early Ranges with community members February of this year. Three locations monitoring bats in the region over the were chosen for the search - south of 2002 summer months. Batwatch was the western gravel pit where the species the first bat community monitoring was recorded in November 2004, project of its type in Australia and aimed adjacent to the eastern gravel pit and to develop an understanding of the the "trianglen- an area in the mid west of presence of the 12 bat species in the the study area. greater Mount Lofty Ranges. Greater long-eared bats eat insects and The first recording season saw about roost in tree hollows and underneath 40 landholders involved in bat loose bark. They forage low among the monitoring by hosting the overnight canopy and understorey for insects and automatic recording of bat echolocation possibly even forage on the ground. signals using specialised equipment. "However there have been few studies Landholders were encouraged to of the species' basic ecology and no increase bat roosting opportunities, information is available on movements habitat and undertake further or home range of the species." monitoring. The bat has only been sighted five times Today the Bats for Biodiversrty Project in Victoria- 1888 at Yarrock, north of aims to encourage landholders to Kaniva; 1962 in the Sunset Country promote and conserve native vegetation from an area of Mallee scrub; 1987 at especially around watercourses and Hattah-Kulkyne National Park; 1992 wetlands, by fostering an interest in along Bullock Creek near Pyramid Hill bats, their habitat and the role they play and 2004 at Nowingi. in riverine and wetland ecosystems.' MEDIA ARTICLES

Homesmade for bats Study Shm HabiifsValue FrornSheppartonNews 26/4/05 p.36. From The Rural 13/5/05 Old trees and paddock trees (dead or An Australian study of older aged alive) are an inspiring part of the eucalypt plantings on agricultural land Victorian rural landscape. In large has found that they can significantly stands they provide much needed improve biodiversrty. protection for stock from inclement The study by RIRDCand NSW DP1, weather, they assist with watertable and found that habitat for a wide range of salinity control and importantly provide fauna can be greatly increased by habitat for a wide range of native birds plantings of native trees and shrubs and mammals. particularly in areas near remnant bush. One particular group that relies heavily The research was conducted in the upon old paddocktrees is insect eating Albury - Wodonga region where bats, Bats piay an integral roie in the substantial areas of local eucalypts and functioning ecosystem of farms and shrubs were planted in the 1970s. The bushland ... .. Most bat species are study aimed to identrfy major factors insectivorous, and studies have found influencing biodiversity in the lower that they can consume up to half their rainfall (600-800mm) fragmented rural body weight in insects every night. landscapes susceptible to salinity of the Therefore, bats are beneficial in helping State's western slopes. reduce the impacts of agricultural pests A total of 120 sites were surveyed for on crops, and limiting the use of the presence of bats, birds, arboreal potentially harmful chemicals. marsupials, terrestrial mammals, reptiles Paddock trees including individual trees and amphibians in an effort to provide a play a vital part in the bat's life cycle as guide for future planting schemes. they provide valuable roost sites for The impact on biodiversity was many species of bats. It is the old trees uneven in that birds and bats favoured that provide the best habitat for bats, stands of trees over 10 years old. Even due to the hollows that form after younger plantings attracted many birds, prolonged exposure to natural forces of as long as the patch of vegetation was wind, fire, heat, lightning, rain and attack larger than five hectares. from insects, termites and fungi. The size of the plantings is a key Bat habitats are under threat due to factor, larger eucalypt plantings and clearing, exposure to fire (stubble larger remnants having more species of burning) and impacts from stock. birds and more individuals than smaller Management of paddock trees is an patches of either vegetation type. important step in retaining habitat for Bats were widespread in all vegetation bats. types and were recorded flying over cleared paddocks, although they were Bat Facts more common in remnant vegetation. s There are 13 species of insect Remnant vegetation was also the most eating bats in northern Victoria. important for arboreal mammals, e Bats make up 45 per cent of all nocturnal birds and reptiles, but the species in the Shepparton older plantings (greater than 20 years) area. also contributed habitat for these a They can eat up to half their body species. Younger plantings and deared, weight in insects in one night. or sparsely covered areas provided little Bat research has led to habitat for these species. No reptiles technological advances including were recorded in paddocks and ground navigational radar and medical animals were virtually absent. qcanners. MEDIA ARTICLES

The scientists said remnant vegetation "In a way, the damage caused by was particularly important because it invasive plants is greater than that was essential habitat for some species caused by feral animals, because some and also usually contained essential plants can take over an entire roosting and nesting sites in tree landscape, wiping out the native hollows. vegetation and drastically changing the Other recommendations included: mix of birds, animals, reptiles and Not removing old paddock trees and insects it can support," Dr.McFadyen logs on the ground when preparing said. sites for eucalypt plantings; Among the many garden favourites Excluding grazing from areas where which have gone feral and started to plantings are established primarily devour the bush are plants such as for nature conservation; and agapanthus, broom, Singapore daisy, Excluding stock from some dams or bridal creeper, asparagus fern, ivy, parts of dams, because of their purple morning glory, periwinkle, importance for frogs and many other Japanese honeysuckle, seaside daisies, species. gazanias, ericas, arum lilies, pampas grass, pigface and Italian lavender. Further research was recommended in Garden escapers cause damage by out order to determine rankings of the competing native plants for water, light various planting alternatives, as a way or nutrients and increase in the of weighing up the best management frequency of bushfires. Some are options for promoting biodiversity. poisonous to native and domestic animals. Others cause human allergies. Plants Threat Sparks Worry From The Rural, 22/4/05 p. 6 HUGE SNAKES GROW ON TREES 'Beautiful plants escaping from (from Australian Gewmphic Members Australia's home gardens are inflicting Newsletter July-Sept. 2005) ugly damage on the nation's 'Australia's longest snake - the landscapes, national parks and nature amethystine, or scrub, python - spends reserves' was recently re-affirmed by up to four weeks at a time lolling in Australian Weed Management CEO Dr basket ferns up to 30m above ground, Rachel McFadyen. Home gardeners research has discovered. On the need to be more aware of the havoc Atherton tableland in Far North Qld. their hobby is wreaking in the wider winter temperatures of around 10-16" natural environment, states the article. may mean ... that the snakes need to "We're asking home gardeners and climb higher into the tree canopy to garden advisers to be equally conscious bask. "If you're in the rainforest and of the harm their choice of plants can you're after sunshine, you have to go have on our native bush and be just as up," said Alastair Freeman who, with his vigilant in preventing escapes." wife Amanda, has been implanting radio The new CSlRO Report- Jumping the transmitters in scrub pythons and Garden Fence, commissioned by WWF tracking them. He said the snakes- Australia showed 'escaped invasive which can grow up to 8.5m long- ascend garden plants have major costs to the diagonally up into the canopy, using environment and agriculture. Scientists several trees, then rest for weeks in across Australia are reporting scores of lar e epiphytes. This research supports new weed invasions every year- many Asff centuty reprls by Norwegian of them being plants which have naturalist Carl Lumholtz that Aboriginals escaped from home gardens.' climbed rainforest trees and searched epiphytes for snakes for tucker.' MEDIA ARTICLES

FLOODS BRING LlFE ALONG THE such as goats, pigs and foxes. He says PAROO-DARLING that 'tannins leach from eucalypts when (FromAustralian Landcare June 2005.) the water fills the floodplains and can be Flood events are a time for celebration toxic to fish, and weeds can also spread and renewal of life in the outback. Hut with the floodwaters. Weeds tend to while our native species thrive, so do seed, spread and become established the exotic and the feral. during floods. Lippia is a very strong- A vqst, dry lakebed dotted with sakbush rooted weed found in the Macquarie and and sedges stretches as far as the eye Gwydir river systems - once it gets can see. The tantalising illusion of water established it can be extremely hard to shimmers in the distance under a get rid of." relentless summer sun. Welcome to Kingsford stresses that native species of Peery Lake" says NPWS ranger Paul plants and animals as well as migratory Burton. waterbirds, have adapted to the cycle of Peery Lake, in Paroo-Darling National wet and dry. "Without a flood, things just Park, western NSW, is one of the don't happen. Floods may be largest lakes on the Paroo River punctuated by years of droughts, but ovefflow. The Paroo is one of the last when the floods come they bring major free-flowing rivers in the Murray bumper years for graziers, and boom Darling Basin, meandering south from years for plants, invertebrates, frogs, its source 600kms. away in fish and waterbirds." Queensland's gorge country. 'While floods can also bring feral and Along the way the Paroo fills a vast weed problems, a lack of flooding can system of wetlands, only reaching Lake be an even greater problem. Arguably Peery after high rainfall in the north or the world's longest bloom of toxic blue- occasional local floods. But when 'the green algae occurred in 1991, along the lake does fill, waterbirds arrive in their Darling River. The bloom stretched for tens of thousands in a spectacular and thousands of kilometres, killing stock noisy parade of mating, feeding and and poisoning drinking water. "Algal breeding. blooms tend to happen when water "Floods are fundamental for bird life levels are low. But when floods come, because the food cupboard becomes so they flush the waterways out and much bigger. Foraging areas multiply a improve the water quality." thousand-fold during flood events," says 'When the water comes, the birds just Professor Richard Kingsford from the seem to know. Pelicans, black swans, University of NSW. darters, great egrets, red-necked While native plants and animals thrive avocets and pink-eared ducks start to during floods, so do exotic and the feral. arrive - there can be 50,000 birds out Wild pigs can build up to huge numbers there. " on the floodplains during wet times. I look across the dry lakebed, imagining "They love the mud and food is it full of water, bursting with life. I'd like abundant -like our native species- ferals to see that.' flourish." "Floods are highly valued here, Aboriginal people lived off the bounty of the rivers and lakes for tens of BOOK REVIEW- Tree: A Bionmphy thousands of years, and lclcal By David Suzuki&Wayne Grady pastofalists know good grazing follows The life story of a tree - a majestic floods." Douglas-fir of North America. Follow the Richard Kingsford maintains that floods tree's progress as it grows and discover are \he driving force of life in Australia's what role the tree plays in the forest outback, even if there are downsides throughout its life. Vol. 10 Issue 3 May/Jun 2005 the soil, and be sure that 2-3cm of soil coversthe top of the d I mass. The finished planting shouldresemble a flat-bottomed Tube-stock Planting RevegetationTechniques bowl with no raised moundof soil around the stem. This provides stability, insulates surfacedroots againstdrying or Site Preparation frosts, and gives the plant a betterchance of recovery from Good site preparationis crucial to the successof disturbancessuch as grazing. Ensure the finished plantis tube-stock revegetation. absolutely upright; plants thatlean over are more vulnerable to Woodywee& fkost damage, weed competition, fungalproblems and damage Allow at least two yearsto undertake primary during follow up weed control. clearance and follow up control of woody weeds. It is very Waferingin difficult to controlwoody weeds emerging amongst your new Once bach?illed, pour up to 2 litres of water into the bowl. This seedlings, so ensure theyare under controlbefore planting. will ensure any stress on he plant is minirnised, help to settle the Pre-plantingweed control soil around theroots, and give you an opportunityto check that Some weedsdo not significantlycompete with tube-stock. Most the watering bowl is level and functional. annual (winter) grasseshave died back by late spring and early Prevenfshading summer and pose little competitionto new plantingduring If staking theplant for tree guards or for demarcation purposes, their peak establishmentperiod. Annual grassescan actually place the staketo the southof the plant to prevent shading have benefits, such asproviding shade duringsummer, aswell - winter sun is crucial for good survival rates. as groundcoverto suppress and prevent more aggressive weeds fkom becoming estab!ishd. From Manual for Revegetation with Local Native Plants. OnkaparingaCafchment Water Management Board,but the The biggest problemspecies for new plantings are the perennial editor takafull blamefor the illusfrations. grasses and broadleaf species,which actively compete for water over late spring andsummer. These species include phalaris (Phalarisaquatics), rice millet (Piptatherummiliaceum), plantain (Plantagolanceolata), thistles, kikuyu (Pennketum Attractant for Foxes and Wild Dogs clandestinum)and all the woody weedspecies (broom, After mocths of R&D and production, blackberry, gorse etc.). These generally grow over late spring to Pestat Ltd s FeralMoneTM is now on :arly summer, areaggressive andquickly outgrow tube-stock. the shelves. FeralMoneTM, a spray We would suggest the following techniques for control: attractant is designed to increase Perennial grasses- spot spraying using a glyphosate visitationof wild dogsand foxes to . product. bait or trap sites to assist in bait Broadleaf weeds- spot spraying usinga metsulfuron uptake. methyl herbicide or mechanical slashingto reduce growth Foxes and wild dogs have recently been estimated to cost and therefore competition(it can also stop furtherseed set). primary producersmore than SlOOM per annum in direct losses Woody weeds - cut and swabusing a triclopyr or and costs of control, and managing these pestsis an on-going glyphosate product,foliar spot sprayusing a triclopy activity for many farmers and rural agencies. FeralMoneTM product. will be a useful tool in this process. :.'lanfing Pestat Ltd developed the productin collaboration with The importanceof good planting practice is often overlooked.It Australian Wool InnovationLtd and the NSW Parks and is important to plant your tube-stockwell so that survival is Wildlife Division. FeralMoneTMis based on the synthetic optimiied, and the effort of growing and planting is not wasted. fermented egg mixture originallydevised by the United States A few easy tips can make a huge differenceto the success rate. Department of Agriculture almost threedecades ago. The Digging the ho!e .... . mixture has a strong sme!l, which has in the past proved First scrape 1-2cm of soil Erom an area about 30cm x difficult t2 handle. The formulation is packaged in an aerosol 30cm and move it to one side. Do not mix it back into can, so the odour is contained, and importantly, canbe supplied the planting area. This action will remove any weed seed and applizd in a user-kiendlymanner. kom the area around the plantedstem. Next diga hole Over the past year, the formulation was testedin field trials in big enough to contain the plant, a 2-3cm are of soil the ACT and South-east NSW, and was found to increase both insulationand a 2-3cm 'watering bowl' which willcatch the attendance rate of foxesand wild dogs at treated sites, and and deliver precioussummer rainto the roots ofyour seedling. also increase the uptake of baitsfrom these sites. All up, your hole will needto be 5-8cm deeper than the size OF the tube-stock. Savethe 'clean soil' to one side to backfill Author: Lauren Starr,from irnPACCthe bin~onthlye-newsletler around your plant. ofthe Pejf Animal Control Cooperative Research Cenrre Orient [heplant Did you know? Remove the plant from the pot.This is best achieved by first Eucalypts develop hollowsat all ages, but rolling the tubes between your palms to loosen the root mass. hollows suitable for vertebratefauna do Holding the plant by thestem, place the plant in the hole and not typially appear until trees are at least face it to maxirnise leaf exposure to the winter middaysun. 120 years old. Hollows for largerspecies Most broad leafplants have many of their leaves facingthe may not appear until trees are at least 220 same direction to seekthe sun, therefore orientthe plant so that years old. most leaves are facing north. References Gibbons, P & Lindenmayer,D. (2002). Tree S~abiliwand insulation hollows and wildlije conservarionin Australia. CSlRO Set the plant at the lowest point in the hole and refill thehole Publishing. using the 'clean' soil you placed to one side. Ensure the soil is crumbled in around the root massto minimise any air holes in From Land for Wildlife NewsVol5 no 7 Aug Sep 2004. QUIZ - Match the pictures below to thenames of these comrrLon weeds. ' I: African Daisy 2. Blackberry 3. Boneseed 4. Boxthom 5.Bridal Creeper 6. English Broom 7. Erica 8. Monadenia 9. Pepper Tree

u IllustrationsfiomStop Bushland Weeds by Mzg Robertson, exceptfor MonadeniafiomIt's blue with five petals by Ann Prescott.and Boxthornfioma Save the Bushfact sheet Afiican boxthorn by Richard J. Carter.

Butcherbirds Rice Millet (Piptatherum miliaceum) There are only hvo species of Butcher Birds Rice Millet is a perennial grass to 1.5m you will encounter in SA. The Grey high, originally native to the Butcherbird is Mediterranean area. It can be confused widespread, often seen in with Stipa species. The leaves are fat, the Mallee, woodlands, glossy and dark green, about % to Icrn mulga partly cleared wide and up to 30cm long. The seed farmland and suburban f' heads open into a very large, spreading W parks and gardens. Its panitle on long, thin branches. It forms voice is rich and varied. It has a black head, grey back and dense standsthat exclude other white underparts. Its partial white collar is obvious in the field. vegetation, and spreads rapidly kom its many seeds. The Pied Butcherbird is famed for its beautiful song which comes 'in fluted, far-carrying notes that seem to reflect the Control Spot spray with loneliness of its outback haunts' Glyphosate at a (Morceombe). It has a black hood and rate of 5-IOml per chest, and a darker back. It hunts from bare limbs, poles or litTe of water. Spray from Julyto wires, and is often seen December. Can be cut back with hedge along roads. Its habitat is shears or a brushcutter and then spot spray @ the regrowth a month later. Small areas can spikclet woodlands, semi-arid be hand pulled. Best times for hand pulling acacia shrubs, watercourse h-ees, spinifex, 9 are May to November. grasslands, farms and roadside kees. Its range Sources : Weed Control Handbook for does not include the southern parts of SA but can be seen in the Native Vegetation, Revegetationand Creek Riverland. Lines in the Onkaparinga Catchmentby the Grey ButcherbirdfiomThe Birds of Victoria by W Roy OnkaparingaCatchment Water Wheeler,illus. ByJeremy Boot, Pied B~tcherbirdfio~rnField Managemew Board Illus. From Grass Identification Manual foreveryone by Joan Guide to Austnlian Birds by Michael Morcombe. Molpsfiom liylc The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds by Peter SIater et al. Gibbs, artist Rochelle Gibbs. UniSA, 2001. 1