Dryandra Woodland 2015 EcoEducation school activity program

An introduction to the Wheatbelt landscape An introduction to the Wheatbelt landscape Dryandra Woodland is located 30km north-west of Narrogin and less than a two-hour drive south-east from Perth. With just seven per cent of native vegetation remaining in the Western Wheatbelt, Dryandra’s 28,000ha of granite outcrops, breakaways and woodlands provide a refuge for more than 80 different species of birds and 24 species of mammals. Western Shield is an ongoing wildlife recovery program undertaken by the Department of Parks and Wildlife. It has been instrumental in helping WA’s threatened native animals survive. Dryandra Woodland is located within a world recognised biodiversity ‘hotspot’, where more than 850 species of flora can be seen throughout the year. Comfortable accommodation within Dryandra Woodland is available in renovated self-contained cottages or the Currawong complex with dormitory-style sleeping quarters and a commercial kitchen. Bookings are essential through the village caretakers: 9884 5231. EcoEducation activities and bookings are essential through the Department of Parks and Wildlife on 9881 9238 or 9881 9200.

Top: Dryandra Woodland Village accommodation. Photo by John Lawson Below: Lions Village. Photo by Parks and Wildlife

Dryandra’s educational program aims to promote the principle that the maintenance of natural biodiversity can sustain a good quality of life. The combination of theory learnt in classrooms and practical skills gained through participating in animal monitoring, setting up a flora quadrat or comparing plant communities, assists students to make a connection between what they have learnt and what nature needs. Irabina Study Centre is located within the village and provides the perfect base for classroom activities. Our EcoEducation activities can be linked with current curriculum requirements. Barna Mia Nocturnal Animal Marvellous marsupials Sanctuary – guided walk – animal trapping and monitoring

Barna Mia visitors. Photo by Gary Tate Setting animal cage traps, Rossmoyne Bush Rangers. Photo by Wendy Corrick

Barna Mia is home to some of Western Australia’s This is an opportunity for students to experience most threatened native animals such as the bilby, the process of catching animals for scientific boodie, marl, quenda, woylie and mala. The visitor investigation. A range of different traps, including centre provides guests with an opportunity to view Sheffield and Elliot traps, are set in the afternoon and a number of rare native mammals in a near natural then checked the following morning for animals. setting and learn about Western Shield, the largest and most ambitious wildlife conservation program Topics covered include: in Australia. • the use of different traps to catch different animals A media presentation is followed by a guided walk • setting traps under the stars to three feeding stations where the • checking and securing traps small marsupials are observed as they feed in the glow • animal handling, measuring and release of red-filtered spotlights. techniques Barna Mia is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and • data collection and analysis Saturday evenings. Tour sizes are limited and bookings • biodiversity and threats to marsupials are required. Group bookings can also be made for • the importance of Parks and Wildlife’s Western Tuesday and Thursday. (A minimum of 15 participants Shield program. is required for Tuesday or Thursday bookings.) Activity start time: Monday–Friday Activity start time: Ear ly evening (tours start Mid-afternoon: (2.30–4pm) * between 6–7.30pm depending Early morning: (6.30–9am) * on the time of the year). * These times vary depending on the time of the year. Duration: 1.5–2 hours Duration: Afternoon 1.5 hours / Cost: Adult $14 morning 2.5 hours Adult concession $12 Student/child $7.50 Cost: $300 set rate Family $37.50 (2 adults and 2 (20 or less students) children 16 years and under). $550 set rate (21 to 40 students) Group: Strict supervision is required for children 6 years or under. Group: Years 4–12 Group size: Up to 40 students Group size: Up to 40 students Investigating invertebrates Finding flora

Top: Invertebrate. Photo by John Lawson Below: Mouse Top: Gastrolobium parviflorum. Photo by John Lawson Below: spider. Photo by Parks and Wildlife Rose-tipped mulla mulla. Photo by Parks and Wildlife

In a woodland neighbourhood, the trees are home This is a bushwalk through native Dryandra to many different animals. Students investigate life Woodland discovering common plant species in the on a woodland floor where tiny animals crawl, dig area. Bushwalks can take place near the Lions Village, and wriggle. Earthworms, mites, beetles and other Old Mill Dam or use one of the many walk trails insects mostly live out of sight. During this hands-on such as the Ochre Trail. The importance of plants is discovery activity, students enter the world of these discussed as participants try to identify species using small but incredible invertebrates. a picture guide and dichotomous key. Tree data is collected such as tree height, width and leaf type. Activity time: Monday–Friday Between 9am–4pm Activity time: Monday–Friday Between 9am–4pm Duration: 2 hours Duration: 2 hours Cost: $175 set rate (20 or less students) Cost: $175 set rate $300 set rate Recommended group: Years 5–12 (21–40 students) Group size: Up to 20 students Recommended group: Pre-primary to Year 10 Group size: Up to 40 students Tracks, scats, traces and Sensational night life radio-tracking (self-guided)

Radio-tracking. Photo by Parks and Wildlife Top: Brushtail possum. Below: Tawny frogmouth. Photos by John Lawson

This activity demonstrates how animal tracks, scats Students, while exploring with spotlights, will and other traces can be used to determine preferred recognise the interdependence of life as the habitat, home ranges and behaviour of different woodland comes alive after dark. This experience can animal species. Using their investigation skills be a highlight of a school camp. students explore an area searching for scratchings, Suggested time: After sunset diggings and other evidence of animals, birds and reptiles. Participants also learn how to use radio- Cost: No charge (self-guided) tracking equipment to locate radio-collared animals. Recommended group: Years 5–12 Students are then able to try radio-tracking toy animals in smaller groups. Activity time: Monday–Friday Between 9am–4pm Duration: 2 hours Cost: $175 set rate (20 or less students) $300 set rate (21–40 students) Recommended group: Years 4–10 Group size: Up to 40 students Biodiversity conservation Communities and and management: adaptations in Dryandra putting the pieces together Woodland

Top: Chuditch release. Bottom: Blue-breasted fairy wren. Top: Dryandra Woodland. Below: Three-flowered golden Photos by John Lawson dryandra. Photos by Parks and Wildlife

This is a Power Point presentation covering the This is a walk-and-talk presentation highlighting importance of biological diversity of fauna and flora some of the different vegetation communities taxa, the threats against biodiversity and the causes found within Dryandra Woodland; in particular their of extinction. An animal case study is discussed, characteristic landscapes, soils, plants and animals. along with management techniques and methods Discussions will cover the amazing adaptations applied by Parks and Wildlife to conserve threatened these plants and animals have evolved to survive species in Dryandra. The presentation covers the in this environment, some of the historical and department’s Western Shield wildlife recovery contemporary challenges facing these communities, program. and the importance of management programs such as Western Shield to protect the nature of Dryandra Activity time: Monday–Friday Woodland for the future. 1 hour Between 9am–4pm Activity time: Monday–Friday 1.5 hours Cost: No charge Between 9am–4pm Recommended group: Years 10–12 Cost: No charge Group size: Up to 40 students Recommended group: Years 8–12 Group size: Up to 40 students Location of Dryandra Woodland

Entry to Dryandra

Verticordia insignus. Photo by John Lawson More information Lynette Carroll Department of Parks and Wildlife, Great Southern District, Narrogin Phone: (08) 9881 9238 or (08) 9881 9200 Email: [email protected] Web: dpaw.wa.gov.au Cover photos Clockwise from top left: bush stone curlews with chicks (photo by John Lawson); golden Dryandra (photo by Parks and Wildlife); numbat with nesting; Dryandra Woodland vista; (photos by John Lawson). Above: Dryandra Woodland (photo by Lynette Carroll). This publication is available in alternative formats on request. Information current at January 2015. 20140788-0115- PDF