THE CREEK Newsletter of BERG, the Volume 10 Issue 1 February 2006 Christmas Visitors PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Three young So we enter 2006, a year which no Mount Martha has had its Tawny doubt will produce some traditional holiday influx of Frogmouths challenges, some positives and tourists. I am aware that there was spent negatives, the former by way of interference with the sandbar at the Christmas grants, the good things we achieve creek entrance and that some of day sitting in and community support; the latter our members were on the receiving a tree in our in the form of vandalism. What an end of abuse when explaining why Victoria achievement if that energy could the creek should not be artificially Crescent be harnessed for good works. opened to the sea. On one garden, snuggled up together like This summer has again raised a occasion a contractor’s heavy number of issues regarding the machine opened the entrance something straight from May Gibbs. And on the branch below, a state of the estuary, including the under Shire Council Guidelines. parent kept guard. unsightly silt, opening of the We were told that the boardwalk entrance, and walkway access. I was under threat of inundation and As we approached, they all went have wondered what it was like that triggered the action. In the into ‘dead before white man sub-divided, light of the experience in Portland, stump’ mode, developed, cut roads and footpaths where artificial opening of the river watching us and left them unsealed. Was the mouth led to tens of thousands of carefully creek open to the sea and subject fish dying (see report in the through an to regular tidal influence? Was October 2005 edition of The eyelid slit. annual rainfall in those days Creek), we will seek more But if we different to now? What would information on these guidelines. stayed still happen to the catchment area and Another project worth a look is awhile, they everything upstream? Should the the raising of the walkway under relaxed and great naturalist and author Graham the Esplanade bridge to make it resumed the Pizzey’s suggestion to dredge the accessible at all times. I am aware fluffy-feathers, eyes-wide-open estuary, cleaning out decades of silt of discussion at the Mount Martha mode. At dusk they were gone on build-up and using it to create an Community Association about a their nocturnal hunt for insects, island as a safe haven for bird life, pedestrian crossing, or maybe a worms, slugs and snails, frogs or still be considered? pedestrian bridge over the small reptiles. Well, we hope that our Esplanade. Then two weeks later, they were application for $49,804 for a I wish all our members a happy back for a day – in the same tree – Community Water Grant will be and healthy 2006. Do not hesitate but this time, sadly, only two successful and will begin the to talk to us about your ideas; you young and the adult. This is the process of answering some of are always welcome to attend our first time I’ve seen Frogmouths in these questions. Field Officer Liz meetings and, of course, we’d love the vicinity, though my father Barraclough provides more details to see you at our working bees. recorded them in the 1980s and they are on BERG’s species list. about this in her report on page 2. Keith Wilson, President Angela Kirsner BERG Committee President Keith Wilson Treasurer Richard Kirsner Waterwatch Jenny Selby Vice President Harry Harris Field Officer Liz Barraclough Schools Liaison Jan Oliver Secretary Mary Stemp Rotary Club Liaison Andy McGuigan Kotor Friends Margaret Caldwell Minutes Sec. Pam Hearn Newsletter Angela Kirsner Greenfields Friends Hazel Athey Address for correspondence: Hon Secretary, BERG Inc, PO Box 433, Mt Martha 3934. Phone: 5974 3996 Website: http://berg.org.au BERG is a member of Coast Action/Coastcare Program and Greening Australia Victoria Page 2 THE CREEK Vol 10 No 1, February 2006 more about the estuary’s natural Have you seen an FIELD NEWS processes, and we have approached Echidna? the department of Ecology and There have been a number of Field Officer Liz Barraclough Environment, Faculty of Science, recent echidna sightings within and reports: Deakin University to assist us with near the reserve, on both the north part of this project. Our aim is to BERG winds down over the and south banks – Kotor Hill and understand the geomorphology of summer holiday period, and this Victoria Crescent being the most the estuary and creek, past and year in particular the heat has made recent. We’d love to know more present. hard field work unattractive. about our echidna population. Are This will entail core sampling of we seeing the only two in the area, Working bees the floor of the estuary and creek or are there lots? What is the The January working bee was a to identify changes in extent of their territory? small and select group, but we sedimentation rate, source and Please report any sightings to completed the work planned pattern. A botanist and specialist in BERG – where, when, what they nevertheless. Working at the salt tolerant flora will also advise us are doing and the like. And keep an campground, carpark and along the on species selection and eye out for signs of echidnas: Mirang Avenue drainage line, we appropriate planting techniques. weeded the remaining Cabbage The university has offered to • Feeding: Thistle (Angela’s weed vigilance on involve and supervise conical holes in soft earth, up to her walks to and from the shops undergraduate and post-graduate 20 cm deep with had kept the beach side of Mirang students in any related activities the mark of the under control), most of the and research. snout at the end; Dandelions, a few Blackberries, Dr Helen Arundel, also from damage to ants’ Cotoneasters and other thistles. Deakin, is to publish this year her nests; rotting Keith also did a great job removing recent research into estuaries along timber torn apart the charcoal graffiti from the the Australian coast, investigating by strong claws; rotunda walls and cleaning out the their opening and closing patterns, overturned litter fire places and the laundry. their effects on the ecology, and • Tracks: (see February will see us back in full the effects of man’s interference photo and swing, and at the working bee on etc. We look forward to this report diagram) front feet Sunday 19th we will install the sign and the relevance of her findings turned inwards posts for the educational nature to our estuary. and marks of walk through the campground area strong digging and probably have another blitz on Kotor Hill Group claws; hind toes the weeds in the area. This group of residents has undertaken to directed backwards; be custodians of the area between Seppelt tracks show the print The Tuesday Group needs more Ave, Ferraro Ovals and Hopeton Creek, of all claws as feet people. This small weekly working and have been is weeding, mulching and move forwards bee has done wonders in planting the top of Kotor Hill. • Scats: (see photo) transforming and maintaining the Margaret Caldwell reports: long cylinders up to Bunyip area. Any extra hands – We have been watching our plants 2 cm in diameter, regular or occasional – would be often broken up, dry very welcome. Ring Mary Stemp grow since our first meeting and working bee in July and, though we insect particles visible on the surface, on 5974 3996 for more variable colour, strong earthy smell information. have lost some with the heat, the majority are doing well. The when fresh, found in piles A study of the estuary reaction of local residents to what on rocks or we are doing has been very The threat to our estuary’s natural near feeding ecology is of great concern, with possible, though vandalism of sites the continuing reduction of guards and stakes is a constant Echidnas saltmarsh and depth of the creek problem. shelter in channel, the increasing siltation There have been two recent hollow logs, smothering the seagrass and echidna sightings on the Kotor Hill old burrows, thick vegetation or eelgrass beds that provide essential and we will endeavour to find out forest litter. If disturbed, they will nursery areas for fish species and more about our "resident" echidna, rapidly dig down leaving only a few help maintain water quality, and its habitat and how we can ensure quills visible. They usually breed in the reduction in waterbird numbers its occupancy of our area. winter, in burrows about a metre and species. The next working bee for the long that terminate in a nursery We have applied for a substantial Kotor Hill Group will be in chamber. Community Water Grant to learn March. Page 3 THE CREEK Vol 10 No 1, February 2006 Black Wattles from stipitata), Running Postman spp., annual grasses and weedy Black Earth (Kennedia prostrata) and Kidney ground covers. Once these are in Weed (Dichondra repens). Four check, our focus will shift to the Jo Thyer is our hard-working contact species of orchids and five species removal of woody weed seedlings with Naturelinks, Council’s of lilies were also recorded – before they become too large. environmental contractor for our Reserve, including some of the most A Reserve at Devil and is involved in monitoring and enormous Chocolate Lilies Bend managing the control burn site. She (Arthropodium strictum) I have ever Minister for Environment, John describes what’s been happening there. seen! Grasses also recruited in large Thwaites announced on 19th numbers and around 10 species The indigenous flora at the January that most of the now occur on the site.