Neighbours Noticing Nature

Intrepid nature noticer, Fiona Hawke whilst at Birriban Reserve “found a decapitated rabbit. The innards had been cleared out, apparently through the neck. There was a feather attached to some gizzard near the carcass”. Could this be the Powerful Owl on the prowl again? …and some aquatic sightings, in the last month I have three times seen from my kayak a seal about 50m off Threlkeld Reserve.”

Whilst we may not have noticed any Powerful Owls breeding this season our local Wildlife carer Catherine Wroe  “saw an osprey and her offspring fly over today !! (19/11/14)

Two very large white birds, possibly Eastern Great Egrets, according to the birds in backyards birdfinder, decided to perch above Puntei Creek at Carey Bay Wetlands and keep an eye on the landcarers for a while on 20/11/14.

During the ongoing hunt for Tetratheca juncea along the West Ridge an amazing grove of ferns and Macrozamias (Cycads) was stumbled upon…it was so different to the majority of the vegetation along Coal Point it was peacefully beautiful.

Whilst the exact identity of the many Macrozamias is yet to be confirmed if they were Macrozamia flexuosa these are an at risk species with an estimated total population of only between 2,500 and 10,000 mature individuals and declining. The major threat to this unusual cycad comes from over-collecting and land clearing. This cycad has leaves that are bent alternately in opposite directions. The other identity option could be Macrozamia spiralis which has a twisted shaft. Both  Macrozamias have been recorded locally.