Citizen Science in November - Frogs & Pollinators

FrogID Week 8-17 November 2019 

FrogID is a national citizen science project that is helping us learn more about what is happening to Australia’s frogs. All around the country, people are recording frog calls with nothing more than a smartphone.

Taking part in FrogID Week will help provide scientists with valuable data for the protection and conservation of frogs. The data will help track the Cane Toad and identify where frogs are thriving and where they aren’t. And by matching calls to weather and habitat, we are learning more about how different frog species are responding to a changing environment.

frogid.net.au

Wild Pollinator Count 10–17 November 

The Wild Pollinator Count gives you an opportunity to contribute to wild pollinator insect conservation in Australia. We invite you to count wild pollinators in your local environment and help us build a database on wild pollinator activity.

You can join in by watching any flowering plant for just ten minutes sometime in our count week. 

Here's a quick guide to pollinator Id from the Wild Pollinator people.

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A great Gum Guide for Coal Point tree enthusiasts

In the spirit of National Tree Day The Common Gums of Coal Point can now be celebrated and identified thanks to a case study produced by LMCC’s Landcare Resource Centre.

The Gum Guide describes the trees that are also known as Eucalypts, Angophoras and Corymbias. These are tricky trees to identify. The handy pocket sized pictorial reference of identifying features such as the bark and the fruit can be downloaded from the CPPA website on the Plants in our Bigger Backyard page.

Do you feed or provide water for the local birds?

You’re not the only one. The Summer Report from the Australian Bird Feeding and Watering Study has just been released by Dr Gráinne Cleary who made some interesting observations:

• Providing food for birds is a very common activity in Australia with the data showing commercial seed is the main food type provided. 
• A significant reason why people provide food is because it brings them joy and happiness which comes from interacting our the amazing birds 
• The most common bird group visiting feeding areas are granivores (seed-eating birds). 
• The favourite birds to feed are magpies, parrots (especially king parrots) and cockatoos along with pigeons and doves, mainly crested pigeons. 
• Large nectivores (e.g.rainbow lorikeets and noisy miners) were
present when commercial nectar or home-made nectar was available, while small nectivores (e.g. new Holland honeyeaters) seem to prefer home-made nectar. 
• Insectivores were attracted to the presence of cheese (over meat!!) 
• omnivores were visiting feeding areas where bread was provided. 
• Both granivores and fruit-eating birds displayed a marked preference for commercial seeds over other food. 

You can download a copy at www.feedingbirds.org.au.

Long distance pollinators short on bridges, magnets and frameworks

Long distance pollinators such as the local Regent Honeyeater, Grey-headed Flying foxes and Squirrel Gliders play a major role in mixing up the genes of many plant species across the landscape. This aids the overall ability of sedentary vegetation to adapt and cope with human-driven changes such as habitat fragmentation and climate change.

To keep the pollinator networks strong long term plantings are needed for:

• Bridging plants that ensure food during bottlenecks, shortages of nectar and pollen, especially over winter 
• Framework plants that support diverse pollinator networks by providing food resources to a large number of species 
• Magnet plants that provide rich resources of nectar and pollen that attract large numbers of pollinators 

Long-distance pollinator plantings also need long-term planning

• It takes 20 years for some species to begin flowering
• Planting at low densities speeds the canopy development and increases the rate of flower production with age, it’s quality not quantity that’s needed. 
• Planting near water and on fertile soil can also increase flower production and enhance creek corridors.
• Planting less than 1km from existing mature habitat is more likely to attract hollow dependent pollinators and have a better chance of being visited by greater numbers and varieties of pollinators.

Local plants that long distance pollinators love are Swamp Mahogany, Turpentine, Broad-leaved Paperbark, Grey Ironbark, Northern Grey Ironbark, Coastal Banksia, Spotted Gum, Forest Red Gum. If you have space for a tree one of these beauties will not only provide a lifeline for the local wildlife but also grow our local forest and give some shade for you to escape the summer heat.

It’s not too late to celebrate.

With the east coast low filling the water tank, the garden finally getting a good soaking after prolonged warm weather and the release of the Climate Council’s seasonal update ‘Abnormal Autumn 2016’, World Environment Day (WED) 2016 is more than a passing thought it’s a reminder to take action. The United Nations summed it up pretty succinctly…

When we see or experience the negative effects of climate change, environmental degradation or resource depletion it is easy to blame others - governments for not prioritising environmental policy; industry for raising greenhouse gas emissions; NGOs for not lobbying strongly enough; and individuals for not taking action. WED however is a day we put aside our differences and instead celebrate the achievements we’ve made towards protecting the environment.

By celebrating WED, we remind ourselves and others of the importance of caring for our environment. Remember that every action counts, so join us: every year, everywhere, everyone!

This year’s theme for WED – Go Wild for Life – encourages us to celebrate all those species under threat and take our own actions to help safeguard them for future generations. This can be about animals or plants that are threatened within your local area as well as at the national or global level - many local extinctions will eventually add up to a global extinction!

Habitat enhancement with Fire & Steel

Here along the Coal Point Peninsula we have got quite a lot to celebrate. We live alongside three Endangered Ecological Communities, two endangered populations and five at risk species whose survival depends upon what we do.

Local animals such as Squirrel Gliders and Powerful Owls need hollow bearing trees for homes, plants such as Tetratheca juncea (Black-eyed Susan) and Macrozamia flexuosa, a local cycad, need weed-free areas to flourish.

On Saturday 18th June, 9:30am-2:30pm at Progress Hall there’ll be a fantastic field day, Habitat Enhancement with Fire & Steel , a one-stop shop full of ideas, answers and actions on what you can do in your own backyard to make a difference for our local wildlife and threatened species.

There will be

• an expert arborist, Jarrah Hume-Cook, creating habitat with a chainsaw, demonstrating a variety of techniques for insitu hollow log homes and discussing options for tree retention that improve tree safety whilst retaining habitat potential. 
• A guided walk through the recently burnt Stansfield Reserve will highlight the impact of garden escapes and the resilience of the Australian bushland and how we can look after it. 
• Local native plants and nest boxes will be for sale so you can enhance your own backyard habitat along with expert advice from Ann Loughran, author of Native Plant or Weed Pick the difference, courtesy of Trees In Newcastle. 
• Displays from Lake Macquarie Landcare, Backyard Habitat for Wildlife, Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group and the Progress Association will give you the opportunity to join in or catch up and find out a little bit more about what actions are being taken locally. 

Bookings can be made online through Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/habitat-enhancement-with-fire-and-steel-tickets-25415795328 or by calling/sms Suzanne on 0438596741. Please RSVP for catering purposes.

There is a program and more information on last month's post 

This workshop has been made possible through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and is supported by Hunter Region Landcare Network and Hunter Local Land Services.

Habitat enhancement with fire and steel

Bookings can be made through Eventbrite. This will greatly assist in coordinating the day and the catering.

A field day focussed on creating, maintaining and monitoring habitat in an area that received an environmental burn on 6/4/16.

A morning session showcasing the creation of habitat structures in standing trees (stags) and in fallen logs using advanced chainsaw techniques.

An afternoon session monitoring the impacts of the 6/4/16 environmental burn by taking photopoints along a transect that was established prior to the burn and sampling flora quadrats for the first arrivals after the burn.

Habitat enhancement with a chainsaw.

This session will showcase the creation of habitat structures in standing trees (stags) and in fallen logs using advanced chainsaw techniques.

Jarrah Hume-Cook, an experienced arborist and TAFE chainsaw teacher, is keen to share an emerging trend in the enhancement of habitat hollows by creating ‘nestboxes’ and habitat cavities in large standing stags and fallen logs. The creation of the nesting structures will be demonstrated on fallen logs and the finished products installed in the local bushland to enhance habitat.

Habitat enhancement with fire

On 6/4/16 a medium to high environmental/hazard reduction burn was conducted at Stansfield Reserve, Coal Point.

This session will monitor the impacts of the fire by taking a series of photopoints along a transect that was established prior to the burn and sampling established flora quadrats for the first arrivals after the burn. A presentation on the burn and the monitoring process will precede the field trip. Skills gained include taking a photopoint, cover class vegetation monitoring and an understanding of the impact of fire on vegetation.

Displays at the Hall will include

• LMCC’s Backyard Habitat for Wildlife, 
• Lake Macquarie Landcare and 
• Trees In Newcastle. Local native plants will be available for sale. 
• Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group
• Coal Point Progress Association

Before the burn

Day 1 after the burn

 Program (subject to change)

9:30am Registration and morning tea

10:00 Welcome

10:15 -11:30 Demonstration & Discussion: Habitat enhancement with a chainsaw

11.30 -12 Tour of the burn site and installation of habitat structures

12:00 - 12:30 Lunch

12:30 -1:00 Monitoring the burn. A picture presentation of the process.

1:00 - 2:00 Field trip. Taking photopoints and flora surveys

2:00 - 2:30 Afternoon tea

Venue:   Progress Hall 197 Skye Point Rd, Coal Point. 

Parking: Gurranba Reserve 100m from the Hall.

Time:     9:30am-2:30pm

Safety:

• The chainsaw demonstration will be conducted in the grounds of the Progress Association’s Hall.
• The site tour and monitoring activities will be held in Stansfield Reserve. There will be approximated 500-700m of walking around the site on uneven surfaces with an ascent/descent of approximately 30m. A moderate level of fitness-mobility is required.
• There will be displays in the Hall for those that do not want to go for the walks.

This workshop has been made possible through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and is supported by Hunter Region Landcare Network and Hunter Local land Services.

Autumn Bird Survey

 Marking the changing seasons was the absence of all the calls of summer migrants including Sacred Kingfisher, Dollarbird, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Eastern Koel. The bush certainly has a different sound about it now. Also absent by the lack of calling was the likely resident Olive-backed Oriole; these birds just go quiet outside the breeding season and will remain basically undetected unless stumbled upon.

The other signal of change is the early winter eucalypt blossom and the mass movement (semi-migration) of those that chase the nectar. Increasing flocks of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters on the move were calling in briefly and producing spikes in overall numbers of birds present during two of the formal surveys.

Inspection of the two known bowers confirmed a couple of slight changes. The established bower at Carey Bay appears to have been relocated again and is situated within a small stand of Senna sp. immediately behind the planted border. Previously this bower was beneath some lantana a few metres away. The newly established bower in the West Ridge (south) site appears to be slightly better built than two months ago. Comparison of photos taken then and now also reveal that several yellow clothes pegs have been removed. Nothing but blue plastic decorations will do, it appears.

Inspection of Stansfield Reserve over the burnt ground from the environmental burn carried out a week earlier was just amazing. Almost all the ground cover of the burnt ground has been reduced to ash and it will be very interesting to see what jumps back out of the soil in the future; native grasses or ground asparagus.

The full Autumn report can be viewed online

Homes and habitat

As the smoke wafts through the air are you wondering how to find a happy balance between lifestyle choices and habitat values for wildlife? A publication from the Nature Conservation Council- Creating bird-friendly gardens in bush fire prone areas can provide an answer. Here’s an excerpt.

Many people live near the bush to see and hear native birds and other wildlife. Having them visit makes a garden more interesting and habitat gardens help wildlife by providing stepping-stones to bushland. 

However, living near the bush can also bring the risk of bush fire. One of the main ways to reduce the risk is a well-designed and maintained garden that acts as an Asset Protection Zone (APZ). An APZ is a fuel-reduced area surrounding a built asset such as a house or shed. It is a key element in reducing the impact of bush fire along with house and property maintenance and a Bush Fire Survival Plan. 

An APZ can also provide habitat and offer food, shelter and water for native animals. This fact sheet is a guide to creating an APZ that attracts birds and other wildlife and helps protect your home from bush fire. 

A local resource is Landcare Fact Sheet 9- Fire Retardant Plants . It contains plants suitable for our area. You can pick up a copy at the Landcare Office or download it. 

A visit to the demonstration garden at the Toronto Fire Station is also inspirational to view the Fire Retardant Garden.

Let fallen logs lie

The April storms may be a distant memory but the log legacy will be lasting. Many trees and branches fell and were later felled, community and personal safety being paramount in the decision making. The Progress Association’s land was also affected with two trees shifting, leaning on an angle that made the Tower of Pisa look upright.  

The CPPA committee discussed the options. Multiple quotes raging from $10,000 to $2,500 were obtained, the insurance company was notified and an arborist’s report was commissioned. The report identified the sloping trees as low risk, but in the event of another storm or high winds extra precautions would be required. 

Proposed mitigation measures included notifying the neighbours, not using the hall, moving to the front of the building (away from the trees), pulling curtains and staying away from windows…standard practice in areas where high winds are frequent events. The CPPA discussions also involved the potential to retain the trees for habitat value.

It was ultimately decided to reduce the risk the trees posed if they fell but to retain the tree material on site and distribute it within the CPPA land to provide habitat value. This turned out to be quite an important decision and in keeping with the spirit and intent of the Threatened Species Last Stand project

The NSW Scientific Committee has listed removal of dead wood and dead trees as a key threatening process, something that threatens or may threaten the survival, abundance or evolutionary development of a native species or ecological community.

Logs are life, without them there’s a potential biodiversity loss that can ultimately change the very nature of the woodland or forest. The storm has created new horizontal habitat and the potential to replenish the forest floor.

Fallen logs are habitat for bugs and beetles and provide sustenance for fungi and microbes that depend on decaying wood for their survival. These animals and organisms are the great recyclers, turning the logs into nutrients that replenish the soils and stabilise the soil surfaces. 

Fallen and decaying logs also provide shelter for smaller animals in the event of fire. The Progress logs will hopefully provide additional cover for the wildlife in Stansfield Reserves when the asset protection burn eventuates.

The Scientific Committee states the removal of dead wood and dead trees is so significant that it could even cause species or populations that are not currently threatened to become threatened, such as the common Brushtail Possum. It is hard to imagine Coal Point as possum-less, but without logs there is no life.

Vertical habitat has now been transformed into horizontal habitat and as the ground dwelling bugs and critters multiply so too will the birds that feast on them. The logs that are now numerous throughout the local bushland are providing essential ecosystem services, recycling nutrients, providing a place for animals small and large to shelter and creating a food source that feeds everything from microbes to marsupials. After the storm there is a cloud with a silviculture lining. 

If you would like to install some additional habitat in form of nest boxes a Build your own Wildlife Nest Box guide has recently been released if you want to make your own, or if you want to put in an order for one as part of the Threatened Species project have a chat to Suzanne anytime or at the Greater Toronto Spring Fair.

Would you like a Hairy Clairy?

For only $3.50 you could have your very own Clerodendrum tomentosum, a lovely local plant that insects and butterflies enjoy visiting for its strikingly fragrant tubular flowers which morph into bird attracting black berries retained on a scarlet red surround (calyx).  

Also known as Downy Chance, Hairy Lolly Bush and Hairy Clerodendrum this shade and moisture loving local is a pioneer plant and rainforest survivor, which makes it great for fire retardant plantings. Hairy Clairy is a shrub, sometimes a small tree and is in the same family as mint.

The seed from which these plants have grown was collected locally at Carey Bay, at Yural reserve, in quite a shady spot, it’s also found on the West Ridge and at the Hampton Street Link. 

As part of the Threatened Species project, seed is being collected from the local reserves and grown to offer to locals to boost backyard biodiversity. 

The plants will be available for purchase at the Greater Toronto Spring Fair, there are only 30 available. If you’d like to put your name against one please advise Suzanne by phone 0438596741, an SMS will do, or email cppa.tsls@gmail.com.

Do you have an eye on the sky or binoculars on the bush?

The Aussie Backyard Bird count is being held during Birdweek, 19-25 October. Putting your observational skills to use for the Aussie Backyard Bird count is a way to help understand the changing nature of nature and contribute to a very impressive national database of bird distribution and abundance. The information helps to understand the trends in bird communities, which birds are doing well and which are not.

Last year in the 2283 postcode 24 species were sighted, with four checklists submitted and 108 birds sighted. In this state Rainbow Lorikeets, Noisy Miners and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos topped the count.

Nationally the top 10 birds were Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner, Australian Magpie, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, House Sparrow, Common Myna, Silver Gull, Red Wattlebird and Welcome Sparrow.  

Sooty Oystercatcher at Coal Point-Image Rod Mackay

If you get out and about for the recommended 20 minutes of surveying you might see a Sooty Oystercatcher foraging on the tip of Coal Point, you’d have to be very lucky though, one of our local enthusiasts has only ever seen one. You might even get a glimpse of the Powerful Owl pair and their progeny…yes they’ve had babies. 

More likely you’ll see the more common species and they’ll be easy to identify because there’s a built in field guide in the Aussie Backyard Bird app and on the birdsinbackyards website.

If you’d like to see how the professionals do it Tom Clarke & co will conduct the local Spring Bird Survey on Monday 12th October. There are four spots available for community folk to participate in the bird surveys along the peninsula. Contact Suzanne for meeting details.

Everyone can indirectly support the bird survey team by keeping dogs on leashes on that Monday morning (12/10/15), or perhaps trying out the leash free areas at Hampton St Reserve (Pony Club) or Gurranba Reserve.

Searching for Seed

Searching for seed will be the Annual Bioblitz event this year. Often overlooked in the understorey and out of reach in the canopy the secrets of seed will be revealed on Saturday 5^th September 1-4pm along the West Ridge reserves.

A seed collection specialist, Trish Barker, will be leading the hunt and seeds collected will be grown on for planting back in the bush or purchase by locals for their bushland blocks or backyards.

Seed is an amazing source of wonder to the bushland wanderer, a food supply for the local wildlife and the vehicle for plant’s ability to adapt to change by mixing up the genetics of parents in the progeny.

Seed comes in all shapes and sizes from big woody pears to dust-like sprinklings. Knowing what to look for and when it’s ripe for the picking & propagating will be part of the seed searching session. A seed-D of resources, The Seedy Side of Plants will be provided to all participants.

Soup and damper will be provided after the walk.

Bookings are essential please email cppa.tsls@gmail.com or ring Trees In Newcastle on 4969 1500. The meeting point will be off Whitelocke Street between the mobile tower and the water tank.

Winter Bird Survey

Birds of Coal Point – July 2015 Trip Report by Tom Clarke

A full round of winter surveys was carried out in typical wintery conditions; as was the case last year! Under an overcast sky and an icy breeze, the last thing we could wish for was some rain; so who wished for it, I would like to know. A period of more persistent shower activity caused a temporary halt in proceedings before carrying on with the Burnage Reserve survey but otherwise things went to plan. Of course, the sun came out when all was done (and dusted? perhaps not) and we were well on our way back home.

The newly discovered Bower

Highlights

The discovery of a second bower at Carey Bay Wetland had us wondering if it had been previously overlooked. This “new” bower was found located about 15m away from the known established bower and in the direction of the creek. Both bowers appeared to be active with the new one completely well-built but containing only a few decorations. At least one male Bowerbird was sighted and possibly two female birds. Further investigation will be needed to confirm the owner(s) of these two bowers. 


The occurrence of a Common Blackbird at Carey Bay Wetland is a rare experience in deed. Despite the name, these birds are fairly uncommon in the Lower Hunter and completely rare on the coastal fringe. Hardly any records exist of birds east of Sugarloaf Range although a sighting was made near Morisset in August 2011 (HBOC Annual Bird Report Number 19). These birds do enjoy cold conditions (reminds them of Europe) and it certainly was the case that day; perhaps this bird had travelled here on the strong breeze that was prevailing at the time. 


The uncommon Blackbird

Another rare sighting was that of a pair of Pied Oystercatchers loafing on a reef just off-shore near Threlkeld Reserve. This species is listed as Endangered under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act. Despite having a few breeding pairs around Newcastle and large numbers of non-breeding birds hanging out in Port Stephens, it is not that common in west Lake Macquarie. Three pairs are known to local birdwatchers in east Lake Macquarie and can be seen regularly at Swan Bay, Coon Island sandbank and Black Ned’s Bay.

Our third only sighting of an Olive-backed Oriole was a brief look at a single bird at Burnage Reserve. This poor bird didn’t hang around for too long as it was hunted from the area by a couple of the local Noisy Miners. Previously we have recorded this species at Stansfield Reserve where an adult Olive-backed Oriole with a dependent but fledged juvenile was found in January 2015.

The full report can be read on the blog