Birds beat the heat
With the recent heatwave, and the promise of more extreme heat on the way, spare a thought for the birds, particularly around your garden. A bird bath (or 2 or 3) will be greatly appreciated by a wide range of birds. Over three sweltering days, a total of 16 species of birds were observed using 3 shallow baths in our Strath Creek garden. A few of these are shown below.
Some tips for bird baths:
- locate the bird baths close to shrubbery for protection and shade
- choose shallow baths or place a rock or two in deeper baths to avoid accidental drownings
- clean out the baths regularly – birds should have clean water for drinking and washing
- keep the baths topped up – water is rapidly depleted on hot days through evaporation (or being splashed out by larger birds!)
- keep cats indoors!
Highly desirable residence !
The value of artificial nest boxes, especially in fire-ravaged areas, was highlighted this week when we received this photo. The owner of the tail, presumably a Common Ringtail Possum, is the third known occupant of this particular box in the last 15 months. The first tenant was a White-throated Treecreeper which successfully raised a brood in spring 2010.
Then an Australian Owlet-nightjar regularly used the box during 2011 (click HERE to view previous post) and is apparently now quite peeved at the new arrival, judging by its constant calling.
As the landholder said “… this sort of revolving tenancy is probably quite common with natural tree hollows – it’s been fascinating to watch!”. Thanks to Ron and Kate for their many interesting wildlife reports.
Natives 80 Ferals 1080
One of our remote cameras has been in action on a bush block just to the east of Flowerdale. Over a 3-week period, the camera recorded well over 1000 pictures, including some of a Common Wombat, Australian Magpie, a Grey Currawong and a Laughing Kookaburra – as well as many images of European Rabbits and a Fallow Deer (see slideshow below).
However, the great majority of pictures were of a Red Fox family, including 3 well-grown cubs. The camera seems to have been fortuitously located right at the site of the family’s regular gatherings. While they may be helping to keep the rabbit numbers down, they would undoubtedly be a great threat to native wildlife on the property (but probably not to the wombat which they took little notice of as it passed by at night).
Survival of the new arrival
The female Common Wombat featured with a joey in the pouch in a previous post in June (click HERE to view post) has been seen several times since then, but always on her own. It was feared the offspring had not survived. But just over 6 months later, there she was with a healthy young one in tow, in almost the same spot as in the original photographs.
More possums and gliders
Ringtail Possum drey - Photo: David Laurie
Those who attended the Focus on Fauna talk last month on Possums and Gliders would readily identify the bundle of sticks in this photo as a ringtail possum’s nest, or drey as it is known. The possum’s face can be seen poking out from the entrance, looking a little sleepy!
Although our regular survey schedule has now finished, the remote cameras have not been completely idle, and recently managed to capture many pictures of Sugar Gliders and both a Common Ringtail and a Common Brushtail Possum on a property over towards Reedy Creek.
The short video below may take a few moments to load.
Hooded Robin at Flowerdale
Hooded Robin - Photo: Steve Joblin
A recent rare sighting on a property in Spring Valley Road was a male Hooded Robin. This lovely bird prefers lightly timbered woodland with grassy clearings and fallen timber. Its conservation status in Victoria is “Near Threatened” and it is one of a number of temperate woodland species in serious decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation, as well predation by foxes, cats etc.
The Strath Creek Landcare group featured the Hooded Robin in its booklet Birds of the lower King Parrot Valley in the “Focal Species” section. It was hoped that these declining woodland birds could be encouraged back to the district by Landcare works such as protection of remnant habitat and revegetation. Such works have been carried out over several years on this Flowerdale farm. Fire swept through the property in February 2009, and it is good to know the Hooded Robin has now returned. There were three previous sightings of an immature bird in 2002, 2004 and 2007.
Buff-banded Rail - Photo: Rosemary Ralph
Another uncommon visitor to the district recently was the Buff-banded Rail. A pair of rails has been observed with a young one on a Strath Creek property. The rail’s preferred habitat is reeds and rushes bordering wetlands, and these birds are obviously attracted by the landholders’ large well-vegetated pond close to the house. A distinctive feature of the rail is that it flicks its tail constantly.
Click on each of the photos for a closer look.
Camera results
An analysis of our remote camera survey results over the period January to November shows that wombats and kangaroos were by far the most frequently recorded native animals. From almost 100 camera deployments (each for a period of one week) on 25 properties, we recorded 11 native mammal species, 9 introduced mammals, 21 bird species and one reptile (a Common Blue-tongue).
Foxes, rats and rabbits were the most common pest species. The Red Fox was recorded on 17 of the 25 properties surveyed. With the night-time infra-red shots it was not always easy to readily identify the Black Rat from the native Bush Rat and the House Mouse from a native antechinus.
The birds captured on camera were mostly common species, but the highlights were a Superb Lyrebird and a Brown Goshawk , both on the same property – click on the name to see a previous post on each of thes birds.
Busy beetles
You may have noticed swarms of beetles flying around and aggregating on plants recently. These are the Plague Soldier Beetles (Chauliognathus lugubris). They can be found in forests, heaths and woodlands as well as gardens.
According to the Australian Museum: “The Plague Soldier Beetle infests blossoms of native trees, fruit trees, vegetable plants and other garden plants in such numbers that they can actually weigh down weaker plants. While this may be distressing to gardeners, the plants do not suffer much. This may be because the beetles are too interested in mating to bother eating the plants. Scientists found that in one such infestation 92% of the animals were copulating.”
The larvae live in the soil and feed on soft-bodied invertebrates.
Cuckoos calling
All four of the cuckoos that regularly visit the Flowerdale/Strath Creek area each year to breed have been in full voice in recent weeks. Click on the arrow on the sound icon to hear each of their calls, which were recorded locally.
Fan-tailed Cuckoo –
Pallid Cuckoo –
Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo –
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo –
Another cuckoo, the Brush Cuckoo, would probably have been found in the wetter forests of the upper King Parrot Creek valley, and it would be interesting to know if it has returned since the 2009 fires.
Any sightings or calls heard?
Herons thriving
White-necked Heron at Flowerdale by Steve Joblin
The good rains over the past couple of years seem to have favoured the White-necked Heron, quite a common sight around the Flowerdale – Strath Creek area recently. They look very large and majestic in flight, with their deep slow wingbeats and conspicuous white ‘headlights’ showing on the leading edge of their wings. On the ground they are seen in wet paddocks, roadsides and around dams, often standing motionless for some time while hunting.
Focus On Fauna 