Victorian Smooth Froglet – widespread in the study area
The Victorian Smooth Froglet (Geocrinia Victoriana) is a widespread species, present over much of Victoria. It has a distinctive call, that can be heard at this time of year from many dams in the district. This species looks similar to several other froglets in our district. The best way to identify froglets is by their call … listen to this, it was recorded at a dam in Upper King Parrot Creek Rd.
Victorian Smooth Froglet Chorus
Now compare this call with the calls of the two other Froglet species in our district.
More Flowerdale Sugar Gliders
This video stars the Sugar Gliders snapped in a previous Upper King Parrot Creek Rd post, from David and Laurie’s place.
Sambar Deer & Swamp Wallabies
These images and video are from Landmark Lane, Flowerdale, between 24 March and 1 April, 2011. This area suffered a very hot burn in the Black Saturday fires of Feb. 2009. It was a mixed forest of peppermint, blue gum, candlebark, yellow-box, messmate and silver wattle – all of which are regenerating strongly, at you can see.
Gliders galore in Flowerdale
This hollow dead tree on a partially burnt property at Flowerdale is providing a home for a whole family of Sugar Gliders. On several occasions, the owners of the property have been delighted to see up to nine gliders climb and take off from the tree at dusk.
After clicking on the video, it may take a few moments to load.
Common Brushtail Possum & Agile Antechinus, Strath Creek
This log is clearly a place of regular interest for a local Brushtail Possum and Antechinus and some peanut-butter, rolled oats & golden syrup no doubt increased the attraction, though the bait is secure in its holder and unavailable.
Talk about owls …!
Following our highly successful owl talk and DVD presentation by Dr Natasha Schedvin last Friday at Strath Creek (see “Where are the Barkers ?” post below), interesting owl reports are coming in. Two of our most enthusiastic survey participants were walking up their bush block driveway at the Junction Hill end of Flowerdale, spotted “whitewash” on the ground, looked up and saw a magnificent Powerful Owl perched on a branch with the hind half of a Common Ringtail Possum clutched in its talons !
Local Shinglebacks
Shinglebacks, Bobtails, Stumpy-tails, even Tiliqua rugosa! These large blue-tongued skinks (closely related to ‘blue-tongue lizards’) go by varied names and pop up in the most unlikely places. In recent months Gary Hendy has found this free-living Shingleback on his property on several occasions. But do they belong here? Read more…
Fox, Common Brushtail Possum & House Mouse – Flowerdale.
This Common Brushtail Possum seems to know how to look into a camera lens!
Where are the Barkers ?
An evening of owls at the new Strath Creek Fire Shed
Friday 25th March at 7.30pm
Join us in discovering more about our local owls. Wildlife ecologist Dr Natasha Schedvin will present an educational and entertaining documentary featuring the endangered Barking Owls of north-east Victoria.
If you have seen or heard Barkers or any other owls, come along and tell us your experiences.
Places are limited, so please contact David Wakefield on 5780 1225 or email focusonfauna@gmail.com
Sugar Gliders at home
Recent checks of nestboxes installed on three Flowerdale and Strath Creek properties since the Black Saturday fires have shown Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps) occupying a number of the boxes, with more than one glider in at least two of them. These delightful little animals seem to have readily taken to their artificial homes; but the importance of checking them was emphasised when a clutch of Common Myna eggs was found in one box. Other boxes showed signs of occupancy such as chewing around the entrance or nest material inside.
The pictured gliders clearly had n
ot read the label – as this box was designed for rosellas !
The boxes were all donated, and were made by various groups such as Rotary, La Trobe University’s Wildlife Sanctuary and even inmates of Dhurringile Prison.
Focus On Fauna 