Cane Toads (Bufo marinus) heads south to Sydney

About 30 have been found over the last few weeks including a number of baby toads Taren Point, in the city's south. A pest control firm reports that they caught 24 toads on land belonging to one factory with six only 5cm long.
National Parks and Wildlife officers have been listening during the night for the distinctive nocturnal mating calls of the male toads but they are yet to hear any mating calls.
Professor Rick Shine, a toad expert who heads the University of Sydney's Team Bufo states "In any event they will almost certainly die during winter as Sydney is at the edge of their suitable habitat."
The cane toad, Bufo marinus, was introduced to Australia by the sugar cane industry to control two pests of sugar cane, the grey backed cane beetle and the frenchie beetle.
Cane Toads are large heavily-built amphibians with dry warty skin. They have a bony head and over their eyes are bony ridges that meet above the nose. They sit upright and move in short rapid hops. Their hind feet have leathery webbing between the toes and their front feet are unwebbed. Adult Cane Toads have large swellings - the parotoid glands - on each shoulder behind the eardrum
Cane Toads may be grey, yellowish, olive-brown or reddish-brown, and their bellies are pale with dark mottling. Average-sized adults are 10-15 cm long. The largest female measured in Queensland was 24 cm long and weighed 1.3 kg. Male Cane Toads are smaller and wartier than females. During the breeding season males develop dark lumps (nuptial pads) on their first two fingers; these help them cling to a female while mating. Their mating call is a long loud purring trill.
Young Cane Toads have a smooth dark skin with darker blotches and bars, and lack conspicuous parotoid glands. They can be distinguished from some native Australian frogs because they sit upright and are active in the daytime in dense clusters.
Cane Toad tadpoles are shiny black on top and have a plain dark belly and a short thin tail. They are smaller (less than 3.5 cm long) than most native tadpoles and often gather in huge numbers in shallow water. Cane Toad spawn is unique in Australia. It is laid in long strings of transparent jelly enclosing double rows of black eggs. The spawn tangles in dense dark masses around water plants, and hangs in ropy strands if picked up.

Should you see any cane toad please report it to WetlandCare Australia: 02 66826169 or Department of Environment & Conservation (NPWS): 02 66411500

Somersby Fall Brisbane Waters National Park

Located on the central coast of NSW you will find Brisbane Waters National Park, over 12,000ha of rugged sandstone rich in Aboriginal Art and Wildflowers.
The Somersby Falls track is rated as medium to difficult and 500m long. If you feel like a picnic or a walk in the rainforest, with excellent viewing platforms the peaceful Somersby Falls is the place to go.

The track descends along Floods Creek passing two stages of the falls. I will say take some good shoes as the track can get slippery in places.

There are over 1000 Aboriginal sites located on the central coast. The Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council works closely with National Parks and Wildlife Service to maintain and protect all sites on the central coast and to continue to act as custodians. Aboriginal sites throughout Brisbane Waters National Park include spear and axe grinding marks, rock engravings, hand stencils and sandstone shelters.

Flora
There are 18 different plant communities and over 650 plant species recorded in the park. The parks soil, drainage, aspect and geological differences represent the variety of plants found.
High plateau at Somersby falls carry open woodlands with a heath like understory and a distinct mix of riparian and rainforest species along the watercourse. In other parts of the parks deep gorges allow for sub tropical environments.
Late winter and early spring provides visitors with the opportunity to see an extensive variety of beautiful blossoming wildflowers.

The rare and endangered Somersby Mintbush (Prostanthera junonis) a low spreading shrub 0.1 - 0.3 m and up to 1 m diameter. In open sites, branches appear wiry and are often prostrate. Where vegetation is denser, the plants have long spindly branches which weave through other vegetation and can grow up to 1m high. Leaves are oval in shape, dull green above and paler below. Flowers are 8 - 12 mm long and pale mauve to almost white with brown spots in the throat.

Fauna

A large number of birds call Somersby Falls home , like the bush turkey, superb lyrebird, yellow tailed black cockatoo, rosellas, kingfishers and parrots to name a few. Two bird species lists as threatened, turquoises parrot and the black cockatoos are also found in the park.
The park also protects the environment for a large number of native animals, reptiles and frogs. Some of the fauna that has been sighted around Somersby Falls include long nosed brown bandicoot, sugar glider, common ring-tailed possum, grey headed flying fox, eastern water dragon, red bellied black snake and the threatened red-crowned toadlet.

Munmorah State Conservation Area (part 2)

The Palm Tree Circuit track is an easy walk of around 20 - 30 mins. Starting at the picnic area which has free gas barbeques and sheltered tables and chairs under the canopy of cabbage palm trees providing a quite and peaceful setting.

As you start your walk you will pass through rocky outcrops, then through open woodlands full of banksias, ancient cycads and smooth barked-apple trees before returning to the picnic area

The dense upper layer (or canopy) of the cabbage palm tree and eucalypt reduce the amount of light that can penetrate, thus providing shelter from the heat. The soil is moist and very deep providing shelter and food for many animals. The growing tip known as the “cabbage” was eaten either roasted or uncooked by the Aboriginals and early settlers. Unfortunately as a result the tree wouldn’t survive.

Along the walk you will find some Cyads (Marcozamia) which are a group of ancient plants that were a common sight some 200 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Their fleshly red seeds are a highly nutritious source of starch. Don’t try one however as they are extremely poisonous. Aboriginal people would remove the seeds by pounding them and socking them in water for a week. This water would be changed everyday or the seeds would be placed in bags and put into a running stream or creek. The pulp was then made into cakes and roasted over hot embers.

Brown stringy bark and angophora dominate the ridgetop of the open woodlands with a mixture of tree teas, hairpin banksias and mixed native grasses in the understory. The open woodlands sit on layers of gravelly soil and its elevated position provide a sunny aspect of the walk.

Next we take a look around Somersby Falls in Brisbane Water National Park.

Acknowledgments
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Munmorah State Conservation Area. (part 1)

Last week I had the opportunity to spend several days on the Central Coast of New South Wales and visit both Brisbane Waters National Park and Munmorah State Conservation Area. I will write about both parks beginning with a two part article on Munmorah State Conservation Area.

Around 40km north of Gosford you can discover Munorah State Conservation Area, situated between Budgewoi and Catherine Hill Bay. The land now occupied by Munmorah State Conservation Area was first inhabited by the Darkinjung people and the Awabakal people, the Indigenous Australians. The Darkinjung occupied the southern section and the Awabakal occupied the northern section. It is believed Europeans first discovered the Tuggerah Lakes in 1796. National Parks and Wildlife Service started managing the park in April 1977 and today it covers an area of 1,529 hectares.

Coastal Views
You can undertake scenic driving, sailing, fishing, surfing, camping (booking required), bushwalking and picnicking and some truly spectacular views. The reserve contains a number of ecosystems wetlands, forests, woodlands, littoral rainforests and heath communities.

Flora
In spring Munmorah offers the visitor a beautiful wildflower display.
Throughout the park you may notice lime green scrubs scattered through the coastal heath this is Lance – leaf Geebung, or Persoonia lanceolata. It is in the Proteaceae family, same as Banksia and Grevillea

In the Open Forest and Woodland flora such as Red Bloodwood, Smooth-barked Apple, Arcacias, Grevillias, Banksia, Hakea, Brown Stringybark. Scribbly Gum and in the Closed Forests Cabbage Tree Palms, Mock Olive, Muttonwood, Cheese Tree, Lilli Pilli, White Mahogany, Wonga Vine, and Wombat Berry can be found.

Fauna
The park is home to wildlife such as Blue Wrens, Brush Bronzewing Pigeons, Tawny Crowned Honeyeaters, Southern Emu-wrens, White Breasted Sea-eagles, Sooty Oystercatchers, Ring-tailed Possums, Sugar Gliders and Swamp Wallabies.
A number of Southern Emu-Wren could be seen flying around Snapper Point. The Southern Emu-wren is a tiny bird with a long (10 cm) filamentous tail, made up of six feathers, which is usually held upright. Male birds are grey-brown streaked black above, warm tawny brown below, with a distinctive blue chin and throat and some blue around the eyes. Females are similar but lack the blue colouration. This species is shy and has a weak flight, preferring to spend most of its time low in dense cover and will run like a mouse, with its tail down. The Southern Emu-wren is found in a variety of moist dense scrublands, heaths with grass trees, coastal heathlands, tea-tree vegetation and, in Western Australia, in low scrub and dune vegetation on sandhills.


In Part 2 on Munmorah State Conservation Area we will take a look around the Palm Tree Circuit Track.

Acknowledgments
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Endangered Eastern Bristlebird

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

The Eastern Bristlebird (Dasyornis brachypterus)

They are shy and cryptic and mostly occur in dense, coastal vegetation. Although secretive, they are occasionally seen scampering across open clearings and are easily located by their loud, melodic song and a harsh, sharp alarm-call. The plumage of the Eastern Bristlebird is dull brownish above and lighter grey below, with rufous wings. The tail comprises about half the bird’s total length of 21 cm and may appear to be distinctively frayed. The wings are very short and rounded. The legs are long and strong. The face is paler and the eye is bright red. The strong ‘bristles’ at the base of the bill can be seen at close range.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• In the event of a large-scale fire, undertake predator control immediately after fire to reduce impact on Eastern Bristlebirds and other ground-dwelling fauna.
• Prevent too-frequent fires in Illawarra and southern population habitats. Conduct habitat management burns in northern NSW habitats.
• Implement fire management strategies that enhances habitat for the Eastern Bristlebird. If hazard reduction burning is necessary it should be carried out in a mosaic pattern at a frequency of no less than 10-15 years. Hazard reduction burns may also be necessary to protect large amounts of habitat from too-frequent and intense fire events. Ensure that personnel planning and undertaking hazard reduction burns are able to identify the species and are aware of its habitat.
• Searches for the species should be conducted in suitable habitat in proposed development areas, particularly in the Jervis Bay area and Kyogle LGA. Surveys should also be conducted in Ben Boyd NP, Sydney Catchment Authority Special Areas, Ku-ring-gai Chase.
• Raise driver awareness through road signs about the presence of Eastern Bristlebirds.
• Exclude stock from habitat and fence colonies vulnerable to stock disturbance.
• Continue to control Bitou Bush, Lantana and other invasive weeds that pose a threat to Eastern Bristlebird habitats.
• Continue long-term monitoring of Eastern Bristlebirds at all known populations in NSW. Data to be reviewed in 2009.
• Long-term population and vegetation monitoring is critical for developing appropriate management regimes for fire, weeds, predators and other threats.
• Complete genetic studies to determine whether northern and southern populations are genetically similar or not.
• Determine locations of Eastern Bristlebird populations and prepare maps of known and potential habitats. Use this mapping to assign Environmental Protection Zones for important habitats and connective areas.
• Undertake translocation of birds from Bhewerre Peninsula to the Beecroft Peninsula. Consider further translocations of other populations in the future.

Reference: The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water

Kurnell Salt Marsh

I recently visited Kurnell Salt Marsh which is a part of the 2020 Project.
For some time the salt marsh area was held as mining leases by a number of sand mining companies, however all have now been bought out mainly by National Parks and Wildlife.

Salt Marsh
A salt marsh (also known as saltings) is a type of marsh that is a transitional intertidal between land and salty or brackish water (e.g.: sloughs, bays, estuaries). Historically, salt marshes have sometimes been treated as "wastelands", along with other wetlands. Salt marshes are one of the most biologically productive habitats on the planet, rivaling tropical rainforests. The daily tidal surges bring in nutrients, which tend to settle in roots of the plants within the salt marsh. The natural chemical activity of salty (or brackish) water and the tendency of algae to bloom in the shallow unshaded water also allow for great biodiversity.

Flora Glasswort
Sarcocornia quinqueflora
Fleshy perennial with stems spreading horizontally then turning upwards, rooting at thenodes, to 30 cm high. Fleshy stems that vary in colour from green to purple. High tolerance to saline soils and waterlogged conditions and has value in providing groundcover to prevent erosion in salt-scalded areas.

Bitou Bush
Bitou bush first found its way to Australia in 1908, dumped as ballast from ships on the banks of the Hunter River in New South Wales (NSW).By 1982, bitou bush was found along 60 per cent of the NSW coast (approximately 660 km) and was the dominant species along 220 km of that coast.
As a part of the Kurnell 2020 project and Sutherland Shire Council the removal of the Bitou Bush this is imperative to the restoration of the natural ecosystem. While most of the Bitou Bush been removed however there is a number that remain. A there is currently no major ongoing project for the biological control of bitou bush. The remaining Bitou Bush is been studied in small areas to further understand it impact on the environment. There is also now new activity focusing on rust that affects boneseed (and the closely related bitou bush).

Fauna
Nearly all the migratory birds that visit the reserve are wading birds or shorebirds. Some of the birds that feed on the intertidal flats around Towra Point migrate over 12,000km, coming from as far away as Siberia, China and Japan. At least 34 species of wading bird have been recorded here, including the endangered golden plover.(pictured)
Little terns have nested in the reserve since 1992. The population has been brought back from the verge of extinction.
Wading birds seek feeding areas that are a combination of sand and mud and which support small invertebrates such as worms, crabs and shellfish. Some birds probe deeply into the sediment; others take food from the surface.

Albert Delardes Reserve

Located in Sydney’s Southern Suburb of Illawong is Albert Delardes Reserve. The reserve is a small quite area, hidden away on Griffin Parade Illawong. Mainly frequented by people fishing in the tranquil surrounds of the Georges River. The reserve has playground, toilets, and a few easy bush tracks. Some of the bush track disappears in the tangle of African Lovegrass which can make you feel like you’re further from civilization then you really area.

Sutherland Shire Council is doing some great work with volunteer groups in natural area restoration projects and this is clearly evident as you walk through.

Flora within the reserve is starting to return to its natural state with Kangaroo Grass, Barbed Wire Grass, Woody Pear and some rare Linum marginale, which is an erect plant with small blue flowers supported by slender stems to approximately 50cm high. Flowering in spring these perennial plants prefer full sun. (see picture)

Fauna due to the size of the reserve it doesn’t and can’t really support any large animals. When I arrive I was greeted by a Kookaburra having a great feast on a lizard. There are also hundreds of small crabs along the water line. But most exciting was an Eastern Rosella that had made its nest in the base of a Gum Tree right next to the children’s playground.

I will be returning to the reserve later this year to report on how the natural area restoration projects area are progressing.

View Larger Map