Wildlife Preservation Autumn 2012.indd - Wildlife Protection Society ...

• Mobile telephone reception with
a Telstra ‘Blue Tick’ phone is
reasonably good throughout the
park, but if driving into the park
with a 4WD vehicle, reporting
your movements to friends,
relatives, or a Parks Victoria o ce
is encouraged.
• Always have plenty of fresh
drinking water with you.
• Respect the environment at all
times by taking your rubbish with
you; leaving nothing but footprints
and tyre tracks and only taking
photographs.
• Allow two to three days in the area
to fully explore and enjoy.
When should you go?
So, when is the best time to visit, or
stay in the Little Desert National Park
and surrounding area?
Answer: The great thing is … any time
of the year is a great time to visit, or
stay!
When deciding what time of the year
best suits your needs and wants, there
are a few things you might like to
know up-front before you go that may
in uence your nal decision:
Summer - December to
February
Although the summer months can
turn up the heat, the summer season
certainly has its rewards and provides
a greater abundance of wildlife than
any other time of year.
As the larger waterholes begin to
be the main water source in some
parts of the park, the birds make the
most of the mornings and evenings,
coming in to cool o with a long drink
and to wash o the day’s heat with
a soothing bath. Many honeyeaters,
parrots and wrens are often observed
making the most of the natural
springs on o er, as well as ocks of
cockatiels and budgerigars joining the
summer ritual.
The malleefowl continually work
their mounds in the summer months,
frequently adjusting the structure,
striving to regulate the environment’s
e ects on these enormous incubators.
If you are fortunate enough to
stumble upon the many mounds
hidden within the scrubby foliage,
you should take the opportunity
Australian Wildlife Vol 2 - Autumn 2012
Painted dragon (Ctenophorus pictus). You’ll see flashes of blue, red and yellow dart throughout the
Little Desert during hotter weather
Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata). This cryptic species can sometimes be seen tending to their incubating
mounds in Mallee habitat
Spotted marsh frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) This very adaptable frog can be found throughout
eastern Australia
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