July 2009 Volume 20 Two - Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association

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Monash Uni indigenous food garden I am truly blessed. For, although I work in the lightindustrial heartland of Melbourne’s South Eastern suburbs, it is also home of the Clayton campus of Monash University. In the midst of the grounds is a small oasis. Located near the Halls of Residence and the Lake, lies the indigenous garden. It is here that it is my privilege to walk each day. I like the early morning best. As the students pass me, they are seemingly oblivious to the natural wonder and beauty of their surroundings. The garden itself is pleasantly laid out on the hill between the Loop Road and the Lake. It has a wonderful collection of indigenous plants, neatly labelled with their name and the purpose to which they were put by the local Aboriginal people. Some examples include: Kabin: Running Postman, Kennedia prostrata. Flower-honey; stem tying. Warpur: Native Willow, Pittosporum phillyreoides. Seed and gum can be eaten. Gurgudj: Ruby Saltbush, Enchylaena tormentosa. Fruit eaten. Ngoor-le: Coast Beard-heath, Leucopogon parviflorus (right). Fruit eaten. To the west, at the top of the hill, lies a huge tree trunk on it side. There is an interesting shape cut into it. The nearby sign says “The scar on this tree was created a long time ago by the Wurundjeri balluk people of the Yarra Valley when they cut out a piece of the bark to make a shield. The tree was recently donated by the Wurundjeri people.” Aside from the plants, the area is a magnet for a variety of birds. Recently there have been Little Pied Cormorants, Straw-Necked Ibis, a White Faced Heron as well as the usual quota of common ducks etc. The last week has seen a flock of Rainbow Lorikeets making a cacophony in the trees above the lake. If you are in the area and have a spare moment I invite you to come and take a look and enjoy the sights and sounds of this little piece of heaven. (Melways 575) Perhaps other members would care to share their favourite spot? Finally I would like to thank Beth Gott for all her efforts in making this garden happen. Lawrie Hanson 8 INDIGENOUS FLORA AND FAUNA ASSOCIATION INC
Frogs in Melton Whistling Treefrog Melton has an enviable and quite distinct diversity of frogs, despite being in the drier western region of Melbourne and despite its status as one of the fastest growing municipalities. Seven species have been recorded in the Melton area so far. In 2008, after a long dry spring, Melton waterways were dry; consisting of small isolated waterholes separated by stretches of dry, parched creek bed. Early December suddenly brought a weekend of dramatic rains. Creeks ran high and local wetlands that had been long empty were filled with water. Waterways that had been silent were suddenly loud with frog calls. This meant it was a good time for Melton Environment Group to record frog calls for the Melbourne Water Frog Census. Three common frog species, Pobblebonks, Common Froglets and Spotted Marsh Frogs, were calling loudly in numerous localities around Melton. The Pobblebonks were particularly conspicuous, giving their loud territorial “growl” and grappling aggressively with each other in the submerged vegetation. The various frog species can be readily identified by their distinctive calls, even though the frogs remain unseen. The loud resonant “bonk” of the Pobblebonk (Limnodynastes dumerilli), also called Banjo Frog, is the most recognizable. Almost everyone living in close proximity to a waterway is familiar with this call, heard mainly during warmer weather. It also has a distinct territorial “growling” call. The Common Froglet (Crinia signifera) is by far Melton’s commonest frog. Its cricket-like “creek creek creek” is heard all year round and almost anywhere there is water, with vegetation cover. The “tic” of the Spotted Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) is heard in open, grassy or rocky ponds, often with little or no vegetation cover. They seem to be the first frogs to colonise the new man-made wetlands that are often now mandated for new residential development; and they are often heard where no other frog species are heard. A significant proportion of Spotted Marsh Frogs in the Melton area have a rapid fire call, a series of 4-5 “tics”, as heard in northern and central Victoria, rather than the single “tic” usually heard in Melton (and in the rest of southern Victoria). The line of demarcation between the two populations of marsh frogs may not be as strictly defined as existing records may suggest. The soft purring call of the Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus sudelli) can also be heard in Melton South, in chorus with the more raucous Froglets, Pobblebonks and Marsh Frogs. This colony of Spadefoot Toads was discovered calling in Rees Road wetland in Melton South in May 2007. These burrowing frogs avoid the drought by spending most of their lives beneath the ground, only emerging to feed and breed when heavy rain falls. These are only heard at night, and until 2008 they had only been recorded at a single wetland in Melton South. These frogs have been recorded by the Melbourne Water Frog Census in Melton South, Sunbury and Patterson Lakes only. In 2007, while recording these calls for the census, environmental science student Richard Akers heard the faint high pitched whistling calls of Whistling Treefrogs, echoing across the paddocks in the distance. Driving around muddy tracks in the dark, following the whistling calls, indicated that they were calling from somewhere near the adjacent Arnolds Creek. An unwillingness to venture into muddy paddocks with a small sedan limited closer investigation. When heavy rains came again in December 2008 the area was again visited. It was decided to check a small dam that was once in the middle of paddocks INDIGENOTES VOLUME 20 NUMBER 2 9
Page 1 and 2: July 2009 Volume 20 Two INDIGENOTES
Page 3 and 4: A load of Bullants On a dull, frigi
Page 5 and 6: One day under Flinders jetty It was
Page 7: 8 9 10 11 12 1 Weedy Seadragon, Phy
Page 11 and 12: Common Froglet bottlebrushes and Re

July 2009 Volume 20 Two - Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association

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