Vol. 17, No. 2 September 2006 - Indigenous Flora and Fauna ...

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Waterbirds of the Coorong (continued) Summer was in the middle of the breeding season for some migratory waders, including Red-necked Avocets and Fairy Terns. On one afternoon I was lucky enough to be selected for the boat crew to visit a nesting island to capture and mark Fairy Terns. The Avocets lay eggs directly on the mottled sandy rocks where their speckled surfaces are cryptic so avoiding stepping on any was a real challenge – we saw them seconds before putting a foot down continuity of ecosystems, destroying a large area of shrubland, creating an arid gash ex-tending 3 km through the ancient dunes and altering the water flows on his own land and in the Coorong into which the drain empties. Allegedly the massive earthmoving project breached several planning laws and heritage approval procedures, but was retrospectively legitimised by the Liberal government. Avocet eggs on offshore island The Coorong is an area in big trouble – its status as a major feeding and breeding site for migratory waders is under serious threat, the mix of species is changing in important ways – a very large number of Banded Stilts had appeared this year, a species formerly rare in the area, responding to the changing salinity and the appearance of the brine shrimp on which they feed. The major declines have been observed among Small Migratory Waders, whose food needs have been severely damaged by the reduced water flows through the semi-closed Murray mouth. Fairy Terns are in serious decline on the Coorong, down from over 1000 breeding pairs to under 300. We rascals ran around the rugged rocks capturing flutter-ing little chicks, which would suddenly disappear, as they sat down against the eroded and jagged limestone and were so cryptic they were hard to find. David’s daughters had made some wire traps to capture and mark the parents, to help assess how far they were flying to their feeding sites. We observed Silver Gulls, which have become very abundant along the estuary and are now a big problem for waders, trying to steal eggs or chicks and being mobbed by aggressively defensive parent birds. On our last day we were taken to an infamous site at which one of the neighbouring land-owners had excavated a huge drain to remove water from the wetlands on his heritage-listed prop-erty, severing the Solutions to the problems of the waders and other sea birds require a multi-pronged program of action – increasing environmental flows along the Murray- Darling system, bringing an end to land-clearing inland of the Coorong, which is destroying habitat of short-distance migratory birds, and enforcing heritage and planning laws to prevent such atrocities as the above drain from being constructed. Page 8 Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association Inc. (Incorporated Association No A0015723B)
Snippets Scrofa Hawk Moth While monitoring significant species in March 2004 at Jukes Rd Grassland, Fawkner, Brian Bainbridge found a most stunning Hawk Moth. It was large, having a wingspan of 6 cm or so. Its body was large, brown and cigar shaped. The wings were brown, with red underwings, which it showed when disturbed. He took photos and later checked references to identify the moth, which turned out to be Hippotion scrofa, Scrofa Hawk Moth. Just over a year later I was unloading weeds just removed from Jukes Rd Grassland. Amongst the weeds I found a large, smooth skinned caterpillar. It was brown with two large eye-spots at the front of its abdomen and off-white dotted lines and dark oblong patched along its body. It tapered abruptly at both ends, and had a small 'tail'. A spectacular caterpillar! Have a look at http://www.usyd.edu.au/macleay/ larvae/sphi/scrofa.html and you will see what I mean. The caterpillar feeds on a strange variety of (nonnative) plants including Mirror Bush, Busy Lizzy, and Fuchsias. Considering the diet and plants found at the site, we guessed the caterpillar had been feeding on a native, Hairy Willow-herb, Epilobium hirtigerum. This is an often unloved and unlovely native that is frequently disregarded for its habitat potential in moist soils. It rarely needs encouragement and may need reducing, in the early stages of revegetation, to allow the more permanent, ‘desirable’ plants to establish. Perhaps revegetators could leave an out of the way corner for these plants to flourish - with, hopefully, H. scrofa too. The moth occurs all over Australia plus New Caledonia, the New Hebrides and Norfolk Island (or worldwide - references differ). It has been celebrated on postage stamps and as a Yowie (series 4)! - Wendy Moore Nocturnal Visitor Recently I was devastated when my neighbour had most of his garden clear-felled. While few of the trees and shrubs were natives it was loss for local wildlife. One tree in particular, a Jacaranda, was a sad loss for me. Though not major habitat, I liked this tree. It grew in the narrow space between our houses, adjacent to my front door. While it had kept me busy every month or so, up on the roof removing its debris, which was VERY effective at blocking roof plumbing, I mourned its loss. A while after it went I noticed one positive outcome of the Jacarandas demise. Outside my front door is a portico with obscure glass in its top third. Now, without shading from the Jacaranda, light from yonder street light breaks through, forming a glowing orb on this glass. Every evening I delight to find a marbled gecko – I have a resident, breeding population of these and Weasel Skinks, in my yard – on the glass, presumably hunting the moths attracted by the light. I never turn on the porch or outside light now, as it disturbs my little friend. Nocturnal, human visitors just have to watch their step as they negotiate the junk on my path!! - Wendy Moore FUTURE GUARANTEED? VICTORIA'S THREATENED SPECIES 2 nd November 2006 A one-day conference presented by the Environment Defenders Office Victoria iand the Threatened Species Network It is almost 20 years since Victoria's Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 was introduced. Is the Act working? Is it up to 'guaranteeing' species in the future? This is an opportunity to hear speakers and panelists with scientific and legal expertise discuss topics including: What to list and when? Are the categories and listing criteria under the FFG Act appropriate? Can they respond to threats such as climate change? The interaction of the FFG Act and planning schemes. What is the role of local government? How can we protect threatened species on private land? Date: Thursday 2 nd November 2006, 9-4pm Venue: Arrow on Swanston - 488 Swanston Street, Carlton VIC 3053 Cost: $22 (Community Groups) / $66 (Professionals) More Information: call the EDO on (03) 9328 4811 Scrofa Hawk Moth, Hippotion scrofa (Sphingidae) Indigenotes Volume 17, Number 1, April 2006 Page 9
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Page 3 and 4: From our Suburban Correspondent One
Page 5 and 6: Thursday 18 January: Grassy Woodlan
Page 7: summer geographical spread. The sam
Page 11 and 12: Community House carpark. The planti

Vol. 17, No. 2 September 2006 - Indigenous Flora and Fauna ...

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