At the Cod Hole, where Eudlo Creek joins the Maroochy River, I watched the soldier crabs. Scuttling across the mudflats in their hundreds, dressed in smart blue-grey uniforms, the little round crabs would feel the vibrations of my footsteps and quickly screw themselves down into the mud and disappear. If I stood still for a few minutes they would start to twist themselves back into the daylight.
“Soldier crabs marching through mangrove aerial roots” commons.wikipedia.org
My dad had bought an old weatherboard beach house on the dead-end dirt road that has since become busy Bradman Avenue. We named the house Toad Hall.
“Toad Hall”, on the Maroochy River. I’m in the boat, on the left
It was just upstream from where the Sunshine Motorway now crosses Maroochy River. Bradman Avenue runs upstream from Picnic Point, along the south bank of the river and over the creek, past a…
Following the Gregory Hwy we turned west at Gordonstone on what we thought was a gazetted road through the Lee family’s Caroa property to access Crystal Creek SF. However, following the route past the Caroa homestead was confusing so we stopped to ask advice. Derrick Lee advised that the route was not a gazetted road and as the property is registered organic he did not want us to proceed further. Without evidence to support our assumption that the road was public access we turned around. A disappointing and confusing outcome as the property owners don’t want the mine to progress: confirmed by Derrick, so we assumed the owners would be keen to support research into the environment value of the land targeted for destruction. A valuable lesson for us to do better homework before we set out.
Myall Wattle Acacia mevillii
Fortunately we were only about 30 mins from Emerald so we turned back and headed for the Kerand property of Ian Hoch and Paola Cassoni.
Ann Moran still did a species survey of the roadside so not a total waste. We found a spectacular field of yellow Senecio bipinnatisectus daisy. Ann counts the petals to check that it had less than thirteen petals: native species.
Ann also identified Myall Wattle Acacia mevillii. Attractive like most wattles however it did get smelly in the car as it dried out.
Drummond Range Lookout
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Following the Capricorn Hwy west we stopped at the Drummond Range Lookout, approximately 535 metres, which gives a spectacular view to the east.
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Purple Fleabane Cyanthillium cinerem
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Here we found Purple Fleabane Cyanthillium cinerem with a brilliant purple flower. We have this plant in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve but never as striking a colour.
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Evolulus alsinoides
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The delicate Evolulus alsinoides was also common in the picnic area.
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Eremophila maculata – Spotted Emu Bush + Belenois java – Caper White butterfly
We stayed the night with a generous and interesting friend of Ann’s who grew up in Theodore.
Ann (yes, another Ann … very confusing) was the driving force behind the bird hide and interpretative signs along the peaceful river walk along the bank of Castle Creek heading down to the junction with the Dawson River.
Loaded coal train
Waking to an amazing sunrise, we say goodbye to our hostess Ann (yes, another Ann) we headed for Emerald via the curiously named Banana, Dingo and Blackwater.
… coal and cotton country with mine signs scattered along the highway.
Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax
Hooker’s bauhinia Bauhinia hookeri
We passed three full coal trains heading east and two empty trains heading out. The coal trains are electric with two engines at the front and a third about halfway.
Bitterbark Alstonia Consticta
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Just out of Theodore we passed a Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax sitting on a tree beside the road. This magnificent bird posed nicely for photos before taking flight.
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Of course where I pulled over to photograph the eagle Ann found interesting plants including a Hooker’s bauhinia Bauhinia hookeri. The same “butterfly” leaf form as the common exotic Orchid Tree but actually one of two native Bauhinias both of which have smaller leaves than the exotic.
The Hooker’s bauhinia was not in flower, however, it has an attractive white flower with bright red (male) stamens.
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Bitterbark Alstonia Constictawas in flower beside the road. Definitely not a plant for a city garden as the flowers have an unattractive pungent smell that attracts.
I’m off on my grand adventure to circumnavigate Australia and exploring our unique flora and fauna going through Qld, NT, WA, SA, Vic, NSW and Canberra.
The first leg of the trip to Northern Territory, I will be travelling with Field Botanist, Ann Moran.
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Morning tea at picnic area beside the Burnet River at Gayndah.
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Brilliant yellow wattles were spread along the sides the highway.
Interperative signs in bird hide and along the walk provide details of local wildlife: birds, Kreffts Terrapin (freshwater turtle), Australian Water Dragon and Platypus.
The Alectryon oleifolius Western Rosewood was covered in fruit with some showing the sweet red aril that attracts birds to spread the seeds embedded in the aril.
When leaf moisture is not high enough, this can lead to dehydration and large-scale mortality events as koalas are forced to search the ground for alternative water sources, exposing them to additional threats such as cars and dogs. Conditions in which koalas will need to search for water are only expected to increase in frequency due to climate change. (Watkins, A, Schlagloth, R. and Santamaria, F. (2021) Qld Naturalist 59 (1-3))
Koalas and other wildlife living in urban Island Habitats like Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve are particularly vulnerable as access to water requires crossing busy roads and facing dogs in backyards.
When do we have fun? We meet last Sunday of the Month from 3pm to 5 pm, with Tea and Cakes and pack up after. Sometimes we do outdoor games or Yoga on the green until sunset.
Location: Mount Gravatt State High School Ovals
Number of Volunteers: there were 9 attendees and 8 Apologies on the day. Six new locals came today for the first time. And we had a lass nine years old who had come with her Grandma when she was 8 months old and planted a tree!!
Total Number of hours gardening in Bird Bee Butterfly Corridor on Sunday Total 29.5 Hours. (Number of attendees x hours spent)
Bushcare activities done on Sunday Arvo 29th Aug 2021.
Site Supervisor on the job
Orientation of Volunteers to Bushcare and aims of creating a Pollinator Link Corridor for our Suburban health!
Weeding Guinea grass and Mother of Million plants and we got 20 Bushel bags full!
Mulching after weeding site to keep weeds down.
Teaching locals about weed identification and how to reduce them.
Children enjoyed learning about Butterflies and hanging Woodened Butterfly’s art in the Corridor made by Men’s Shed Mount Gravatt.
Planted two trees brought by a local who had just gained her Citizenship and was given the plants as part of the Ceremony; She wanted to plant the bottle brush trees in “Bird Bee Butterfly” Corridor for all to enjoy for the Future!
Live Music: a Flute played by local to practise for her Concert.
Socialising, storytelling about “our hood”, welcoming and making friends with new neighbours.
Twenty bushel bags of weeds!
Number of plants put into the Corridor: Two trees a Bottle brush and a Black Bean. We were preparing the site ready for a larger Spring Planting on Sept 21.
Worthy Hearts and Minds moments of the Day:
We had a young lass join in, now nine years old, who had come previously with her Grandma and planted a tree 8 years ago, when she was 12 months old! I still have her baby photo planting with her Gran and her Mum. “
We had a lovely local lady who planted her two trees given to her at her Citizenship Ceremony; She wanted to plant the bottle brush trees in “Bird Bee Butterfly” Corridor for people all to enjoy into the Future!
Wildlife seen or heard: 2 Pale-headed Rosellas; Plovers, Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala, kookaburras, magpies. No obvious butterflies or reptiles seen this time.
Norman Creek Catchment and Bulimba Creek catchment Groups for your scientific support (eg tools, plants, knowledge, insurance)
For the MG SHS School Groundsmen for their help in our Combined Beautification projects for their school,
For the MG SHS Principal and Community Liaison Officer who understand that local community can build health and wealth into schools for the benefit of all.
Pollinator Link® is a non-profit initiative of Mt Gravatt Environment Group.
The Pollinator Link® project aims to bring wildlife back to our urban by providing Water, Food and Shelter for birds, butterflies and bees. Your free garden registration will support our work with local councils as well as helping us influence plant nurseries to stock local native species.
Imagine your backyard alive with colour and birdsong. The quiet hum of bees in your veggie patch. You leave the city behind as you come home and relax with the peaceful sounds of nature.
Watching bushland being bulldozed to build more houses is always heart-breaking so it was inspiring to learn about a developer, Ginninderry, that is restoring, not destroying habitat.
Julie ArmstrongACT for BEES
April in Canberra, I attended the inspiring Planting for Pollinators: Maximising Biodiversity in Urban Design conference hosted by ACT for BEES and Ginninderry.
I was particularly keen to take part, as the conference set out to show that it is possible to profitably create new housing stock and strong liveable communities, while maintaining or creating urban wildlife habitat.
“This conference was specifically targeted for those within the Urban Design, Landscape Architect, Planning and Development Industries – both private and government sectors and included speakers from industry and government to inform why pollinator corridors are important, the planning process including how RedBox Designs planned for 200 metre grids of year-round flowering for native bees, the use of ACT Govt Plant Species for Urban Landscape Projects, climate adaptation and tree selection and community support.” Julie Armstrong ACT for BEES.
Ginninderry development site 2004
Dr Matthew Frawley, Landscape Manager, Ginninderry made some significant points that particularly struck me as aligning with the Pollinator Link #WaterFoodShelter in urban habitat.
“More than a third of the land at Ginninderry is being set aside as a Conservation Corridor. The Corridor will total 577 hectares and will include the land adjacent to the Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderry Creek. The size and boundaries of the Corridor were determined scientifically to protect the endangered Pink-Tailed Worm Lizard habitat, conserve Yellow Box Red Gum Grassy woodland and to preserve the natural beauty of the landscape.” Ginninderry
Trees of Ginninderry
Unlike many urban property developments the land being developed is old pastural land with only a scatting of trees. So land set aside as a Conservation Corridor means that over time wildlife habitat will be recreated surrounding the urban being created.
Even within the urban spaces the development team is researching and planning tree lined streets. House buyers are actively supported in establishment of pollinator friendly gardens with landscape designs for formal, informal edible gardens with lists of exotic and native plants.
Other presenters introduced valuable information on everything from choice of plants for pollinators, managing community expectations around street trees, research on Climate Adaptation Guided Tree Selection QPRC and engaging community support.
Watch the Dirt Guru, Sandra Tuszynska’s, excellent video to learn about the diverse flora and fauna that lives underground in your garden feeding thriving flowers, shrubs and vegetables.
“Do you have a registered Pollinator Link® garden?”
As a registered Pollinator Link® garden you can become a Bee Guardian and citizen scientist researching ways to repopulate our city gardens with native solitary bees and answer the question: “How do I to get native bees to move into my Bee Home?”
Leafcutter Bee cocoon
Brisbane City Council sponsored the initial solitary bee home trial in three northside parks That trial proved the design works, with local Leafcutter bees using Native sarsaparilla Hardenbergia violacea for nesting materials. The design also survived Queensland’s storm season with no damage to the nesting tubes.
We are now recruiting gardens for larger city-wide trial will confirm those results and provide a core resource of Leafcutter bee cocoons to start repopulating urban habitats. Nesting tubes will allow cocoons to be collected and shared with new recruits.
The trial will again use a mix of different nesting tubes from Mason Bees UK and Crown Bees USA. Three different coloured Bee Homes will be used to test variations in nesting success.
Your Bee Guardian pack will include guides on where to place your Bee Home, suggestions on local bee attracting plants and guides to survey your garden and using iNaturalist to collect your findings.
Pollinator Link® fence sign
After the trial Bee Guardian packs are expected to sell for $88. So take advantage of the trial and order your Bee Guardian pack for $33: available to registered Pollinator Link® gardeners.
Want to participate in trial but not a registered Pollinator Link® garden? Register your garden today to take advantage of the trial price for you Bee Guardian home.
