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Wildlife Matters – The Keelback – A semi-aquatic snake found in our Catchment

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Wildlife MattersTHE Common Keelback (Tropidonophis mairii) is a species of non-venomous snake found throughout much of eastern Queensland. They are also known as the Australian Keelback, Water snake and Freshwater snake. They are a relatively common snake within the Moggill Creek catchment and can be frequently observed during wet conditions.

Keelbacks are named for the strongly keeled scales extending over their entire body longitudinally across the scale. This gives them a ridged, somewhat jointed and chain-mail armored appearance that is very distinctive. Highly variable in coloration, they typically range from olive green to dark pastel brown, always with irregular darker cross bands, giving a strongly striped and speckled appearance. Some individuals are very dark greyish-coloured. Their belly surface is rusty-pink or cream. While the above description defifines them reasonably well, this species closely resembles the venomous Rough-scaled snake (Tropidechis carinatus), and identifification should always be confifirmed by an experienced reptile expert.

Common Keelback (Tropidonophis mairii) photo Alexandre Roux
Common Keelback (Tropidonophis mairii) photo Alexandre Roux licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Within the Moggill Creek catchment, Keelbacks can be found in a variety of habitats, including wet and dry forests, wetlands, man-made dams and grasslands. However, they are most common in damp environments close to water and will readily swim or hunt in shallow pools. They can grow up to 1 m long, but are more often seen at around 30-50 cm. Relatively placid, non- venomous, unaggressive reptiles, Keelbacks are not considered dangerous to humans. They are opportunistic feeders, eating a wide range of prey, including amphibians, tadpoles, fifish and small reptiles. They are also known to be one of the few Queensland snake species that can eat juvenile Cane toads, without being harmed by their skin toxins. For this reason, some researchers believe them to be valuable in providing some measure of control of this familiar pest species in some parts of the state.

Interestingly, Keelbacks can produce a distinctive odour when threatened or alarmed, that snake-catchers and handlers often comment upon. They may become more noticeable during periods of high humidity or within heavy rainfall events in summer, often in the evening, but also during the day. At such times, they seem to be much more actively intent on fifinding food (usually native frogs) than being concerned about the presence of humans, and sometimes many individuals may be observed in a single evening. At other periods, like most other Queensland snakes, they are shy, furtive and seldom seen.

While observed year-round, October to January appear to be the peak months of observation for this species, with the fringes of the Gold Creek Reservoir a known hotspot in our catchment. Other records are known from the Creekside area, Pullenvale and some parts of inner Kenmore, always close to watercourses. Like all snakes, this species should never be handled or closely approached. If required, a reputable snake handler/catcher should be employed to remove them from domestic indoor situations.

Sandy Pollock

Wildlife Matters is published in:

The Bulletin

Wildlife Matters – Indicator Birds

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THE presence or absence of certain bird species is a clear indicator of the suitability of the local environment. It can be a useful way to evaluate projects such as the rehabilitation work being done by various groups such as the Moggill Creek, Cubberrla-Winton and the Pullen Pullen Catchment Groups. It can also be a useful guide on the success of backyard plantings to attract birds around the house.

One of the best indicators of a healthy environment is the Willie Wagtail. It is one of the few insect eaters that is not driven out by the “Black and Whites”: the aggressive Magpies, Butcherbirds, Noisy Miners and Crows. If the Willies are not around then it is an indicator that either the environment is not supporting insects or the area is being managed in such a way that its supporting the Black and Whites at the expense of the smaller insect eaters such as the three beautiful Fairy-wren species that are found in the area. The biggest mistake is to develop an area with just pasture or lawn and trees. This will encourage the Black and Whites. Planting shrubs and native grasses and incorporating sheltered access to water will bring in the Willies and Wrens.

The seed eating finches are another good indicator. Double-barred and Red-browed finches are our most common species. They also are advantaged by the planting of shrubs and safe access around water sources. Fencing off areas of grasses to go to seed will also bring in the flocks of Chestnut-breasted Mannikins that used to be widely prevalent in the past.

A great indicator of the success of rehabilitating an area for birds is the presence during the breeding season of Cuckoos, particularly the three small Bronze-cuckoo species. If they are not present from August to January, then it is a sure indicator the Wrens, Finches and Honeyeaters are not established in the area. The Cuckoos will not stay around if there are no nests for them to parasitise.

Shining-Bronze-Cuckoo-Ed-Frazer.

Shining-Bronze Cuckoo Photo: Ed Frazer

We are lucky to have some of the rarest of Australian birds in our area and Birders from all over Australia visit here to sight three species: the White-eared Monarch, the Black- breasted Button-quail and the Lewin’s Rail. The White-eared Monarch can be found in suitable dense bush along Gold Creek and at the reservoir. It has an interesting habit of hovering above the foliage of broad-leaved shrubs and trees where it flushes out insects it takes on the wing. We can help secure this species by plantings of broad- leaved shrubs and providing access to sheltered water sources.

White-eared Monarch 2 (Carterornis leucotis) photo Ed Frazer

White-eared Monarch Photo: Ed Frazer

The Black-breasted Button-quail was a “trophy” species for birders in the area but worryingly it is rarely seen these days. It is probably still in the back areas around the Gold Creek Dam where there is a bit of remnant rainforest habitat. The Lewin’s Rail is established along Gold Creek where there is suitable habitat. They like to

make tunnels through the long grasses growing alongside the creek. They are a very secretive bird that is difficult to see and photograph. They have a distinctive call that sounds like two coins being clicked together. The rehabilitation being carried out in the riparian areas by our catchment groups is helping develop more habitat for this species.

What species of birds are present in your area will give a good indication of the health of the habitat. The presence of species such as the Willie Wagtail and sightings of rare species such as the White-eared Monarch, are good indicators of the health or otherwise of the habitat to support both common and rare species. In the Western Suburbs we are holding on and have lost only a few species, but our land management will have a lot to do with how the birds prosper in the future.

For more information on local bird species, consult the Field Guides

Thanks to Ed Frazer for this month’s words and photos.

 

Wildlife Matters is published in:

The Bulletin

Evening Talk – June 27th: Myrtle Rust – a growing problem.

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Tuesday 27 June 2023 (6:30pm, for 7:pm start)

Kenmore Library

Refreshments provided

Myrtle Rust – a growing problem.

Plants from the Myrtaceae family are iconic in the Australian native environment, with gum trees, lilly pillys, tea trees, and paper barks well loved by gardeners and bushwalkers alike. However, over the last few years, you may have noticed a new disease on one of your favourite Myrtaceae plants, the orange/ yellow spores of myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii). This short talk with provide some background on the pathogen, it’s history in Australia and impacts so far, in addition to some early results from research undertaken as part of my PhD studies in a wet sclerophyll forest that has experienced high levels of tree mortality due to myrtle rust.

Kristy Stevenson, The University of Queensland

Background:

Kristy is a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, her research interests are in disturbance and restoration ecology in native forest systems. She completed her undergraduate studies in agricultural science at the University of Tasmania.

Myrtle-Rust-on-Rhodamnia-maideniana-photo-Kristy-Stevenson

Myrtle Rust on Rhodamnia maideniana  photo: Kristy Stevenson

Bush Bites with Ed Frazer

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Prized Aquarium Fishes in Local Creeks

We have two small fish in Gold and Moggill Creeks that have hit the world stage as popular aquarium fish.

They are the Pacific Blue Eye,  Pseudomugil signifier, and the Southern Rainbow fish,Melanotaenia duboulayi, previously named M. splendida fluviatilis.

They are interesting both for their attractiveness and their unusual reproduction.

They come from a group of Rainbow Fish that are predominantly found in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea and have been gaining interest in the Aquarium hobby particularly in Germany, which has the largest number of Aquarium hobbyists in the world.

Pacific-Blue-Eye-Pseudomugil-signifer

Pacific Blue Eye Pseudomugil signifer

They spawn in the warmer months and quite large numbers can be found in the more vegetated reaches of our creeks. Unlike most freshwater fish they lay a small number of eggs every day over several days rather than a big spawning in one go.  The eggs take several days to hatch and are sometmes exchanged by hobbyists by post wrapped in tissues or in peat moss.

In our creeks they eat a wide range of small crustaceans, mosquito larvae, midge larvae and small worms. They are ideal fish for outdoor ponds and farm dams and can cope well with our winter temperatures.

Southern-Rainbowfish-Melanotaenia-duboulayi

Southern Rainbowfish Melanotaenia duboulayi

In recent years many other Blue Eyes and Rainbows have been discovered in Australia and PNG and we have a club devoted to their preservation, ANGFA (Australia and New Guinea Fish Association).

It is interesting that we have two local fish that are prized overseas. Protecting the quality of our local waterways is essential to preserve these popular aquarium fish in their natural habitat.

Words and photos by Ed Frazer

The Winter Newsletter is out now!

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Another fabulous edition put together by Cathi and contributed to by many Moggill Creek Catchment Group members.  Find out what has been happening, what’s coming up, hear from Dr Karl answering a suite of catchment related questions, there are frogs, fish, native Plumbago, meet one of our new Committee Members Simon English and there is so much more!

Click on the link and enjoy the read …

Newsletter snippet

Tree planting fun in Brookfield

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Our recent Moggill Creek Catchment Group (MCCG) ‘Huntington/Tuckett’ bushcare group working bee was a great success, with a total of 36 volunteers participating in tree planting on an area of parkland behind Brompton Place in Brookfield. The riparian zone of Moggill Creek between the Branton Street footbridge and Tuckett Street park is dominated by exotic Chinese elms (Celtis sinensis) weed trees, which create such dense shading that they suppress the growth of native species. This part of Moggill Creek is important because it is platypus habitat. With the assistance of Brisbane City Council (Habitat Brisbane) our bushcare group has been gradually removing some of the larger Chinese elms and replacing them with native vegetation. On this occasion we planted almost 200 native trees and shrubs. We were assisted in the work by members the local Baha’i youth group, as well as our normal hardy bunch of dedicated volunteers. The kids all seemed to have a lot of fun, while learning about how to plant trees and care for the parkland. When the work was completed, we all enjoyed a delicious morning tea that included some home-made vegetable soup prepared by one of our regular volunteers.

The Huntington/Tuckett bushcare group (as well as others throughout the catchment) arealways seeking new volunteers across all generations and skill levels. Much of the work involves keeping our plantings free from exotic weeds that otherwise would smother the native trees and shrubs if not kept at bay while the native plants establish themselves. The group meets once a month on a Sunday morning for working bees between 8.30am to 11.00am. Working bee sites can range from the Branton Street bridge upstream all the way to Rafting Ground Road. No previous experience is necessary. We provide hand tools and work gloves etc. and always finish up with a refreshing morning tea and an opportunity to socialise, meet new people and catch up with old friends. For more details on the Moggill Creek Catchment Group or our other working bees across the catchment visit us at moggillcreek.org.au, moggillcreek.org.au/working_bee_calendar/, or contact[email protected].

Jim PopeHuntington Tuckett Working Bee

Huntington Tuckett Working Bee

Huntington Tuckett Working Bee

Could you be an MCCG Micro Volunteer?

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Have you ever thought about volunteering but weren’t sure when, how or what to expect!? Try MICRO-VOLUNTEERING!
It’s the perfect sample-size chunks to test the waters and suit our busy lifestyles. A little adds a lot!
Did you know that MCCG relies 100% on volunteer effort. Last year MCCG volunteers contributed over 7000+ hours and we’d love to have your support to our growing community.
Not only is it great for the creek and the local environment it’s also a great sense of achievement, social engagement, citizen science and of course our mental health.  Research has found that volunteers and members of volunteer groups feel a strong sense of support and inclusion in their community.
Opportunities exist for ALL skills, interests and ages. Event planning and coordination, community engagement, bushcare, seed collection and propagation, AV and equipment setup, social media management and content, newsletter article contributions, photography, platypus surveying, water quality monitoring, governance, membership management, IT support, general admin, finance management, grant writing, project management, statistics, graphic design, website maintenance and more… we do it all, with volunteers JUST LIKE YOU!
A BIG thank you to our existing 150+ volunteers!!
To find out more contact us today! Email [email protected]
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