MCCG

June 24th Evening Talk: Echidnas with Dr Kate

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Please join us for MCCG’s second evening talk for the year. Dr Kate Dutton-Regester is a wildlife ecologist and lecturer based in Brisbane (Meanjin), with a deep passion for Australian native species and community-driven conservation. She holds a PhD from The University of Queensland and has led numerous research projects across wildlife health and ecology.

June 24th at the Kenmore Library (after-hours entrance via Lift)

Doors open 6.30pm for a 7 pm start.

Refreshments provided.

Everyone welcome.

MCCG-June-24-Talk-Dr-Kate-Echidnas

Hidden Giant Neighbours – Wildlife Matters

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Wildlife Matters

The start of the summer rains is paired with holes appearing on the trunks and branches of smooth-barked eucalyptus trees. These holes, which are always found in pairs, expose the tunnels of the giant wood moth (Endoxyla cinereus), a species which is common along the east coast of Australia, but seldom seen.

After feeding on the cambium layer of a eucalyptus tree for 1-2 years, caterpillars of this giant moth are ready to pupate. But before they can, they must form an escape route from the tree for their adult selves. This is when the caterpillars chew a large exit hole in the tree, roughly 3cm wide. In case of rain entering this hole and filling up the chamber inside, the caterpillar also clears out a smaller hole below. This smaller hole is where the caterpillar initially entered the tree, years before. With an escape route in place, the caterpillar then will create a protective barrier to keep itself safe while it pupates inside the tree. This includes a sticky webbing, coated in a mucilaginous excretion. It lines the entrance to its pupation chamber with this repellent web, then plugs itself off from the rest of the world with a pellet made of silk and compacted strips of wood. Once it is safely sealed away, it will pupate by shedding its larval skin and then remaining, relatively motionless for ~60days.

During the peak of summer (late November – January), these moths will finally emerge from their hidden chambers. The pupa first dislodges its plug, pushes through the revolting web, and inches its way out of the exit hole. Once it is half-exposed in the exit hole, the moth will flex its flight muscles from beneath the pupal skin until it breaks the skin and a few legs escape to pull the rest of the moth out. The grey moths emerge from their pupal skins with crumpled wings, but they soon expand these and dry them on the trunk of the tree.

Giant-Wood-Moth-2-photo-Jessa-Thurman

The adult moths have no mouths and therefore live on their stored fats. They do not need much time in this stage, as they only seek to mate and then lay thousands of eggs. This short adult period, when the moths are exposed to the rest of the world, has left people shocked whenever they encounter this gentle giant as they have never seen it or heard of it before. You might be lucky enough to spy the holes of these moths from September to January, and if you are very observant, you may spy one emerging from their tree!

 

Jessa Thurman

Further reading:

Thurman, Jessa H. “Beyond the pest: Life history, ecology and ethnoentomology of the giant wood moth (Endoxyla cinereus).” (2022). Austral Ecology, 47(4): 733-747.

Giant-Wood-Moth-1-photo-Jessa-Thurman

Giant Wood Moth (Endoxyla cinereus) and paired holes – photo Jessa Thurman

 

Wildlife Matters is published in:

The Bulletin

Wildlife Matters! Apex Predators

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Brisbane is reputed to be the only major city in the world in which a significant proportion (around 20% – 30%) of houses have the local apex predator living in their roof spaces! In the case of Brisbane, the apex predator is the carpet python (Morelia spilota). Carpet pythons can reach up to 4m in length and 15kg in weight and can live for around 20 years in the wild. They are non-venomous and catch their prey by constricting it and swallowing it whole. The medium-sized carpet python in the photo had caught a crested pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) in my garden and is in the process of swallowing it.

Carpet pythons have adapted well to the urban environment, finding roof spaces an excellent substitute for tree hollows, which have become less available over time due to urban expansion and tree clearing. Trees typically take 100 years or more to develop hollows and old trees are becoming increasingly rare, (which is a problem for many birds and animals that rely on tree hollows for nesting sites). Having a carpet python in your roof has benefits in that they are very effective in controlling rodents. However, the fact that carpet pythons swallow their prey whole can create a problem for them. Some years ago, while watching television one evening, I was disturbed by a loud noise from my balcony. It turned out that a very large carpet python (which I knew lived in the roof) was thrashing around and knocking over several pot-plants. It had caught and swallowed what was almost certainly a brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), as evidenced by a large bulge in the middle of its body. Unfortunately for the python (and my pot plants) this prevented it from re-entering the roof space through its usual hole, so it took over the balcony for several days, while digesting its prey!

In the outer western suburbs of Brisbane, the role of apex predator may be occupied by the lace monitor or tree goanna (Varanus varius). These can reach 2m in length and 14kg in weight. Unlike carpet pythons, lace monitors have a venomous bite. Previously it had been thought that bites by lace monitors were prone to infection from bacteria in their mouths resulting from eating carrion, but recent research has shown that all monitors may be somewhat venomous. Best to keep them out of your roof!

Photos and text: Jim Pope

 

Published in

Know Your Wildlife?

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How well do you know the local wildlife?  

Can you identify these migratory birds using the Digital Field Guides? When do they migrate to our area and where do they the come and go to?

1.

2.

3.

Answers

  1. Noisy Pitta from Dividing Range arriving March leaving late August
  2. Shining Bronze-cuckoo leaving March/April to North Queensland and PNG returning September
  3. Yellow-faced Honeyeater from Southern States arriving April leaving September

Published in

Freshwater fish in our catchment

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Freshwater fish of Moggill Creek – A field identification guide

Freshwater fish in our catchment field guide

December 2014 Timothy Howell

© Freshwater Ecology Pty Ltd 2014

The information and photos (unless otherwise specified) contained in this document are the property of Freshwater Ecology Pty Ltd. Freshwater Ecology Pty Ltd allows the use of this document in either electronic or printed copy form to any interested persons on the condition that the document is retained in it’s entirety. Reproduction, copying or use of this document in part without the written permission of Freshwater Ecology Pty Ltd constitutes an infringement of copyright.

DISCLAIMER

Freshwater Ecology Pty Ltd does not warrant that the information in this report is free from errors or omissions. Freshwater Ecology Pty Ltd does not accept any form of liability, be it contractual, tortuous or otherwise, for the contents of this report for any consequences arising from it’s use or any reliance placed on it. The information, opinions and advice contained in this report may not relate to, or be relevant to, a reader’s particular circumstance.

Photos: All photos taken by Timothy Howell except; juvenile ornate rainbowfish (Leo Lee), adult barred grunter (Glynn Aland) and tank photo of guppy (nature.com). With the exception of the adult ornate rainbowfish, Hyrtl’s tandan, Rendahl’s catfish, carp, Koi, goldfish, tilapia, banded grunter and guppy all photographs of fish are of specimens collected from Moggill Creek.

Notice of MCCG AGM Thursday 25th November 7pm

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Annual General Meeting 2021
Everyone Welcome!

When
Thursday, 25th November 2021 at 7pm (doors open 6.30pm)
Where
Brookfield Showground Hall

Vacant positions: Chairperson & Secretary.

Please consider nominating. Nomination forms can be downloaded here

 

Tea, coffee and snacks served.  Attendees will be entered in a lucky door prize drawn on the night.

We look forward to seeing you on the 25th!

Please direct any enquiries to Kathleen Walmsley [email protected]

 

Guest Speaker
Judy Magub OAM

History is not just about the people, events, and buildings. We have so many magnificent trees in our suburbs that also reflect our local history. Some are remnant vegetation; some remind us of the culture of the indigenous people; some were planted for a purpose; some to commemorate or remember a person or event; some were planted for shade or food.
Over the past year Judy has been researching and photographing these historic and significant trees. A Research Report has now been published to record what we know to date, and to generate more information from the community.

 

Judy Magub Bio

Judy has a background in Nursing and Health Administration.

She was elected to the Brisbane City Council and served as the Councillor for Toowong for 13 years before she retired in 2008.

She has a keen interest in local and family history and is currently the president of the Kenmore & District Historical Society.  She has published five books on local history.

Judy has been involved in a wide range volunteer work with many  community organizations. She has been a Rotarian for 30 years, was a Rotary District Governor in 2000, and is now an Honorary member.

In 2001 she received a QUT Outstanding Alumni Award and in 2014 an OAM

 

REGISTRATION FOR 2021 PLATYPUS SURVEY: SUNDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER

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Dear platypus volunteers,

It is that time again, and despite Covid, we would like to conduct the annual survey. We have not missed a year of collecting snapshot platypus data since 2005! Please see the information flyer attached and note the deadline for registering.

As with last year, we will go directly to our observation sites, with no pre-survey gathering, and sadly, again there will not be a post-survey breakfast! It will be a simplified Covid-safe activity, but no less important or enjoyable!

If you have received this email but did not participate last year and would like to be involved this year, please let me know when you are registering and we can arrange a survey site for you.

If you are registering and participated last year, you will need to go to the same survey site again this year. Please reconfirm your site details when registering.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Cheers,

Chris

NOTE: If we happen to be in another lockdown on 12th September, we will cancel the event for this year.

Know Your Wildlife!

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Test your skills each month with MCCG’s Wildlife Identification Quiz!

You’ll find Know Your Wildlife towards the back of every month’s The Local Bulletin.  Answers can be found by searching in the MCCG Catchment Field Guides.

We will provide the answers to each quiz right here in the first week of every month!

Here is the March quiz:

Can you identify these three frog species?

Which of these frogs has a call that has been likened to a 1-second burst from a dental drill?

(answers below the photo set)

1.Photo by Paul Campbell

2. Photo by Ian Muirhead

3. Photo by Ed Frazer

 

ANSWERS:

Question 1.

  1. Bleating Tree Frog (Litoria dentata)
  2. Graceful Tree Frog (Litoria gracilenta)
  3. Broad-palmed Rocket Frog (Litoria latopalmata)

Question 2.

The Bleating Tree Frog has a call that has been likened to a 1-second burst from a dental drill!

Feather Fascination – The Final One!

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It is with huge appreciation and a tinge of sadness that the final Feather Fascination is published on the website and in The Local Bulletin.  Jim Butler’s incredible contribution to increasing awareness and love of our local birds and their antics has been widely enjoyed in the community for 8 years. His knowledge is unrivalled and his time spent volunteering these articles will be greatly missed.

Thank you Jim!

Please enjoy this Feather Fascination

Here is a link to read all of Jim Butler’s Feather Fascination articles.

MCCG will be filling the gap left by Jim with a variety of writers contributing to the new  ‘Wildlife Matters’ column in The Local Bulletin and also on our website.  Stay tuned for the first article in January 2021!

The Spring 2020 Newsletter is out!

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And what a FANTASTIC issue it is.  Here is a taster of what awaits:

  • Chairmans Report: Talks by experts have recommenced with the next one (Prof. Paul Roe) via Zoom on Oct 1st.
  • Nursery News: we have a hooting good solution to stop the rats eating the seedlings.
  • Dr Manda Page explains What ARE Threatened Species?
  • Working Bees: find out whats been happening at the Bush Tucker Garden and which Bushcare groups have been out planting trees.
  • Ed Frazer’s Bush Bites are always a delightful read showcasing our fabulous local birdlife.
  • Froggin’ Around What are our frogs trying to tell us?
  • The MCCG Photography Competition is open for entries now.
  • And so much more …

Sit down, relax and take some time to read ALL the news in from the Moggill Creek Catchment Group.

Click here to read the Spring Newsletter

Alternatively, you’ll always find the latest newsletter at the top right of your screen.

Our sincere thanks to Newsletter Editor Cathi Lawrence for continuing to delivering a jam packed, enthralling issue, and to our loyal and hard working contributors for their diverse and quality content. We acknowledge the skills and effort of so many MCCG members – we are indeed fortunate!

 

Noisy Pitta – Ed Frazer