News

Evening Talk June 25th: Large-Footed Fishing Bats by Dr Vanessa Gorecki

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Please join us for the next MCCG public talk:

Tuesday June 25th
6.30 pm for 7 pm start (9 pm finish)
Kenmore Library
Refreshments served

The extraordinary fishing bat, the Large-footed Myotis (Myotis macropus) of the creeks of Brisbane’s western suburbs. ​

Come and hear Dr Vanessa Gorecki, QUT zoologist, discuss the findings of her detailed studies into the fascinating ecology and population dynamics of this river-foraging microbat.  Dr Gorecki is a highly-respected zoologist, ecologist and consultant, who as a former Brookfield resident, has closely studied one of our most interesting local mammals.  ​

Dr Vanessa Gorecki

Large-footed Myotis Photo Les Hall
Photo: Les hall

Kids’ Day at the Cottage – Sunday June 9th

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This much loved Moggill Creek Catchment Group event is just around the corner.

10am-1pm on Sunday 9th June.

Looking for tiny creatures in water from the creek  is just one of the activities at the free annual KIDS DAY AT THE COTTAGE.

Kids can see, make, and do, while they find out more about nature, beetles, bugs, butterflies, native bees, and snails. They can meet furry, feathery, or leathery, native animals in one of the two Geckoes Wildlife Shows. 

It is on the grounds of the Cottage on Gold Creek Dam Reserve, a bush setting with no refinements (and unfortunately no wheelchair access). It features outdoor marquees and display areas with expert presenters and plenty for kids to see and do. 

There’s a lunchtime sausage sizzle and fresh town water to refill your water bottle.

Bring your youngsters to Kids Day at the Cottage 10am-1pm Sunday 9th June.

  KIDS DAY A4 2024

Unlocking Moggill Creek’s Secrets: eDNA Investigation

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Join us for a online webinar featuring ecologist Tamielle Brunt from Wildlife Queensland, and Lewis Peach, Water Quality Advisor for the Moggill Creek Catchment Group, as they unveil the intriguing findings from the recent Moggill Creek eDNA Investigations. This initiative marks the first application of this type of analysis within the Moggill Creek Catchment, and potentially the Greater Brisbane area. This session will spotlight the array of animals detected in Moggill Creek through advanced eDNA analysis. Discover which unexpected wildlife species are present in this catchment. Don’t miss this chance to dive deep into the hidden biodiversity of Moggill Creek, and discuss the implications for conservation, and research.

During the recent event in the Moggill Creek Catchment, volunteers gathered to collect eDNA samples across 6 sites, a pioneering effort aimed at uncovering the hidden biodiversity within the creek.

For any inquiries or further information leading up to the event, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]

This event is made possible with the support of the Queensland Government – Queensland Citizen Science Grants, Brisbane Airport Corporation, and Brisbane City Council.

Register through Eventbrite 

eDNA

 

Wildlife Matters – Protecting Beautiful Queensland

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On the morning of Sunday 21st of April a group of 16 intrepid Queenslanders gathered in the parklands behind Brompton Place, Brookfield for a native tree planting, as part of Queensland Conservation Council’s Protect Beautiful Queensland week of action. The event was organised by the Huntington/Tuckett Bushcare Group, in association with Brisbane City Council (Habitat Brisbane). The site had been prepared in advance by contractors for Habitat Brisbane, who had removed several large Chinese elm (Celtis sinensis) weed trees and chipped them. After herbicide spraying to suppress growth of Chinese elm seedlings, the resulting wood chips were spread to provide a deep layer of mulch for the plantings.

May 24 The Group Hard at Work - photo Jim Pope This section of the riparian zone of Moggill Creek, between the Branton St. footbridge and Tuckett St. park is dominated by Chinese elms. Unfortunately, these exotic trees tend to take over the native vegetation, casting a deep shade in the summer months, which supresses the growth of native ground cover and mid-storey. Over the last few years, the Huntington/Tuckett Bushcare Group has been gradually removing these weed trees a few at a time and replacing them with native trees and shrubs local to the area. The aim is to increase biodiversity and render the site more conducive to native wildlife.

The weather over the days leading up to the working bee had been very wet, but fortunately on the morning of the event the rain eased to a light drizzle and so we were able to go ahead and plant around 360 native trees, shrubs and ground cover. As is usual with our working bees, we concluded the event with a sumptuous morning tea, including home-made vegetable soup and cakes. Overall, in spite of the rather inclement weather, a good time was had by all! Thanks to all who participated and especially to Rosie Matters and Shelley-lee Webster from Habitat Brisbane.

May-2024-A-Job-Well-Done-to-Protect-Beaut-iful-Queensland-–-photo-Bahereh-Sabet-scaled.jpgMoggill Creek Catchment Group (MCCG) is always seeking new volunteers for our working bees and other activities. Working bees provide an ideal opportunity to commune with nature, keep fit and meet some interesting neighbours, so if you can spare about 3 hours/month, please contact me ([email protected]).

Jim Pope

Balancing Flora and Fauna – Bush Bites with Ed Frazer

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One of the aims of the MCCG is to restore the catchment to pre-colonisation as much as possible.

This aim is to support the return of the flora and fauna to something like what it was before our forebears cleared the land to supply food and timber to the emerging Brisbane settlement.  

To achieve this the MCCG has strongly encouraged the planting of plants native to the local area and the removal of exotic weed species.

Unfortunately, much of the catchment has been developed as pasture for horses with extensive planting of trees. The habitat this produces only encourages aggressive species such as Magpies, Butcherbirds and Mickeys.

When you consider what was here before was a huge variety of different habitats including large areas of vine forest and dry rainforest, the task of supporting the fauna that was here before settlement is never going to be achieved.

The recent seasons have been interesting in that despite excellent growing conditions the range of bird species present has been severely reduced and is only just starting to recover after several good years. It is quite apparent that we are not breeding enough birds in the catchment and are dependent on birds coming in from areas outside the catchment to replace those lost in the previous drought.

That we can support a wide range of species (over 170 species on my property) has been that they are largely supported by exotics, including several weed species such as Lantana, Chinese Elm, Camphor Laurel and Brazilian Cherry. These “weeds” are highly prolific when compare with natives. For instance, Lantana not only produces flowers and berries most of the year, the fruit dries out and hangs on the bushes through winter like dried out sultanas, which support a range of fruit eaters when nothing else is available. At the same time Lantana provides an impenetrable habitat for a range of animals such as Pademelons, Bettongs, Echidnas and nesting sites for finches and fairy wrens. 

While I am not suggesting we plant Lantana, we need to look at the plusses of exotic weeds and balance this information against the negatives. Clearing Lantana without considering what it is supporting is poor conservation.

What we can do is replace the weeds with productive species. The hybrid varieties of Grevilleas and Callistemons (now Melaleucas) flower far more frequently than the native species and support a range of birds. 

Balancing Flora and Fauna A Scarlet Honeyeater taking nectar from a highly productive hybrid Grevillea. Photo:Ed Frazer

 Some “weeds” determined by the BCC are not excessively weedy in the catchment and should not be removed. For instance, the Brazilian Cherry grows more like a shrub in our soils and doesn’t spread widely like it does in Florida.  It produces a huge load of berries in the heart of winter, supporting Mistletoes birds and many other species when nothing else is available. Its shrubby nature also provides excellent habitat. The Camphor Laurel is a beautiful tree and it can be easily contained so it doesn’t spread. It is hugely productive and research has shown it attracts and supports many native birds that bring in seeds of native species that are beneficial to support fruit eaters. Removing mature Camphor Laurels often results in a huge germination of seedlings that become a greater problem to control.

When developing a property in the Catchment give some thought to what is existing in the area before removing the exotics that may be supporting the wildlife. Select high producing natives, such as hybrid Callistemon and Grevilleas and consider exotics such as Guavas and Citrus. Plant new habitat before clearing weeds such as Lantana. If you clear the Lantana habitat first the wildlife its supporting will go away and probably never return. Consider species that support insects and provide fruit. Add a water feature with heavy planting to give safe access and you will go a long way to helping the Catchment supporting the wildlife that was here before settlement.

Ed Frazer

Blue Banded Bees – Wildlife Matters!

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Wildlife MattersBlue-banded bees (Amegilla spp.) are a group of solitary bees found in the Moggill Creek catchment. They are known for their distinctive blue-black and yellow striped body, and are commonly found in gardens, parks, and other urban areas. They have become somewhat famous in Australia, as they are attractive insects, and lend themselves to photography well.  They are also relatively unaggressive, and reluctant to sting unless captured. At least three species are present in the catchment, but they require detailed, often microscopic examination to confirm their ID.

These insects are small but squat, with a body length of around 10-15 mm. They have a distinctive orange-brown body and legs, with a striking black and bright blue banding on the abdomen. They have a long tongue, which they use to collect nectar and pollen from flowers. Active during the day, they have a distinctive “dart and hover” flight pattern, quite different from the gentle up-and-down meandering flight of European honeybees.

Unlike honeybees and stingless social bees, blue-banded bees are solitary, which means they do not live in colonies or hives. Instead, each female builds her own nest in small cavities, such as in the ground or in hollow stems or twigs. They are known to reuse abandoned nests, such as those of other bees or wasps. They usually lay their eggs in small cells, provisioning each cell with a mixture of nectar and pollen, on which the larvae feed. The female will then seal the cell and the larvae will develop and pupate inside, before emerging as adults.

Blue-banded bees are important pollinators for a variety of plants, including tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, sunflowers, and many native species. They have been found to be more effective pollinators than honeybees, for certain plants. Their long tongues allow them to reach deep into the flowers to collect nectar and pollen, which makes them more effective at pollinating plants with a deep corolla. Blue-banded bees effect a special kind of pollination, known as “buzz-pollination” that efficiently moves pollen across some plant species, such as the tomato (Solanaceae) family.  They do this by grasping a flower and shivering their flight muscles.

Populations of blue-banded bees in Queensland appear numerous, and there are no current conservation concerns regarding them. However, like many pollinator insects, they may be affected by habitat loss and degradation and by pesticide use. It is important to protect and conserve their habitats and reduce the use of pesticides in order to ensure the survival of these important pollinators. One way to help maintain blue-banded bees is to plant appropriate food plants, such as native Myrtaceae such Melaleuca spp, Dianella spp., Hibbertia spp. and native, blue-flowered plants.  However, at least some local species seem strongly attracted to non-native plants such as Lavenders and Duranta.  One can also provide “bee hotels”with small, rounded holes or gaps in outdoor objects, which these insects use for their solitary nests.

Sandy Pollock

Blue-banded Bee (Amegilla spp.) – photo Robert Whyte 

Blue-banded Bee (Amegilla spp.) – photo Robert Whyte

Blue-banded Bee and favourite flower – photo ‘Ron_n_Beths pics’  

Blue-banded Bee and favourite flower – photo ‘Ron_n_Beths pics’

 

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Autumn Newsletter is out now

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The first newsletter for 2024 is out now and it is another fabulous read compiled by Cathi and written by a host of Moggill Creek Catchment Group members.  Check out the newsletter now.

https://www.moggillcreek.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newsletter-Autumn-2024.pdf

Photo: Aliana Hoole is looking forward to attending the 9 June 2024 Kids’ Day at the Cottage

(see page 5 for more, article & image by Dale Borgelt)

Local Wallabies and other Macropods – Wildlife Matters!

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Wildlife Matters

We have a number of wallabies in the north-western suburbs of Brisbane and it is easy to confuse them. On our property in Brookfield we are lucky to have both the Red-necked (Macropus rufogriseus) and Swamp  (Wallabia bicolour) Wallabies plus the closely associated Red-legged Pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica). It is interesting how they have sorted out their niches, which are based mainly on their diet but also on their habitat.

The Red-necked Wallaby is the most common, and early morning and at dusk there are usually about 7 individuals around our house. They are mostly females with young, feeding on the lush grasses around the small dams on the property. They seem to prefer some of the weeds in the grass including Sida retusa, a dreadful weed with such a strong root system that even small seedlings are almost impossible to remove by hand. Last year we had a large crop of fruit on a huge Avocado tree and the wallabies were feeding on the fallen fruit, which they eat well before they ripen.

Red-necked Wallaby eating unripe Avocado – photo Ed Frazer

Red-necked Wallaby eating unripe Avocado – photo Ed Frazer

The Swamp Wallabies live around Gold Creek which borders our property and in the vine forest at the rear of the property. They eat a wide variety of plants and are never feeding on grass in the open areas. They are noted for eating fungus and attained the name of “Stinkies” from their unusual diet. The Pademelons are heard rather than seen. They have a habit of making a thumping noise when they are disturbed and they have benefitted by the Lantana, which they disappear into when approached. They are squatter than the three wallabies and are less common.

When we first came to live in Brookfield the Whiptail Wallaby also known as the Pretty-faced Wallaby (Macropus parryi) was the common species, but it is now found further up Gold Creek near the reservoir. It prefers the open forest with a grassy understory. There have been some Grey Kangaroos seen in the Brookfield area, but they are not normal inhabitants. It is thought they may have been rescued from road kills as joeys that have been released when they have matured.

There should be two rat Kangaroos in the area but they are nocturnal and difficult to see. They are the Rufous Bettong (Aepyprymnus rufescens) and the Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus). They are easily confused with the much more common Bandicoots , which  can be identified as they never hop bipedally and have three toes on their forepaws, whereas the rat kangaroos have five. The Bettongs live among the Blady grass and build grassy nests, carrying the nesting material in their tails.  They dig holes to find underground fungi which are their main food. The Potoroos live in the wetter forest and dig holes similar to the Bandicoots. They feed on roots and fungi.

Our wonderful diverse range of Macropods in the western suburbs is a great asset but is at risk from uncontrolled cats and dogs. However, the greatest danger is road kills, so drive carefully at dusk and dawn when these interesting animals are about.

Ed Frazer

 

Wildlife Matters is published in: 

Quarterly Talk: Tuesday 27th Feb Dr Jessa Thurman – Life History and Ecology of the Giant Wood Moth

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Please join us for our quarterly talk with: Dr Jessa Thurman – Life History and Ecology of the Giant Wood Moth

Date:  Tuesday 27 February 2024
Time:   6:30pm arrival for, 7:00 pm start (~9:00 pm finish)
Location: Kenmore Library (access via lift)

Light refreshments provided.

Event details:

Jessa will speak to us on the life history and ecology of the giant wood moth (Endoxyla cinereus), the heaviest moth in the world.  The ecology of these moths is strictly tied to smooth-barked Eucalyptus spp., and we have all probably observed their emergent tunnels within the gum-barked trees of the catchment at some point in our lives.

Dr Jessa Thurman is an entomologist, author, and photographer.  She obtained her PhD at the University of Queensland, on the topic of biological control of the diamondback moth, a significant insect pest of Brassica sp. vegetable crops.  She was also a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.

Dr Thurman has published the popular hardback book Australia’s Incredible Insects in 2022 through Australian Geographic, to introduce kids of all ages to entomology and support their inherent interest in the natural world.  She is prolific in reporting her insect photographs and exploits on Instagram, with more than 1700 posts, and more than 13K followers!

Having published widely on topics including the ecosystem services provided by weaver ants (or green tree ants), biological control agents, and leaf insect taxonomy, Dr Thurman is currently teaching ecology courses at the University of Queensland, guiding for Heritage Expeditions, and working on small research projects.

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

Photos: Dr Jessa Thurman

Wildlife Matters! The unpaid deck cleaner – Red Triangle slugs

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Wildlife MattersAfter extended periods of heavy rain such as we have experienced recently, householders in the Moggill Creek catchment are often disconcerted at night when viewing wet wooden decks or poolside decking or pavements.  Moving slowly across the wooden boards or pavements, often in the rain, a large bright white slug with a peculiar red triangle across its back can sometimes be observed, leaving a scribble-like grazing mark as it removes algae across the flat surfaces.

This unusual, white-coloured unpaid deck cleaner is the Red Triangle slug (Triboniophorusgraeffei), a familiar sight for those with outdoor decking within the Moggill Creek area.  It is a large native mollusc, indeed, at 7 cm long it is the largest native slug in Australia.

Active during extensive rain periods, and very prominent during the March 2022 rainfall event, this species hides in cool damp locations (such as deep within rockeries or humid exterior pipes), contracting its body to further minimise water loss.  It is always remarkable how such a soft-bodied creature apparently spontaneously appears after dry and hot periods in western Brisbane.

Red Triangle slugs can be readily distinguished from non-native slugs, as they only have a single pair of tentacles on their head, while all other introduced species have four.  While the variety most commonly observed in the Moggill Creek catchment is white, yellow and red-bodied forms are also known from the Greater Brisbane region.  The foot of the slug often has a red border.

The breathing pore, or pneumostome is present within the boundaries of the distinctive thin red triangle on the slug’s upper body.

These soft-bodied creatures bury themselves in leaf litter during the day, and at night come out to feed, especially if heavy rains or persistent wet weather make it possible for them to traverse hard surfaces, such as decking.  They graze on microscopic algae and moss forming on tree bark, wooden structures and rocks.  They leave behind scalloped grazing marks, somewhat circular and irregular in pattern, that are often remarked upon when seen on the pale trunks of smooth-barked eucalypts.

It is thought that this species can live for up to three years.

This native mollusc (and many others like it), can be discussed with the Snail Whisperer, Dr John Stanisic at the next MCCG Kid’s Day Out at The Cottage, scheduled for June 2024.

Sandy Pollock

 

Red-Triangle-Slug-Triboniophorus-graeffei-photo-David-Lochlin

Red Triangle Slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) – photo David Lochlin

Red-Triangle-Slugs-Triboniophorus-graeffei-photo-eyeweed

Red Triangle Slugs (Triboniophorus graeffei) – photo ‘eyeweed‘

 

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