Friends Group

Autumn 2015

QuarterlyWelcome to the autumn

2015 edition of the Friend’s Group Quarterly Newsletter. Christmas is behind us, and the City invited Friends Group Coordinators to meet in February to develop the Friends Group’s annual plans for 2015/16. This process has been undertaken for a number of years and allows Friends Groups and the City to cooperate effectively for project planning. As expected Perth is experiencing another long hot dry summer which brings with it the threat of bushfires. Hepburn Heights Bushland recently experienced a bushfire, suspected to have been caused by an arsonist. A hectare of bushland was burnt in the north western section of the bushland.

Following the recent fire, the Friends of Hepburn are taking the opportunity to increase their knowledge and experience of bushland management by utilising data from the Spring 2013 Flora, Fauna and Fauna Survey.

A quadrat from the survey is within the recently burnt northwest area of Hepburn Conservation Area. The plant species list and weed maps will assist Friends members in monitoring regeneration within this area and support weed control activities.

During an onsite meeting, advice on monitoring techniques and weeds to watch out for after fire was presented by Julia Cullity, an experienced Community Bushland Coordinator from Department of Parks and Wildlife. Weed species to monitor and control are early germinations of Veldt grasses, One Leaf Cape Tulip, gladiolus, Fumaria, Lachenalia, Freesia and Lupins.

Over the last year the Friends of Hepburn have surveyed and produced GIS weed mapping for the total reserve area. This information was kindly shared with and appreciated by the City’s Natural Areas team. This information was used to support the coordinated Friends of Hepburn and City of Joondalup weed control activities over the 2014 winter-spring period.

The City fully appreciates useful information gathered in the bushland by local Friends Groups.

Revegetation at Remodelled Sump Craigie Bushland.

In the winter of 2013, Quenda were reintroduced

into Craigie Bushland. The Department of Parks and Wildlife manage a feral proof fenced reserve in the Swan Valley and the Quenda population in the reserve had become unsustainable. The Department approached the City to accommodate approximately 25 animals. Craigie was identified as an ideal location because it had an adequate food source and could accommodate feral proof fencing.

An integral component of the Quenda reintroduction was a study to be undertaken by Professor Leonie Valentine and her team from the School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia.

The following is an outline of the project provided by Professor Valentine:

“This project will examine the potential impacts of translocating, and will monitor some populations of the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus). Translocations of fauna happen regularly, and the impacts of such translocations on fauna are often unknown. In addition, southern

brown bandicoots are ecosystem engineers and may alter the ecosystem processes of their environments. As part of the Western Swamp Turtle (WST) recovery plan, DPaW undertake annual trapping and translocation of the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) from Twin Swamps NR and Ellenbrook NR (which represent strongholds for the WST), to reduce the potential impacts of the bandicoots on the WST (there is anecdotal evidence that bandicoots may eat WST eggs, limiting recruitment of this critically endangered turtle). Here, we propose a collaboration between DPaW conservation officers who are translocating bandicoots and research scientists at UWA to utilise this opportunity to address two key research themes. Firstly, what are the impacts (in terms of survival and persistence etc) on resident and translocated southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus); and secondly, what are the impacts of bandicoot diggings (in terms of habitat structure and ecosystem processes) on the environment which houses resident and/or translocated southern brown bandicoots?”

Recent survey results have found that the Quenda population in Craigie Bushland is now in excess of 60 animals. The recent moves by the City to prohibit dogs within the fenced section of the reserve should result in the population increasing further.

Quenda’s being semi-nocturnal means they are rarely seen during the day, but their digging activity is easily seen, as the photograph demonstrates.

Quenda (Bandicoots) Craigie Bushland

Safety in the Bushland

Quenda Diggings Craigie Bushland

Excerpt from the City of Joondalup Friends

Group Manual

It is recommended that volunteers wear protective clothing whilst carrying out bush care tasks. It is recommended that when working in bushland areas Friends Group Members wear:

• Long pants

• Long-sleeved shirts

• Sturdy, closed-in footwear

• Gloves

• Hats and sunscreen

• Sunglasses

Appropriate gloves must be worn when necessary, and sharps, such as broken glass and syringes must only be handled by adults in accordance with advice provided by the Manager Operation Services. Sharps containers will be supplied to Friends Groups for use in bushland activities.

City of Joondalup

Natural Areas Friends Group Manual

An annual herb belonging to the Asteraceae family,

believed to have originated in tropical America.

The inflorescence’s are on long slender stems and consist of numerous small, tubular, yellow or white flowers.

Most noticeable about this weed is how efficiently the seeds attach themselves to clothing. The seeds are black/brown in colour, are elongated and have two or three barbs or bristles. The seeds are mainly dispersed by attaching to clothing, the fur of animals and the feathers of birds.

Bidens pilosa has been found at Sir James McCusker Park and Periwinkle Park. The weed can be controlled with herbicide and small patches could be controlled manually.

The Swan River Trust Alcoa Landcare Program (SALP) is inviting applications from community groups and local government authorities in partnership with the community for Iconic Project funding in 2016.

The intention of the Iconic Project funding is to provide two years of funding for a long term, high profile revegetation project. Funding of up to $75,000 (inc GST) will be available in the first year and up to $50,000 (inc GST) in the second year.

An Iconic Project ideally should:

• Involve a wide range of stakeholders and/or partners

• Achieve a range of environmental outcomes

• Preferably have a water quality focus and/or positive impacts on water quality

• Be located in a high profile location with project promotional opportunities

• Be of high value (i.e. have considerable contributions - cash and in-kind)

• Demonstrate significant visual improvement to the site

The Expression of Interest (EOI) for the SALP Iconic project opened on 24 February 2015 and closes on 25 March 2015.

The SALP 2016 round is from 24 February 2015 and until 30 April 2015.

Bidens pilosa (black-jack, beggar-ticks and cobbler’s legs)

Bidens pilosa Bidens pilosa

To ensure the safety of all concerned whilst undertaking Friends Group activities, it is essential that children accompanying volunteers be supervised and accompanied by an adult at all times.

It is also recommended that volunteers avoid working alone in bushland areas and that members work in at least pairs whilst undertaking Friends Groups activities.

It should be noted that children under the age of 12 are not covered by the City’s insurance (unless they are part of a school group and covered policies by Education Department Policies).

Friends Groups are therefore responsible for children under 12 years of age.

Firewood Banksia and Candle Banksia are

two of the most common Banksias found on the Swan Coastal Plain and often occur together. Both trees can reach up to 10m in height.

Firewood Banksia flowers from autumn into early spring, flowers are orange and pink when open and are “acorn” shape. They provide nectar for a variety of invertebrates and honey eating birds.

Candle Banksia flowers during mid spring into early summer, the opposite to Firewood Banksia. This means that there is almost always a supply of nectar from Banksias available for nectar feeding invertebrates and birds. Candle Banksias have slender bright yellow flower heads. The seeds from the cones can be a food source for Carnaby’s Cockatoos.

Banksia menziesii (Firewood Banksia) and Banksia attenuata (Candle Banksia)

Banksia Attenuata (Candle Banksia)

Banksia Menziesii (Firewood Banksia)