Skinks - Renovation Rescue!!

Early this afternoon a family of threatened skinks from WA's wheatbelt got an emergency house renovation!

In a collaborative effort, Wheatbelt NRM, WWF Australia, Department of Environment and Conservation Central Wheatbelt District staff and members of the community relocated the family to a safe location nearby.

The skinks were living in a wood pile which was destined for destruction, until a local farmer noticed them living there.

With the help of Wheatbelt NRM's Noongar Budjar Trainee's Judd Davis and Brandon Colbung, Phil Lewis and the rest of the Healthy Bushland team helped dismantle the woodpile and capture the skinks.

'They were pretty lively' said Brandon, who uncovered the first skink 'but we got them all eventually.'

While the skinks' house was being re-located, the reptiles were measured by Natasha Moore from Department of Environment and Conservation Central Wheatbelt District and Dr James Haberfield from Balcatta Vet Hospital, then fitted with microchips to enable the family to be identified in the future.

Monitoring will continue at the new residence to confirm the family are happy in their new location.

'Although the threat to these unique animals is reduced, they still have to contend with cats, foxes and harsh conditions - so ongoing monitoring after the translocation is important' says Mick Davis, Wheatbelt NRM's Regional Landcare Facilitator.

'However, given the fighting spirit (shown in the image below) and stewardship by the local landholder, it is expected the skinks will do well in their new home.'

Find out more about projects to protect and manage western spiny-tailed skinks (funded by Wheatbelt NRM and the Australian Governments Caring For Our Country program) on the WWF-Australia BLOG.

Learn more about Wheatbelt NRM's Biodiversity Program at www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au

Wheatbelt NRM Takes Biodiversity Conservation Global!

Since it's launch in June 2010, Wheatbelt NRM's Biodiversity Blog has been spreading the word about what's happening in the Avon's backyard to the rest of the globe!

But have you ever wondered who else is listening and watching what's happening here...?

A review of the visitor summary shows that about half of our 3000 visitors so far have been from Australia, while another quarter that amount are from the United States.

Pie chart of this blog's audience composition

Fully one fifth of our visitors are from farther afield -India, France and Italy to name a few. They log-in from across the globe to look at great photos and read interesting stories about what's going on in places like Toodyay, Mukindudin or Corrigin. Or to find our more about our projects to protect threatened species or control Weeds of National Significance (WONS).

Map of this Blog's audience from around the globe!

The strong interest from around the globe in Wheatbelt NRM's Biodiversity Program's projects and the plants and animals they protect is testament to the hard work and passion our community and it's many groups community puts towards sustaining our natural heritage.

High value hay grown in a 'backyard' paddock protected by remnant vegetation

By working with our community to protect it's natural heritage, Wheatbelt NRM is also helping to buffer our agricultural industries from the effects of climate change and variable seasonal influences. We are proud to be working at a local level and having a truly global impact!

Wheateblt NRM wold like to say a big HELLO (Ola! Guten Tag! привет! Bonjour!)  to our global audience - and invite you all back again sometime soon to see that 'There's a lot happening in our backyard!'

Regional Landcare Facilitators Meeting: 17-18th November 2011

This week Regional Landcare Facilitators from all over Australia are meeting in Melbourne to discuss national Natural Resource Management (NRM) issues and develop plans for working with communities across Australia to promote NRM in their 'backyards'

Wheatbelt NRM's Regional Landcare Facilitators Sally Sprigg (nee Raynor) and Mick Davis will be attending the two day meeting to ensure that any and all NRM issues from the wheatbelt are put on the agenda, as well as determining how our work fits in with other Regional Landcare Facilitators across the Nation.

Mick will be updating the blog to provide some info to anyone who'sd interested, so don't forget to 'follow' us so you stay up to date!

Bridal Creeper Control in the Avon River

A project aimed at mapping and control of Bridal Creeper (Asparagus asparagoides) and Tamarisk, both Weeds of National Significance (WONS), has begun in the Avon river. The aim of the project, funded by the Australian Government,  is to understand the distribution and abundance of these WONS and then develop an effective control program.

Greg Warburton from Wheatbelt NRM began the mapping earlier this month, and has already surveyed more tham 3km of the riverbank in Northam.

"We have plotted more than 200 occurrences of Bridal Creeper so far- and one site with Tamarisk" reported Greg.

'The focus of our efforts so far has been on mapping the Bridal Creeper while it is still lush and green from the recent rain' explained Greg. 'It dies back in summer and goes dormant, so then we'll focus on the Tamarisk'

Some early spraying has been done already.

Bridal Creeper  is a WONS because it can invade intact bushland and then smother the understory beneath its dense canopy. The resulting monoculture is hard to remove and acts as a source of propagules for new infestations.

Image courtesy of Florabase (http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/8779)

The bright red berries are spread readily by small birds.

Control of Bridal Creeper will benefit the plants and wildlife that use the waterway as a home and feeding resource, as well as many cultural sites along the river. This is a real win for the our regions namesake.

This project is specifically about controlling Bridal Creeper in the main channel of the Avon river, but anyone who wants to report an outbreak of Bridal Creeper in their area can email info@wheatbeltnrm.org.au

Corrigin Wildflower Walk

Earlier this month, Cindy from Corrigin, with help from the Shire of Corrigin, organised a Spring Wildflower Walk near Corrigin in the central wheatbelt. More than 15 people from the local area and beyond joined in the walk, which included a visit to see the Corrigin Grevillea (Grevillea scapigera), which is in flower this time of year.

This unique and interesting low open shrub is an important species for locals to be aware of, as it only grows around the Corrigin area.

After learning more about this plant and its conservation, the group took a walk through the Corrigin Town Reserve to look at the variety of wildflowers that were on show. Many Acacia's and ephemeral annual herbs were in flower, as well as several patches of Enamel Orchids (Thymelitra spp.). A brief snack of fruit and cakes in the bush was a real treat for the kids and adults alike - then back to the wildflowers!

On the way back, several of the kids were lucky enough to see a large green Katydid - a predatory cricket-like invertebrate - sitting on some shrubs. Katydids are quite common and are found all across the south west - providing some entertaining 'songs' throughout the Spring and Summer.

For everyone involved it was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon - with good company and natural surroundings.

This casual get together was part of a plan by Cindy and the Shire to increase the communities involvement in managing the reserve. If the turn-out is any indication of the interest from the community, it likely won't be long until a local 'Friends of Corrigin Reserve' group gets going.

If you are keen to know more about this activity, be part of the Friends of Corrigin Reserve or know about similar events in the Avon, email info@wheatbeltnrm.org.au or call the WheatebltNRM office in Northam on 08 9690 2250.