Red-Tailed Phascogale found in Corrigin!

Staff at the Wheatbelt NRM office were somewhat surprised this week when Lynette, a landholder from Bullaring, rang to find out what to do with a Red-tailed Phascogale she had found at her house!

Unfortunately it was deceased, but it is still a great find, showing that this charasmatic native critter is still around the Corrigin/Bullaring area.

Red-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale calura) found near Corrigin

Lynette had seen them before at her property in Bullaring, but this time she decided to speak with Wheatbelt NRM’s Regional Landcare Facilitator Mick Davis, who encouraged Lynette to send in the above photo and then contacted the WA Museum for more information. 

Red-tailed Phascogales (also called Red-tailed Wambengers) are a threatened species of native Australian mammal, only occurring in Western Australia but now restricted to around the Great Southern region.

They prefer woodland habitat with dense pockets of sheoak thickets surrounding old white gum trees to use as nesting sites. However they also occur in mallee scrub and will use letterboxes and hous roof cavities as alternative nesting sites.

Distribution map for the Red-Tailed Phascogale.  Dark blue shows current distribution, orange previous distribution and light blue and black indicates fossil records

WA Museum Techincal Officer of Terrestrial Zoology (Vertebrates) Claire Stevenson was very excited by Lynette’s find.

“We haven’t had a Red-tailed Phascogale specimen at the Museum since 2007” she said, explaining that this record in near the edge of this species’ known range. Upon closer inspection of local data it was found that this species was right on the edge of it's know distribution.

The (frozen) specimen will now be sent to the WA Museum – where it will be properly preserved and added to the states collection, adding to the wider communities' knowledge and understanding of this unique species.

If you have seen these critters near you place or in your travels, let Wheatbelt NRM know by calling 089 670 3110 or emailing info@wheatbeltnrm.org.au

For more information on recovery actions for the Red-tailed Phascogale see the draft recovery plan on Wheatbelt NRM’s webpage.

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!'

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.