Park News

Last November, our monthly news was headed with an article titled “Recent High Rainfall Events”. We said “We’ve recently had some large rainfall events after what has been (generally) a prolonged dry spell“. Well, this year history repeated itself – except our dry spell was drier /more prolonged and our rain events were more severe. Indeed, Blackburn had some of the heaviest rain recorded in the State around Cup Day. Ruth’s photo shows just how high and swollen our creek became.
Broadly speaking, this has been very good news for the park. After very little rain in September and October, things were becoming desperate in the park – particularly for newer plants that had not had time to establish themselves. So much so, we began a watering program at our regular weekly working bees to try to save young plants. The good rains have put an end to that with our little pump going back into storage!
Karen’s photo below (taken on her mobile phone), shows a White-faced Heron apparently enjoying some white-water fishing:

Last month, we brought you news on our first ducklings for the season. This month, we bring news of a happy event in one of our Tawny Frogmouth families.

Rob’s photo, using a telephoto lens, shows a Tawny Frogmouth with chick on 2/11/2018 (the white fluffy thing between him and the tree on the right). Rob lives next door to Kalang Park and “his” Tawny has chosen to nest in a Yellow Box eucalypt on his property.
This breeding success underscores the value of locals in the park corridor maintaining suitable habitat in their properties for wildlife.
Rob has a great viewing spot on his back verandah – and has provided some shots which show how quickly the chicks grow, fledge and leave home:

We all need to be very careful taking photos of birds nesting because this is the most stressful time of their lives. Our regular contributor Ruth has supplied these guidelines we photographers should adhere to:
- First observe from a distance to see the bird’s usual behaviour.
- Approach quietly and slowly, do not get too close to any nest. [Please don’t hold camera/ mobile phone up to take photo within a few meters of the nest!]
- Note any changes in the bird’s behaviour , if the bird is aware of you and is behaving differently due to you being there – Move Further Away.
- Do not use camera flash or shine torches at the nesting birds. Apart from potentially scaring the birds, extra lighting and local activity highlights the presence of the nesting bird and could attract predator attention.
In Rob’s case “his” subjects were about 30 metres away from his camera. He uses a 300mm zoom lens and then enlarges from a 24MP image.

Last month we learned that the Laurel Grove bridge is to be renovated. Although the bridge looks a little sad with its flaking paint etc, the bridge is only a little over 20 years old – having been erected in 1996. We’ve met with Council officers on-site and have advocated for use of decking materials made from recycled wood.
The bad news is that the bridge will be out of action for about a fortnight while the renovations are undertaken. We’ll let you know when as soon as we are advised by Council.
It replaced the first bridge which was located slightly to its east – some of the latter’s supports are still visible if you look hard. This is what the first bridge looked like (at a working bee in the 1980s – the two children on the creek bank appear to have defied parental instructions):

The other footbridges in the park were built in Blacks Walk (1985/6) and Furness Park (2010). The latter was designed to complete the walking circuit around the park.
The bridge will be painted black to be consistent with the other two bridges (Blacks Walk shown in a recent photo by Ruth):

Here’s an interesting shot of a Little Corella swinging off a piece of dried bark:

This one seems to use the public street lighting to help with a spot of feeding in Furness Park!

Maintenance Report

The Maintenance team has been very busy weeding along the northern side of the creek between Main Street and Laurel Grove. Progress has been slow and steady due to the challenging conditions on the steep bank and due to the variable weather conditions experienced in November – heat requiring that work follow the shade on some days and slipperiness on wet days.
In good news for the park, Alan has returned to duty after a prolonged period where he was unable to work.
On the other hand, there seems to have been a spate of senseless vandalism in the park recently with young plants simply pulled out to die and small logs being moved onto paths. If you see something, please let Council or us know. Clearly, the perpetrators are not yet aware of the principle of Karma: What Goes Around Comes Around…

Monthly Awards

Our Plant of the Month is the Twiggy Daisy Bush (Olearia ramulosa). This was the June winner and is still looking good with its tiny white daisy-like flowers visible here and there all over the park! The photo shows a striking example, framed by eucalypts, that is dead ahead of you when walking from Main Street to Laurel Grove along the northern track.
It grows to an attractive medium-sized, spindly shrub with small leaves. It seems to be having an excellent season this year.

We’re not completely sure what our Weed of the Month is! We are calling this “Mustard Daisy” until we get a better ID. It has been observed at the Laurel Grove North entrance and along the first part of the path heading west towards the Waratah Wetlands. It pulls out fairly easily but does seem to be becoming an increasing pest.
It has probably spread into the park via the drains in Laurel Grove North.

In addition to the interesting bird shots we’ve already presented, the following sightings have also been reported:
- Little Pied Cormorant successfully fishing in the Laurel Grove bridge pond, a pair of Eastern Rosellas along channel, Powerful Owl in Linum Street (or is it a Boobook?).
- Large very active butterfly with a lot of yellow on top of wings on path south of Laurel Grove bridge – perhaps an Australian Admiral?
- Fox in the Waratah Wetlands.
- Bee swarm in Kalang Park (shown above).