Platypus in the Creek?

Every now and then we get a report of a platypus sighting in the creek. We think they are actually more likely to be sightings of Rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster) which are furry, about the right size and have partially webbed feet – so could easily be mistaken. The Rakali’s tail is a good way to identify it – it is usually fairly slender with a white end – not broad like a platypus’ and not uniformly grey/brown like a large rat’s!

An article by Graham Ross from the KooyongKoot Alliance and Geoff Williams from the Platypus Conservancy in a the April, 2022 Eastsider News points out that platypi are breeding in the Yarra at Templestowe and that some (presumably, vagrants from the Yarra) have been spotted in the Merri and Darebin creeks.

Our creek is harder for a platypus to access than the latter two creeks because navigating the lower Yarra downstream from Dights Falls to KooyongKoot is significantly more difficult. Perhaps translocation could be the answer? Apparently, that was done for Cardinia Creek.  A population of 30 animals would be needed for longer-term viability. 

Another enemy is the “Urban Stream Syndrome” which essentially applies to streams being converted to drains as part of urbanization. The problem is that the modified water flows and drainage structures alter the ecology significantly – making them more prone to flash floods, erosion, sedimentation and less able to retain food sources. Man-made barriers such as the barrelling in our park and flood mitigation treatments like those in Sparks Reserve are significant issues. Finally, urbanization introduces various pollutants and nutrients into streams, such as metals, oils and organic matter.

Returning the platypus to Gardiners Creek would be an exciting prospect but it will take many years of hard work and immense commitment… Improving environmental conditions will help Rakali as well and so, in the interim, we can all take pleasure in having the ‘Aussie otter’ in KooyongKoot.

Geoff Williams, Director Australian Platypus Conservancy (Eastsider News)

It would be wonderful to have the platypus back in our creek. We understand the Merri Creek Management Committee is funding a study to see what works would be needed to restore the Merri Creek to suitable platypus habitat. We will endeavour to learn from them!

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Autumn Bird Survey

The 2023 Autumn Bird Survey of the Blackburn Creeklands was conducted on Saturday, April 29th. As usual, our very knowledgeable and entertaining Group Leaders were Pat Bingham (from Birdlife Australia) and Ian Moodie from Whitehorse Council. Although it was cold and there had been light rain overnight, it was sunny providing great light for bird spotting and there were bird calls everywhere.

Twenty four people attended and twenty-six species were observed. The survey results are available here.

This shot of Michael’s shows the differences between male and female Mudlarks very clearly (pay close attention – you’ll be tested later):

The female has white plumage under her chin and above the beak. The males have big white eyebrows and a thin white eye-liner under the eye. Mind you – juveniles are harder to identify – they can have mixed characteristics. Also, it is definitely NOT true that males have only one leg and females have none!

Here is another photo of Michael’s showing “sexual dimorphism” (differences in the sexes in a species):

Our Friends Danika and Greg have kindly provided some great photos to give you a sense of the event if you couldn’t make it. Firstly, Danika’s:

Click on an image to expand, then scroll. Click the X when finished.

In Danika’s words:

The Australian King Parrot photo isn’t great, but Pat taught us a really interesting fact about parrots “bathing” in the raindrops at the tops of the trees, and we had good opportunities to see the King Parrots doing this, and the Musk Lorikeets preening after doing this – fascinating!

We had a good chance to compare Magpie-lark male and female markings which was interesting – always easier when you can see it right in front of you!

Test: were you able to identify the male and female Mudlarks ?

Now Greg’s:

Click on an image to expand, then scroll. Click the X when finished.

In Greg’s words:

Note the Crimson Rosella with juvenile plumage [the adult is shown alongside]. The Musk Lorikeets were displaying nicely in the morning light too.

Big thank you to Pat for running the survey; she did a great job encouraging the casual bird watchers and sharing her immense knowledge. We always learn something from Pat!

The dusky face to below the eye of the grumpy-looking Little Pied Cormorant indicates that it is a juvenile – presumably a teenager!

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Want to get more involved in your park?

Council advertising for new members of Park Committees (including the Blackburn Creeklands) and for working bee volunteers has commenced.

Look out for advertising in the Whitehorse News, Council’s web-site, social media, posters in parks and via letterboxed flyers.  Anyone who is interested can fill out an expression of interest on Council’s web-site here.

You can apply to:

• become a Committee member and/or
• register your interest in working bees doing on-the-ground regeneration work in the park.

Applications are open until 9 June 2023. Some training is mandatory (eg to protect against bullying), this can be done on-line at your own convenience.

Park Advisory Committee Members

The terms for all current Park Advisory Committee members in the municipality will expire on the 30th June. To be viable, a Park Advisory Committee must have at least four members. There is no maximum number of members.

Our Blackburn Creeklands Advisory Committee has been running with 10-12 men and women in recent years. We have been blessed by having enthusiastic people with a wide variety of interests, skills and experience. Recently, however, our numbers have dropped, so we would welcome some new faces.

Committee meetings are currently held at 7:30 PM on the 4^th Tuesday of each month excluding December.  Visitors are most welcome – if you would like to attend a meeting to see how things work, our next meeting is on 23rd May at the Kalang Oval Pavilion. You can find out more about our committee here.

Working Bees

We usually do planting, weeding, litter collection and occasional mulching. Although the community can participate in working bees without registering with Council, the benefits are better insurance from Council (personal accident insurance is provided) and training is provided.

We currently hold two forms of working bee:

• Monthly Community Working Bees on Sunday mornings during the planting season from May onwards. We work 09:00-12:00 with a morning tea provided. If you would like to try one out, our first working bee for 2023 will be 28^th May.
• Weekly Thursday Maintenance work – we work between 08:30 and 11:30 on Thursday mornings year-around. Shorter commitments are most welcome. If you would like to try one out, you are most welcome to attend on any Thursday and/or come for a chat while we are working. Please contact us via e-mail to find out where we will be working or ring John on 0411 14 2731.

For more information on our working bees, please visit our web-site here.

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Working Bee Activities

Our Maintenance Team has been working on:

• Weeding and mulching the patch adjacent to the Garie Street playground and other nearby areas.
• Hand-weeding younger plants a little west of the Laurel Grove bridge in Kalang Park.
• Hand-weeding adjacent the track from the Main Street bridge to Gardenia Street in Furness Park.
• Weeding and in-fill planting in the beds to the north and west of the Scout Hall.

Don’t forget the first Community Working Bee for 2023 will be Sunday, 28^th May – near the Laurel Grove bridge. We will be planting in the signed, prepared area and hand-weeding the bed to the east.

Council Works

Council’s Parks & Natural Environment team continue to be busy clearing fallen trees and the like:

Here is an update on Council projects in progress:

• Path works at Blacks Walk are now completed.
• Dogs-off-lead proposal for Kalang Oval – no decision has been made.  We know the Domestic Animal Management Plan Advisory Commitee has made recommendations which are to go to Council via an Officer’s report.  However, we are not aware of when the report will go to Council for a vote. Coincidentally, there has been recent publicity focussed at the Local Government level on significant increases in dog attacks in the newspapers and on radio.
• Cricket Safety Nets at Kalang Oval – an update on the design is expected – we’ve been informed that the work has not been done yet.

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Sightings

Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoos

Last month, we reported that the Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoos are back in the park and our corridor in numbers. Even though not their traditional food, the cockies do seem to be rather partial to Monterey Pine cones. If you’ve ever picked up a green cone, you’ll know just how hard they are before they eventually dry out and burst open to cast their seed out on the wind.

We’ve put these photos from our Friend Steve into the lightbox:

Click on an image to expand, then scroll. Click the X when finished.

Adult birds have the pink skin around their eyes and darker bills – it seems that Junior is abusing Steve.

In Steve’s words:

I took these photos of the yellow tails at the end of Garie Street. There were 4 in the acacia tree. One destroyed a pine cone in the 10 minutes I watched it. And another seemed to be yelling at me to go away! (Or similar words!!)

A traditional treat is the grubs they find in wattle branches:

Note the hole in the branch where the prized morsel was. Russell’s photo shows what short work they make of shredding wood! Luckily, this feasting occurred at the Blackburn Lake Sanctuary and not on our wattles (so far…)!

Here, they look like they are having a wow of a time skydiving in Furness Park:

We also have a movie of these impressive birds in the Creeklands and surrounding corridor:

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The Gang-gang Cockatoos also continue to feed in the park and nearby spots such as the Pin Oaks along Laburnum Street. It is great they are finding food around here given that they have been declared endangered due to major losses in their habitat following bushfires in recent years. Russell’s photos below clearly show the differences in male and female plumage to continue our thread on sexual dimorphism.

Other Sightings

Eastern Rosellas have returned too. Russell’s photo below shows the birds feeding in the new wetland near the Old Oak Tree. They won’t be there if there are also dogs-off-lead around as Council is currently considering.

Another regular visitor is the (native) Bronzewing Pigeon:

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Corridor News

In a major milestone, the Gardiners Creek (KooyongKoot) Regional Collaboration (GCRC) prospectus has been developed and officially launched on 4th April, 2023 at the Bennettswood Reserve Pavilion. The event was very well attended with many State and Federal MPs present, representatives from the various Councils, Melbourne Water, the Yarra Riverkeeper Assocation, the Field Naturalists Club, Deakin University and others.

Representatives of the Steering Committee including Graham and Rex (KKA)

The KooyongKoot Alliance (KKA) – the Blackburn Creeklands Advisory Committee is a member – was well represented and the KooyongKoot Catchment Keeper, Graham Ross, made an address on behalf of the volunteers who have contributed to the collaboration.

The prospectus describes:

• The need for collaboration between the various Councils, water authorities and other stakeholders in Gardiners Creek (KooyongKoot).
• The GCRC vision, objectives and member organisations – which includes the KKA representing the community and Friends groups.
• Proposed key projects and programs.

You can download the prospectus here (11MB).

The Regional Collaboration is now at the next stage of seeking funding to create and carry out a strategic plan for KooyongKoot/Gardiners Creek.