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Email: info@wanaturalists.org.au Website: www.wanaturalists.org.au

DECEMBER 2015

MISSION: To encourage the study and protection of the natural environment

CONTENTS MAIN CLUB

OCTOBER MEETING REPORT: DIVERSITY AND

DIVERSIFICATION OF THE KIMBERLEY FLORA

NOVEMBER MEETING REPORT: THE BUZZ WITH BUSH-

FLIES & WHAT DIGS WITH DUNG BEETLES

DARLING RANGE BRANCH

MEETING REPORT: THE NUMBAT OF WESTERN

AUSTRALIA

NORTHERN SUBURBS BRANCH

MEETING REPORT: HOW PLATE TECTONICS SHAPES

OUR WORLD

MAIN CLUB EXCURSION: LAKE CLIFTON

NORTHERN SUBURBS BRANCH

OCTOBER EXCURSION: GOLLY WALK, LAKE CLAREMONT

BUSHWALKING GROUP

YANCHEP NP – GHOST HOUSE TRAIL

LESLEY PICNIC AREA

WEEKEND NATURE WALK: FOXLEY ROAD, MARTIN

COMING EVENTS

ADVERTISING IN THE NEWSLETTER

NEW MEMBERS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTRIBUTORS

MAIN CLUB

OCTOBER MEETING REPORT: DIVERSITY AND

DIVERSIFICATION OF THE KIMBERLEY FLORA Dr Matthew Barrett’s talk on the flora of the Kimberley was supported by wonderful slides of the rugged landscape of that region, with its extremes of weather conditions, including gorges in flood and brilliant thunderstorms. Matt grew up on a cattle station on the Gibb River Road, so he is used to the heat and humidity that botanists have to endure when searching for new plants in the Kimberley’s wet season. Together with his brother Russell, he has studied the diversity of Kimberley plants and fungi for over 20 years. The exploration of remote areas of the Kimberley, especially during the wet season, has uncovered hundreds of previously unrecorded species. Matt is currently employed on a collaborative research grant studying the genetic diversity of Triodia spinifexes in outback Australia.

In 2009 there was an application for World Heritage listing for the Kimberley region. To facilitate this Matt—with the help of his brother Russell—undertook a survey through UWA and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, to locate and describe new species and evaluate them with regard to endemism and rarity. Many new species had already been discovered and described by Kevin Kenneally and Allen Lowrie, who surveyed 200 sites in the 1980s. However, when Matt began his survey there were still a number of common species not yet described, let alone rare species. The Kimberley is the driest part of the Australian monsoonal tropics, and therefore tends to be ignored. The survey

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effort has been uneven, partly because of the rugged terrain and difficulty of access. Even with a helicopter, access can be difficult because of the scarcity of safe landing sites and the need to dodge storms. Some areas are well-surveyed, but there are ‘collecting holes’ on the map.

Apart from finding and describing new species, there was more to be done. The team had to identify new habitats which may be rich in new species and also areas where no collecting had been done. The 10,000 specimens already collected had to be mounted. The morphology and genetics of the new plants had to be studied, and their taxonomy re-evaluated in the light of that information.

Torrential rain can fall in the Kimberley between November and April, with some areas receiving 1400 mm a year, but the rest of the year is dry. Vast areas of lush grass 4 m high turn to baked earth. There is a wide diversity of habitat, and rainforests are restricted to small pockets in gorges and sinkholes which remain wet year round.

Sandstone pavements with their associated herb-fields proved to be particularly rich in plant species, including bladderworts, orchids, aquatics and a relative of the Arum Lily. There also trigger-plants and sundews and Borya species, and a plant that hangs from the roofs of rock overhangs. Some of the orchids are related to south-west species and others have tropical relatives. Half of the Stylidium species are as yet undescribed.

Matt has investigated the ‘Spinifex’ grasses (Triodia spp) in the Kimberley and found that what had been lumped together into one species are actually 12 or more species. One Triodia species grows only on the summit of one mountain.

Overall, the number of Kimberley plant species now described is 2600, with Acacia by far the largest number of these. Bruce Maslin has described 13 new Acacia species. The family with the highest number of genera is the Fabaceae (peas and wattles), followed by the Poaceae (grasses), Cyperaceae (sedges), Malvaceae and Myrtaceae. As well as plant diversity, there are over 2000 species of macroscopic fungi, but there is only a window of one or two weeks to study them while their fruiting bodies last.

The degree of endemism is very high—currently measured at 21 per cent. This compares with nearly 16 per cent endemism in the Northern Territory. Most of the endemism is in the higher rainfall West Kimberley. Among the genera with the highest endemism are Acacia, Triodia, Stylidium and Eucalyptus. Most of the newly-described species are both localised and endemic, and most are from the north-west Kimberley, which is the wettest part.

One reason for the species richness and endemism is the complex geology, including sandstone, basalt and granite, resulting in isolated ranges and mountain summits which form virtual islands, isolating populations from each other. There are fire-protected areas such as gullies and gorges. This is significant in such a highly fire-prone region. The sandstone pavements with their herb-fields tend to escape fire also, as do the cliff-faces. All these habitats provide hotspots for local endemism. For example, there are five species found only in sandstone herb-fields.

Some interesting implications for evolution have emerged from the study of population genetics. For example, the tropical Verticordia species found in the Kimberley are more closely related to Pileanthus (Coppercups) than to the South-west Verticordia species, and may have to be re-classified. They have been isolated from their south-west relatives since the mid-Miocene, ten million years ago.

Matt’s talk reminded us that the Kimberley is still a remote place with enormous biodiversity and much yet to be discovered and documented. It also gave us a taste of the rugged beauty and grandeur of the region.

Mike Gregson

NOVEMBER MEETING REPORT: THE BUZZ WITH BUSH-FLIES & WHAT DIGS WITH DUNG

BEETLES A speaker who is enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable on his subject can impart a large amount of knowledge in a short time. Dr John Matthiessen, an entomologist with CSIRO, was such a speaker and when he got to the dung beetles part of the talk, he was able to call on Dr James Ridsdill-Smith—who was in the audience—if some extra information was required. John and James had worked together for 11 years on the dung beetle introduction program.

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Bush-flies (Musca vetustissima) appear to be human-adapted and their interaction with local Aboriginal people is recorded by Dampier and Vlamingh. Whereas, prior to the introduction of cattle, they would have bred using human and dog dung, they were pre-adapted for cattle dung. Research was funded by the cattle industry, anxious to promote pasture improvement and reduce buffalo fly. Coincidentally, this research has also benefitted humans.

Bush-flies are ‘sticky’ or clingy because as the season proceeds, the numbers of flies increase and the quality of dung drops so that large quantities of small flies are produced. These small flies are short on protein and desperately seek it so that they too can breed. It is protein they seek when they land on your eyes, mouth and cuts. Large bush-flies are not such a problem. Bush-flies over-winter in the Wheatbelt but are blown in on easterly winds. In the rural south-west they breed up rapidly locally.

Bush-fly larvae like moist, well-digested dung which has a dried crust. They operate just below this crust, which protects them from drowning if there is rain. They do not survive winter in the south-west because of the wet conditions. For the same reason, they do not like the tropics. In the rangelands, the dung quality is poor and almost all bush-flies will be very small and clingy.

These flies can live three to four weeks, but this is highly variable. A single bush-fly can lay between four and 95 eggs in a lifetime (depending on its size). Females have widely-spaced eyes; males have two large eyes close together and have orange on their bodies. Almost invariably, ‘sticky’ flies will be female.

Native dung beetles are unaccustomed to wide pastures and so won’t deal with cattle dung, except around the edges near woodlands. Introduced dung beetles were initially from Africa and later from Europe. They have naturalised and established stable populations. Onthophagus taurus and O. binodis are well-established in the south-west. Unfortunately there is a gap in the emergence of dung beetles in the critical spring season and they now arrive too late to prevent bush-fly emergence, although they can shorten the season—depending on when the easterly winds waft flies into Perth. Recently, spring-emerging dung beetles have been released and it is hoped they will establish themselves. Although ibis and other predators will eat dung beetles, they have a stable population and bad bush-fly seasons are usually related to the timing and prevalence of prolonged easterlies and also to the reduced rainfall, which brings the over-wintering line closer to Perth.

Peter Foss

DARLING RANGE BRANCH

MEETING REPORT: THE NUMBAT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Tamara Wilkes Jones, as a representative from the Project Numbat group, presented a talk about Numbats in WA. Tamara, as a self-taught animal observer, introduced us to the Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus, also called the Banded Ant-eater) and her presentation clearly demonstrated her enthusiasm for this endearing small mammal. The Numbat’s image is used as an emblem of the State as well as the WA Naturalists’ Club and therefore its wellbeing and preservation in its natural environment are important issues for us.

The talk encompassed Numbat biology, an introduction to the work by members of Project Numbat and a short film of numbats in the wild that she had specially prepared for us.

The Numbat is now found only in small colonies in the wild from Mount Gibson (north of Perth) to the south-west of the state. Previously, they did occur across southern parts of Australia.

Numbats are small carnivorous marsupials with a finely pointed muzzle and are between 35 and 45 cm in length including their bushy tail. Their fur varies in colour from a soft grey to reddish brown and is conspicuously striped with black bands. The stripe patterns can be used to distinguish between individuals. The average male weighs up to 600 g and females approximately 500 g.

These animals are unusual in Australia because they are diurnal, making filming and observations somewhat easier. Like a few other rare mammals (such as the Aardvark and Aardwolf), they exist on a highly specific diet of termites. Each Numbat requires about 50 hectares for its foraging and they will vary their eating times to suit the food source. Their environment is accordingly native remnant woodlands especially where hollow logs and fallen timber provide shelter and a food source. They prefer Wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo) mixed Jarrah (E. marginata) and Marri (Corymbia calophylla) woodland that includes the Brown Mallet (E. astringens) plantations at Dryandra. Perup NP,

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Dryandra woodlands, Boyagin NP, the Stirling Ranges and Mount Gibson were locations mentioned where numbats are still extant.

Numbats are listed as an endangered species and it is thought their numbers are only about 1000 or less. Threats to their woodland and survival are many. The most serious mammal threats are those from feral foxes and cats but it is considered that most deaths are as prey to raptors such as Goshawks and Wedge-tailed Eagles. Fox baiting with 1080 is one of the projects to which Project Numbat contributes.

The Numbat breeding cycle begins during December - January; the young are usually born in late January and February. After a gestation of just fourteen days, up to four young are born in each litter and they are carried around on the mother’s teats until late July. At this time, the young are deposited in a burrow and by September they emerge and may be seen staying for 20 to 30 minutes at the burrow’s mouth. By November they disperse.

Tamara entertained us with her film—made whilst in a hide in the Boyanup woodland. The Numbat family, including some young, showed their lively, squirrel-like movements through the ground litter of the woodland and along the logs. We were entranced!

Project Numbat is a registered environmental fundraising organisation, formed to enhance efforts to conserve the Numbat and its habitat and to promote community interest. Members undertake activities to raise money in support of a number of projects. This includes hosting events, attending environmental festivals where promotional literature will be distributed and educational interaction with the public can take place, as well as the marketing of merchandise. The merchandise includes such items as paintings and craftwork donated by supporters of the group.

Funds are then contributed to various groups undertaking Numbat conservation work, including the control and baiting of feral animals, aerial survey work, the use of radio collars and field project work. Organisations that are supported by the project include Perth Zoo, where breeding and research takes place, the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Field works include translocation programs, fox baiting, fencing and the monitoring of Numbat populations. Radio-collars, as an example of cost, are about $250 each, and the group has contributed thousands of dollars for these.

Although Numbat numbers are low, their self-promotional presence in some of our local woodland is certainly an inducement to support the worthy work of the group. Tamara presented us with an active campaign to contribute to easing the plight of the Numbat.

The website for Project Numbat is www.numbat.org.au

Susan Stocklmayer

NORTHERN SUBURBS BRANCH

MEETING REPORT: HOW PLATE TECTONICS SHAPES OUR WORLD What does a piece of carrot circulating in a saucepan of boiling soup have in common with plate tectonics? Jenny Bevan, Honorary Research Fellow at UWA, explained that both are driven by convection currents, albeit the plates are moving much more slowly, at only a few centimetres per year.

After presenting various lines of evidence for plate tectonics, ranging from the jigsaw fit of Africa and South America to the more scientific evidence of matching magnetic stripes and seismic analysis of the deep Earth, Jenny moved on to the physical aspects of plate movement.

As the plates are moved around the Earth, in some places they will pull apart, whereas in others they will collide. As a result, the continental crust and the thinner but denser oceanic crust—which ride on these plates—undergo one of seven major scenarios.

Ocean-Ocean Divergence as seen in the mid-ocean ridges (MORs) where new lava pours out of the fissures to solidify on the ocean floor as ‘pillow basalt’. These ridges are also the sites of ‘black smokers’ or ‘hot smokers’ — vents which can form the basis of sulphide-rich ore deposits.

Continent-Continent Divergence gives rise to rift valleys such as those in North Africa today and the one formed when WA separated from India, about 120 million years ago: the Darling Scarp marks the eastern side of this. For

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illustration, Jenny showed us some of her photos from trips made through the Gulf of Aqaba and Wadi Araba, and from Black Point on the south coast of WA.

Oceanic Hotspots are long-lived hot plumes from deep in the Earth that have successively punched through the ocean crust as the plate moves. Today, the latest Hawaiian island sits over a hot spot, at the end of a chain of successively older islands and seamounts to the northwest which mark the path of the Pacific plate, including a directional change about 50 million years ago.

Continental Hotspots have to punch through thick continental crust and can erupt as ‘flood basalts’ covering vast areas, such as the 164,000 km2 Columbia River Basalts in the north-west USA. There may also be a multi-stage process, where the hot basaltic magmas melt the base of the continental crust to produce silica-rich melts, erupting as rhyolite lava or volcanic ash, which can be seen in Yellowstone National Park. Australia had its own hot spot eruptions along the present-day east coast. We see these today as a series of volcanoes stretching from Mackay in Queensland (which erupted 34 million years ago) to Mt Gambier in South Australia (erupted only 4,500 years ago) which formed as the Australian plate moved northwards.

Ocean-Ocean Convergence occurs when a plate carrying ocean crust dives below another. Volcanic islands, known as an ‘Island Arc’, are formed parallel to the plate boundary. The islands of Japan are an example of this scenario as is the chain of Indonesian islands, including Bali, to the north of Australia.

Ocean-Continent Convergence is when a plate of dense oceanic crust dives under lighter but thicker continental crust. Some of the ocean-floor sediments may be scraped off at the edge of the continental plate and become added to the continental crust, termed ‘accretion’. These convergences are often characterised by a deep oceanic trench at the subduction zone and by a line of continental volcanoes such as the Andes of South America.

Continental-Continental Convergence is best illustrated by the collision of the northward-moving Indian plate with the Eurasian plate. This has given rise to the Himalayan mountain range. In such locations the Earth’s crust can be up to 90 km thick, at least double its usual thickness. Consequently the magma normally crystallizes before reaching the surface, so rather than lavas being expelled, coarse-grained granites are entombed below the surface and only exposed during later erosion.

Like many geologists, Jenny likes to combine her vacation travel with vocational travel and as a result was able to use numerous photos from her personal collection to illustrate her presentation. Jenny concluded her talk to a very appreciative audience by listing and discussing some of the consequences of plate tectonics. These were:

• Addition to, and changes to continental material • Surface uplift and land and ocean basin shaping • Ocean circulation changes • Reflection of solar energy • Internal heat release • Movement of continents to different latitudes • Ice Ages • Climate change • Changes of environment within the continent and continental margins • Sea level change • Bridges for biota transfer

Don Poynton

MAIN CLUB

EXCURSION: LAKE CLIFTON A small group met at Lake Clifton late on Sunday morning, 8th November to see the thrombolites and—we hoped—some waterbirds. A fresh sea-breeze was blowing and any waterbirds had headed for cover but the thrombolites did not disappoint. Thrombolites, with their clot-like structure—like stromatolites with their layered structure—are a type of microbialite. These are ‘living rocks’, in which cyanobacteria and several other simple life-forms grow on the surface and build up layers of rock by two processes: capturing sediment and extracting lime from the water. Organisms like this existed from about 3.5 billion years ago, and by photosynthesising, oxygenated the atmosphere.

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The first animals didn’t appear until well after one billion years ago. The Lake Clifton thrombolites are one of a few populations of living microbialites around the world, which includes those at Shark Bay and Lake Thetis. Western Australia has the world’s best examples of living microbialites and the oldest fossil examples.

The dominant fauna at Lake Clifton seemed to be the Christmas Spiders, large numbers of which were bobbing in the wind on their communal webs, taking advantage of the plentiful small midges. On the bush track a little away from the lake we heard a Whistling Kite and bush birds such as Striated Pardalotes, Western Gerygone and Western Whistler. We also saw kangaroos and diggings of Quendas. Melaleuca hueglii was in full bloom; Yellow Tail-flower and a Comesperma were also flowering.

Benefiting from the local knowledge of Bill Russell, we drove to nearby Island Point on the Harvey Estuary for lunch. Apart from Pelicans and the ubiquitous Silver Gulls, there was a flock of Black-winged Stilts on the far side of a little island close to the shore and a Pied Oystercatcher chick was keeping close to its parents.

Again following Bill’s advice, those of us who were heading back to Perth turned off Forrest Highway to Herron Point, immediately across the estuary from Island Point. Early settlers used to drive their stock across the shallow estuary here to reach the coast. A large Rosenberg’s Monitor was seen lumbering along the road to the point, quite unintimidated by curious spectators. The point itself was windy. People were windsurfing and exercising horses. A short walk along the beach to a tree decorated with shoes led to an area where Rottnest Daisies (Trachymene coerulea), Lobelia tenuior, Melaleuca hueglii, M. systena, Regelia inops as well as an unusual looking Jacksonia were in flower.

It was an interesting and enjoyable day and made those of us from the city aware that the Peel area has a lot to offer.

Jacquie Gregson

NORTHERN SUBURBS BRANCH

OCTOBER EXCURSION: GOLLY WALK, LAKE CLAREMONT The 2.5 km path around Lake Claremont provided the perfect venue for 16 members to observe many facets of natural history. The lake itself is situated in a swale in the Spearwood dune system while the high ground on the northwest corner of the 70 ha reserve is due to the encroachment of the oldest dunes of the Quindalup system.

There have been several articles with bird lists for Lake Claremont (or Butler’s Swamp as it was previously known) published in the WA Naturalist going back as far as the 1950s. During our walk we learnt that 93 species of birds have now been recorded. No doubt the excellent reclamation and revegetation undertaken by the Town of Claremont and the Friends of Lake Claremont has contributed to the increase over the last decade.

Our guide for the walk was Greg Simpson, Bushcare Officer for the Claremont Council. Greg, who is also undertaking research for a PhD in Citizen Science, told us the history of the area, starting with its importance to the Mooro people prior to European settlement, through to the protests by golfers when the long course was resumed for a wetland restoration and native plant revegetation program in 2009. During the intervening period the lake and adjacent areas were used for farming (first in 1831 by John Butler or his son William and maybe later by John’s wife Anne, hence its original name), then as 10 acre plots for Pensioner Guards, for orchards and market gardens, as a popular picnic spot, a rubbish tip and a golf course. Today it is a Bush Forever site, a Conservation Category Wetland and a declared Environmentally Sensitive Area.

The sunny weather provided ideal conditions for birdwatching and photography. Among the waterfowl sighted were Banded Stilts, a Nankeen Night-heron, Pink-eared Ducks as well as numerous other kinds of ducks, Australian White Ibis, Black Swans with cygnets, Eurasian Coots with young, Purple Swamphens and a Great Egret.

The day before our walk the Black-fronted Dotterels were spotted for the first time this year. Among the rare birds that have been recorded (but not seen by us) is the Little Bittern, which only appeared this year. There are presently three birds with special protective status under bilateral migratory bird agreements with Japan (JAMBA), China (CAMBA) and the Republic of Korea (ROKAMBA). These are the Greenshank, and two Sandpiper species.

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Due to the lack of mature trees it has been necessary to install nesting boxes for the passerines. These are being made by the local Men’s Shed and installed by the Friends group.

The council has removed all the weeds from the lake which has resulted in a significant increase in sedges and rushes. Greg also told us the excellent water quality means there is a very diverse aquatic fauna in the lake. These two factors mean more shelter and a plentiful food supply, which are probably the reasons why more bird species are turning up.

The current revegetation project is focussed on using native species. Walking around the lake, it was noticeable that species from the eastern states had been used in the past. Among those noted were paperbarks and Allocasuarinas as well as very large Moreton Bay Figs.

Alex Saar brought to our attention some interesting puff balls and also spotted a Long-necked Turtle. We saw where members of the Friends group had scraped away soil and vegetation from under fences to provide access to areas where the females could lay their eggs. Recently two females were tracked and actually observed laying their eggs.

The ‘GOLLY moment’ for me was learning that the very large Moreton Bay Fig trees were only planted in the 1970s, unlike trees of similar size elsewhere in Perth that are over a hundred years old; being planted on an old rubbish tip and close to water and the water table no doubt lead to their rapid growth.

Lake Claremont is definitely worth a visit if you have not been there or have not visited for some time.

Don Poynton

BUSHWALKING GROUP

YANCHEP NP – GHOST HOUSE TRAIL On a rather humid and stormy-looking morning, (11th October) 13 bushwalkers set off to walk the 12 km Ghost House Trail.

Beginning at Lakeview picnic area, we skirted Loch McNess through the Swamp Paperbark forest before heading north on the western side of the North Lake wetlands. Walking through Tuart forest, we saw Parrot-bush (Banksia sessilis, syn. Dryandra sessilis), Native Buttercup (Hibbertia hypercoides), Twining Fringe-lily (Thysanotis patersonii), Cats-paw (Anigozanthus humulis) and a Yellow Tailflower (Anthocercis littorea).

We visited the ruins of the Ghost House—a cottage built in the 1930s by a Mr L. Shapcott, who was instrumental in the development of Yanchep National Park. Unable to attend the walk, Alan Notley provided an interesting letter outlining his connections with the park since the 1950s.

A little further, we lunched at Shapcott’s campsite (an overnight camp area), before heading up a rocky limestone path and turning south to follow the eastern side of the wetlands. Constant chatter from Ringneck Parrots, Corellas and Fairy-wrens accompanied our journey.

On the second half of the walk, the skies cleared and the 31°C temperatures made for some weary walkers, eager to return to enjoy the customary tea at walk’s end. Cheryl Bushney

LESLEY PICNIC AREA Only eight walkers participated on September 27 but it was the most pleasant walk of about 13 km. The only disturbing feature was a great pile of rubbish about 100 m in from the start. It looked as though someone has dumped the entire contents of a house there. However once we overcame our disgust at the desecration of such natural beauty, we continued on into the forest and enjoyed the varied terrain.

The area was typical of our walks in the Jarrah forest with many granite outcrops, flowing streams, rock pools and open heath.

Margaret photographed a Pimelea, which has a reputation as being poisonous to livestock. Allan Doig

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WEEKEND NATURE WALK: FOXLEY ROAD, MARTIN

Following a hot winter, with little rain, the ground at Foxley Road bushland was very dry and some of the flowers

usually seen in October and November, such as many species of Stylidium, were not obvious. Nevertheless many

other species were found that I have not seen there before so the walk was very rewarding. Of particular interest

were the yellow Persoonia angustifolia, pink Boronia ovata and also brilliant red bushes of Grevillea wilsonii. We

then moved round the corner to a lusher area along Canning Mills Road. We found a magnificent display of

Boomerang Trigger-plants (Stylidium eriopodium, cf. S. eripodum), and the Chorizema dicksonii and Ptilotus

manglesii were bright spots in the bush. Birds were not very numerous. In all we recorded 35 species of native

flowers during a pleasant morning’s walk. Kate Creed

COMING EVENTS Visitors are welcome at any meetings or excursions

FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER WHOLE CLUB CHRISTMAS FUNCTION

Venue: Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre Time: 6.00- 6.30 pm: walk led by Mike Bamford Cost: Gold coin donation Activities: Guided walk, picnic, raffle, photo session, fun quiz by John Dell. Young Nats especially welcome as

there will be activities for children. Bring: Food & drinks. Odd house numbers bring dessert, even numbers salad. Items for the hampers (to be raffled) Digital photos of 2015 activities (max. of 10 per person). No slides. Mosquito protection, binoculars. If you like, wear something with a natural history theme e.g. hat, scarf, costume (whatever takes

your fancy!) Note: Tea and coffee provided, and limited barbecue facilities

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER With the DARLING RANGE BRANCH: CHRISTMAS IN THE BUSH

Venue: Kanyana Wildlife Time: 5.00 pm Details: BYO meal/BBQ food; also up to 10 digital photos or slides to share after dinner. Contact: Diana Papenfus: 9293 1676 or diana676@tpg.com.au

WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER NORTHERN SUBURBS BRANCH – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & MEMBERS’ NIGHT

Venue: Henderson Environmental Centre, at the entrance to the Star Swamp Reserve,

Groat St (off Nth Beach Rd; at end of street)

Time: 7:30 pm

Details: Brief review of the year, election of office bearers for 2016; discussion of any club issues; members’ presentations. Bring a plate to share. Please think about how you could help to run our club in 2016 by joining the committee.

Contact: Lutz Elber - lnnelber@bigpond.net.au

EXCURSIONS

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER

SUMMERWALK—with the BUSHWALKING GROUP

Location: Scarborough to City Beach and return

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Time: 7.15 for a 7.30 am start

Meet: In the carpark off Brighton Street into the Esplanade; UBD 245 Q3-4 Details: Approximately 8 km. Walkers can choose either the path or the beach. Visitors always welcome.

Please see www.wanaturalists.org.au/branches-groups/bush-walking/ for more details.

Contact: Allan Doig 9448 8520

FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER BUSHWALKING GROUP – END-OF-SEASON PICNIC-BBQ

Venue: Kings Park, Marri Gazebo opp. Tennis Club; Kings Park Rd entrance, opposite Outram Street, then

veer left at Y junction. (UBD map 1 C8)

Time: 5.00 pm

Details: Bring something to share: odd-numbered house—salad or something savoury; even-numbered—something dessert-like. Bring your eats, drinks, chairs. There are barbeques.

Contact: Lutz Elber - lnnelber@bigpond.net.au N.B. No more bushwalks this season, except Summer Walks (notices by Allan Doig);GOLLY Walk notices

by Don Poynton

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER WATERBIRDS AT HERDSMAN LAKE—with the YOUNG NATURALISTS

Venue: Herdsman Lake, Churchlands Time: 10.00 am Meet: At front door of Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre, cnr Selby and Flynn St, Churchlands Activities: Identifying waterbirds and bush birds from lake shore and boardwalk. Morning tea will be provided. Bring/wear: Binoculars, hat, water, suitable shoes, notebook. Contact: Pam Ghirardi 9387 3297 or Mike Gregson 0466 360 022

SUNDAY 17 JANUARY SUMMERWALK—with the BUSHWALKING. GROUP

Location Rockingham to Point Peron and return Time 7.15am for 7.30am start Meet In the park on the corner of Rockingham Rd and Railway Tce, UBD p445 G12 Details Approximately 8km. Walkers can choose to walk either on the path or on the beach. Contact Allan Doig. 9448 8520

ABROLHOS ISLAND EXCURSIONS

Dates have now been set for the two excursions to the Abrolhos Islands in 2016. The tours will be run by Coates Wildlife Tours.

Trip 1: Saturday 30 April to Thursday 5 May

30th April: Travel to Geraldton and board vessel. Depart to Abrolhos on the 30th April or 1st May.

If time permits we will visit the Geraldton Museum to view the Abrolhos Islands exhibition.

1st -4th May: Abrolhos Islands.

4th May: Return to Geraldton and stay on board overnight.

5th May: Travel to Perth with a stop to visit an area of interest.

Cost $2,390 based on a minimum of 20 participants. Maximum 30 participants. The cost will reduce slightly for everyone for each additional 5 participants. A wait list will be established after the first 20 registrations.

Trip 2: Sunday 25 Sept to Friday 30 Sept. (preference given to those attending the ANN Get-together)

25th Sept: Travel to Geraldton and Board vessel. Depart to Abrolhos on the 25th or 26th Sept.

If time permits we will visit the Geraldton Museum to view the Abrolhos Islands exhibition.

26th -29th Sept: Abrolhos Islands.

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29th Sept: Return to Geraldton and stay on board overnight.

30th Sept: Travel to Perth with a stop to visit an area of interest.

Cost to be determined but expected to be similar to April/May trip

Accommodation for both trips will be in air-conditioned twin share cabins with en-suites aboard a modern 35 metre catamaran.

If you are interested in participating in Trip 1 and have not already advised Don Poynton please do so asap (phone 0419460301). Bookings for Trip 1 will be via Coates’ on line booking service. Don will advise when bookings open.

All Council positions will be vacated.

Nominations are called for positions: President, two Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Journal Editor, Librarian and seven (7) Council Members.

Nominations should be forwarded to:

The Secretary, WA Naturalists’ Club PO Box 8257, Perth Business Centre Perth, 6849

Nominations should be in writing and will be accepted up to the opening of the meeting at 7.30pm, Friday, 5 February 2016.

Nominations for Council 2016

Position ...........................................................................

Name of person nominated

...........................................................................................

Signature ...........................................................................

Date ....................

1. Name of proposer ............................................................

Signature ..........................................................................

2. Name of proposer ............................................................

Signature ..........................................................................

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE WHOLE CLUB

FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2016 Topic: AGM followed by talks (topics TBA)

Venue: Hew Roberts Lecture Theatre, Clifton St, Nedlands

Time: 7:30pm

Note: The AGM is for the whole Club and it is important that members from all Branches attend. See this newsletter for nomination form, or contact the office.

Ph: 1800 676 016 or 08 9330 6066 Web: www.coateswildlifetours.com.au Email: coates@iinet.net.au GSA Coates Tours Licence no 9ta1135/36

Contact us for further information on these and other natural history expeditions.

Rudall River Expedition15 Day Camping Tour – Departs Perth 30th July 2016Join us as we head to the very remote, harsh, yet beautiful Rudall River National Park. Experience the wildlife that the very remote, harsh yet beautiful Rudall River National Park has to offer. Situated approximately 400 Km east of Newman in Western Australia’s Great Sandy Desert this is truly one of the most remote wilderness areas in the world.

Lake Eyre Basin and Flinders Ranges Expedition 15 Day Camping Tour – Departs Alice Springs 3rd August 2016 This tour covers some of South Australia’s most historic outback locations in the Lake Eyre Basin and the spectacular Flinders Ranges. Both regions offer vastly different examples of our great country and offer an opportunity for a wide range of wildlife sightings.

W.A.’s Mid West Wildflowers10 Day Accommodated Tour – Departs Perth 3rd September 2016See botanical hot-spots north of Perth during wildflower season. The trip covers a diverse array of landscapes with the farm lands of the wheat belt, the station country around Mt Magnet and Yalgoo before covering the highlights of the Kalbarri National Park and the northern sandplains around Eneabba, Badgingarra and the Mt Lesueur National Park.

Great Western Woodlands and Helena Aurora Ranges12 Day Camping Tour – Departs Perth 17th September 2016Join us and experience the divers wildlife and spectacular wildflowers of the world’s largest temperate woodland, including the historic woodlines (where timber cutters operated from 1899 to 1964) and the ironstone Helena Aurora Ranges which are currently under threat of being mined.

South West Birds & Botany tour15 Day accommodated Tour – Departs Perth 9th October 2016Experience one of the worlds flora hot spots during Western Australia’s spectacular spring wildflower season. The birdlife that is attracted to the region is plentiful and varied.

Lord Howe Island8 Day accommodated Tour – Starts 29th October 2016 Experience one of the worlds most fascinating natural history destinations. The island’s many and varied walks plus the Balls Pyramid boat trip just add to the enjoyment.

Christmas Island 8 Day Accommodated Tour – Departs Perth 19th December 2016The Islands birds, crabs and rainforest walks make this a naturalists wonderland.

New Zealand South Island Wildlife & Wilderness Expedition 15 Day Accommodated Tour – Departs 13th February 2016 This unforgettable tour looks at the natural history of the breathtakingly beautiful lower South Island, Stewart Island plus three of the countries national parks and the unspoilt coast of the Catlins region and the Otago Peninsular.

Sri Lanka Wildlife, History & Culture 18 Day Accommodated Tour – Departs 14th March 2016 Highlights: Yala and Bundala National Parks, Kitulgala and Sinharaja Rainforests, historic Sigiriya and Polonnarawa. This trip has it all a diverse array of mammals from Whales, elephants to squirrels plus each year we record sightings of over 200 species of birdlife. When you add this to the local culture, food and wonderful historic sites plus being lead by one of countries top naturalist guides then this a trip not to miss.

Pilbara Reef & Ranges Expedition 15 Day Camping tour – Departs 5th April 2016 Experience Ningaloo Reef, Abrolhos Islands & Karijini National Park. Join us as we explore the wildlife of the Western Australian coast including the Abrolhos Islands, Shark Bay and the Ningaloo Reef before travelling in land to experience the spectacular Karijini National Park.

Kimberley Discovery 15 Day Camping / Accom Tour – Departs Broome 4th June 2016 Enjoy a wonderful outback experience as we discover the Kimberley’s wildlife, spectacular outback scenery, and many wonderfully refreshing waterholes as we explore Purnululu N.P, the many gorges of the Gibb River Rd, El Questro and Mornington Stations.

Kimberley Wonders12 Day Camping Tour – Departs 25th June 2016A different twist on the Kimberley, we include the best of the Gibb River Road but add a visit to the Mitchell Plateau. On the plateau experience the spectacular Mitchell and Mertons Falls plus great examples ancient rock art along with the regions wonderful flora and fauna.

Kununurra to Alice Springs Expedition 14 Day Camping Tour – Departs Kununurra 14th July 2016 This trip is packed with highlights including a Lake Argyle cruise, the Keep River National Park, Duncan Highway, Wolf Creek Crater, Lake Stretch, the Tanami Road, New Haven Sanctuary and the West MacDonall Ranges.

Specialists in Nature Tours since 1986 (Small groups 12–14 passengers)• Informative naturalist/birding leaders • Small groups (6 – 12 participants)

• Private charters available • Fully accommodated & camping tours

THE NATURALIST NEWS

11

NEW MEMBERS

Helen Hageman, Marangaroo

Charlotte Davey, Floreat (Junior)

Irene Van Staden, Harrisdale

Graeme Beaton, Westminster

Donna Peters, Melville

Rod Mifflin, Hovea

Adam Merenda, Balcatta (Junior)

Teresa Gepp, Greenwood (NSB)

David Mitchell, Greenwood (NSB)

We welcome these new members to our club.

LOVE WA NATS? Support your love of natural history and

your Club with a bequest or a tax deductible donation.

Go to http://www.wanaturalists.org.au/get-involved/donating-to-the-club/ for details

or ring the office. Our Treasurer can also assist you:

alison@julanty.com.au Donations are by EFT, cheque or money

order.

ADVERTISING IN THE NEWSLETTER

In order to offset some of the costs of preparing the monthly newsletter we invite environmentally minded

companies to advertise in the Newsletter. Here is the opportunity to publicise your business to friends and

associates.

Costs are: Full page $200; Half page $100; Quarter page$50; Eighth page $30. Prices do not include GST.

Copy to be sent to Newsletter Editor, Naturalist News by email one week before the advertised closing date.

NOTE: THE PROGRAM IS UPDATED EVERY MONTH ON OUR WEB SITE www.wanaturalists.org.au

IT IS OFTEN AVAILABLE THERE BEFORE YOU RECEIVE YOUR NEWSLETTER.

A tip from our web manager: If you want to see the calendar of events for the whole year, rather than looking in

each Branch page for the corresponding 2015 Program of Events, please look in Events Calendar and change from

the default Month View to the List View. You can then use the filter to show just your Branch’s events. This will

always be the most up-to-date information.

INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTRIBUTORS Please send all contributions by email in MS Word format, as a clearly labelled file, to Tanya Marwood tanya.m@globaldial.com and to info@wanaturalists.org.au by the nominated closing date.

Articles need to be a MAXIMUM OF 750 WORDS. Photos to accompany articles are really appreciated; I prefer to receive these in one email message, as a collection of separate files in e.g. ‘jpeg’ format, all appropriately named, with information on who took it and a suggested caption Many thanks to those who send in contributions: Reports and accounts of Club activities help members appreciate and enjoy the diversity of talks and excursions organized under the Naturalists’ Club umbrella. If you require help or advice when planning or writing your piece, please contact the editor. Ideas, constructive comments and suggestions from members are welcome.

The next issue of this newsletter will be January-February 2016.

Please send all contributions by email to tanya.m@globaldial.com and to info@wanaturalists.org.au

Deadline for next issue: Monday 11 January 2016

(Earlier if possible please)