Green Space Our Place Our Volunteers Voice
Green Space Our Place
ISSUE 41 DECEMBER 2023
C O N T E N T S
Front Page: Sandpipers Bernie and Chris enjoy their volunteering time along the Esplanade with cool breezes and great views.
Back Page: Oncidium - Dancing Lady Orchid. Photo: Jim Newbery
In this issue: • From the Editor..................2 • Celebrating a decade........3 • 2023 End of Year celebrations....................4-5 • Volunteering for 10 years at Cattana Wetlands.....6-7 • Volunteer Snapshot....8-11 • Floral surprises..........12-13 • Catching up with Friends - Nocturnal Tour...............14 - Friends receive award..15 - Rocky Horror Show......15 •
The Agile Project.....16-17
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The other Tank Gallery Sydney’s unusual new arts space..........................18-19
•
Swans.........................20-21
•
Feathered Friends..........21
•
Orchid Weevil.................22
•
Small Wonders................23
Editor - Volunteers Team Leader, Louisa Grandy Proof readers - volunteers Sandy Long, Jenn Muir Contributors - volunteers Tom Collis, Val Schier, Joel Groberg, Janice Pichon, Jennifer H Muir, John Peter, Dr David Rentz AM, Barry Muir and Bridgette Gower.
If you are interested in volunteering with our program contact team leader Louisa Grandy 4032 6648 or email greenspaceourplace@cairns.qld.gov.au 2
From the Editor Welcome, In this issue, we have plenty of photos capturing our End of Year celebrations, and also commemorating 10 years of the program. Here are a few words I shared on the day. “We are here to celebrate our volunteers and also 10 years since the program began. We have come a long way since 2013 and our humble beginnings of 16 Down ‘n’ Dirty volunteers. With the support of this small group, and also the Friends of the Botanic Gardens members, we were able to expand in the first year to Cattana Wetlands (see pages 6-7) and also create the award-winning Little Taccas children’s nature activities program. “From there, we continued to attract people from all walks of life, creating a variety of engaging opportunities, that in turn, created further employment for Sarah Gosling, Christian Cluver, Sarah Olds and our latest team member Melanie Constable, working with Ryan Zihrul at Stratford Nursery (now under the GSOP banner). “A few facts: we register, on average, two new volunteers a week and in the 10 years, have registered over 1000 people with an annual retention of about 400, with many still with us from the beginning. “We’ve planted over 26,500 plants and supported the Stratford nursery to propagate over 170,000 trees. “Surveys tells us that our volunteers come to meet like-minded people, share knowledge and give back to the community. They also told us they love the faceto-face introduction, where they are provided with the big picture of what they have become a part of, the flexibility, the all-inclusivity and the enthusiasm with which we continue to deliver this program. “I wish to thank you all for your commitment to the program and also to the other council departments for their support in delivering interesting weekly events “I especially thank the person who placed me in this role, Executive Manager Brett Spencer (who spoke about how and why he instigated this and his vision for the program) for giving me this opportunity in 2013. May we continue to inspire you with interesting programs as you inspire us with your commitment to volunteering and your time to help create a better connected community and environment.”
Louisa
Service awards: Rhonnie Lavater, Rob Williams, Irene Grimwade, Wendy Russell and Chelsea Scanlan
celebrating a decade at end of year function
10 Years of Service
5 Years of Service
Wendy Russell and Rhonnie Lavater joined the Down ‘n’ Dirty volunteer group in 2013 and have continued supporting the Botanic Gardens gardening group for 10 years.
The Green Space Our Place volunteer program is celebrating a decade of beautifying the region’s natural spaces. More than 1000 people have rolled-up their sleeves as part of the program over its lifetime, contributing around 240,000 volunteer hours. Starting formally in 2013, Green Space Our Place grew out of the Down ‘n’ Dirty group which had been helping with basic gardening tasks in the Cairns Botanic Gardens for the previous four years.
Hiromi Ohira has been a part of the the Tracks ‘n’ Trails group for five years and also supports the Egrets reveg site at Russell St.
Irene Grimwade (below left) and Chris Marshall-Holst raised their hand five years ago. Irene began by supporting the Barron Water Park plantings and then joined the Heritage Tour Group. Chris was also enthusiastic to join as a Heritage Tour Guide.
Today, the program averages 400 active volunteers, across a broad range of activities that enhance neighbourhoods, parks, reserves and waterways throughout Cairns. Mayor Terry James said joining the Green Space Our Place program was a great way to learn practical skills, pick up tips on tropical plants and connect with like-minded people. “From the Botanic Gardens to Sugarworld Parklands, Cattana Wetlands to the Esplanade, volunteers pitch in to grow seedlings, plant trees, remove invasive weeds, mulch and clean-up rubbish to keep these areas healthy and inviting,” Cr James said. “Council greatly appreciates the hard work of the Green Space Our Place volunteers, which would otherwise not be possible within Council’s budget. They are the epitome of ‘quiet achievers’, literally getting their hands dirty week after week to take care of our natural environment to the benefit of all our residents.” The Green Space Our Place program also provides opportunities for neighbours to band together to improve areas that are important to them, or come together to grow their own produce in a pocket garden. “Apart from the physical and mental health benefits of working in nature, the program brings people together around a common goal, helping to build lasting connections that contribute to community resilience,” Cr James said. Rounding out the Green Space Our Place program are children’s education groups, Little Taccas and Little Sprouts, and The Green Space education garden, set up to showcase how easy it is to grow food plants in the tropics, whether in your backyard or balcony.
Rob Williams takes part in many of the group activities: Egrets on a Monday, Jabirus on a Tuesday and Tracks ‘n’ Trails on a Wednesday. He has also helped out with weeding and planting at the Salties reveg site that is now a forest at the Yellow Arrow entry path.
Chelsea Scanlan has been a part of a number of groups: Down ‘n’ Dirty, Stratford Nursery, Cattana Wetlands, individual projects and the Visitors Enhancement program. 3
2023 End of Year celebrations
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Rob, Sandy and Midge
Patrice and Jeannette
Brigette, Maureen and Ric
Director Lifestyle & Community, Destry Puia and Executive Manager Community Life, Brett Spencer
CEO Mica Martin and Cr Rhonda Coghlan
Green Space Our Place’s Ryan Zihrul and Melanie Constable with Cr Amy Eden (centre)
Green Space Our Place team leader Louisa Grandy and Cr Kristy Vallely
Martin and Irene with Green Space Our Place volunteers officer Sarah Gosling
Penny assisting at The Green Space tasting table
2023 End of Year celebrations
Friends President Val Schier with Geoff and Elaine
Julia, Kerry and Prue
Rosi (right) teaching Coconut palm weaving following the main event.
Marian and Amanda
Zak, Lyn and Bernie
These teams from Council’s Community Life and Community Spaces branches worked well together to deliver programs for our volunteers: (from left) Paul, Shawn, Louisa, Ian, Mel, Ryan, Sarah and John (front)
Marilyn and Rosi took part in the drawing and painting workshop led by Marian
Yuka (right) teaching origami skills to Roberta, Emma, Kardi and Peter 5
A small group of volunteers, later named Jabirus, first met in Cattana Wetlands in November 2013. There have been many changes to the environment and also individual faces in the past 10 years. This is the back of Cuckoo Lake - note the revegetated area behind the path and how young the trees were in 2015. These same trees are now 10 meters in height and got to this size due to the constant removal of smothering vines over the years by our volunteers.
Volunteering for
Scooping water weed Salvinia was also an early focus, Prue and Vito on Jabiru Lake. In 2014, the weedy vines were massive and covered many of the trees surrounding Jabiru Lake - Jeff, Lachlan and Prue.
First plantings to enhance the BBQ shelters, from left, Prue, Sandy, Rick and Sharren.
Geoff has spent countless hours controlling weeds and planting. 6
In 2015 the Pacific International personnel (as a part of their employee volunteer scheme) joined the Jabirus to add plants to the vegetation surrounding the Memorial Garden.
Vito frees a small tree.
Removing vines from young trees was (and still is) a regular task as they cannot be chemically sprayed. In the beginning it was taken out by the truck load!
10 years at Cattana Wetlands
2016: The viewing platform landscape project involved fresh soil, mulch and rock work. From left Charles, Jeff, Louisa, Sandy, Rick, Prue and Sharren.
2014: Original members, from left Sandy, Jeff, Rick, Sharren and Prue pictured with then Cr Richardson.
Early on the Jabirus would maintain infrastructure Alex and Sandy.
Jeff was a familiar face among the Jabirus before leaving Cairns
Trevor and Vito
2015: Removing vines at the back revegetated area alongside the cane fields. These trees now tower above our heads.
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Volunteer Snaphot
The Down ‘n’ Dirty volunteers have been working with the Gardens team to transform the Freshwater Lake Gardens, weeding fern that had filled the beds, ready for more plant variety.
Lee and Graeme mulching in Fitzalan Reserve.
The ‘mulching machines’ - 20m3 moved and spread in under an hour. 8
Mel and Jim
Pat and Miriam spreading mulch in Fitzalan Gardens.
Mulch movers Helena and Maureen.
Catherine weeding in the Chinese Friendship Garden.
Volunteer Snapshot
Dave (centre) provides bird ID to Lucy and Kelvin at Kingfisher Pool, Cattana Wetlands.
Jabirus enjoying a break and catch-up at Fairy Wren Billabong, Cattana Wetlands. From left, Kerry, Dawn, Elaine, Sue and Julia.
Straford Nursery volunteers, Bob and Rosi.
Sandpiper Kerry enjoys Tuesday mornings along the Esplanade.
Sandpiper Brett pruning the Scaevola.
Lyn, Rob and Donna strike a pose at the Stratford Nursery.
Trevor leading the Heritage Tour through the Tanks Art Centre on a Thursday morning
Bernadette potting up at the Stratford Nursery. 9
Volunteer Snaphot
The Green Space is a food sharing garden. Hien (centre) pictured with Brett and Helen, made Sam buu luong to share with the Friday afternoon group.
Marian picking a few greens after a Wednesday morning volunteering.
Serena and Scotia preparing a banana stem for the compost bays. 10
Great idea! Penny uses a plastic mesh bag to wash and spin her greens before taking them home.
Jen planting in the Mandala Garden.
Sarah picking the Blue Java banana.
Sue potting up in the new shade house, built by Council and covered by our volunteers.
Volunteer Snapshot
Rob planting in the Yellow Arrow car park island beds.
Council officer Sarah (left) and Tracks ‘n’ Trails volunteers Peter and Rob spent a morning filling in the island gardens at the Yellow Arrow car park with 170 plants from Stratford Nursery.
Peter using a power planter to create holes for the tubestock.
High public use of the Arrow Tracks means continual repairs to steps and track surfaces. Russell and Brett building steps to be installed on the Red Arrow track. 11
North Queensland’s
Floral surprises
This is a random selection of some of the many beautiful flowers I have photographed while walking in Far North Queensland. Some are from the dry country west of Cairns, while others are found in the wet Misty Mountain trails of the Atherton Tablelands.Other plants are in Cairns around the Botanic Gardens and Centenary Lakes. Some are rare, others common and many are tiny and inconspicuous, but they are always lovely to see.
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Tom Collis
Macropteranthes montana, Antique Wood, an unusual plant common in vine thickets in Chillagoe’s limestone rocky areas.
Nauclea orientalis, Leichhardt Tree, features dozens of tiny flowers fused to one another to form a perfectly spherical head of flowers.
Hovea longifolia, a beautiful pea flower growing along the road to Princess Hills Station, west of Cairns.
Dillenia alata, Red Beech, has short-lived flowers and is common near Centenary Lakes, Cairns Botanic Gardens.
Abutilon auritum with a tiny flower, related to hibiscus, photographed near some caves at Chillagoe.
Stenocarpus sinuatus, Wheel of Fire tree, mostly grows at high altitudes but this specimen is one of several on the JCU campus.
Calytrix leptophylla, a lovely flower I found growing on a shrub at Emu Creek, west of Dimbulah.
Thysanotus spp. Fringed Lily. This beautiful specimen I saw near Irvinebank.
Dendrobium speciosum, King Orchid, an orchid only found in the high altitude rocky areas of the rainforest.
Lithomyrtus obtusa, Beach Myrtella, a beautiful shrub commonly seen at Redden Island, Machans Beach
A mistletoe I saw at Major Mountain, in the Misty Mountains near Ravenshoe.
Elaeocarpus angustifolius, Blue Quandong: the tiny flowers of this large tree hang facing down.
A lovely papery flower I saw growing alongside the track to Carrington Falls west of Atherton.
Hibiscus propulsator: a small rare hibiscus known from one location on Cape York.
Centranthera cochinchinensis, Swamp Foxglove, a tiny flower just 1cm long seen on a track near the Walsh River.
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Catching up with Friends
Nocturnal Tour attracted record crowds The Nocturnal Tour organised in November at Cattana Wetlands attracted a record crowd, with over 100 people of all ages taking part in tours. Friends Patron and main speaker Dr David Rentz AM said: “Although we did not see as much as we thought we might, everyone seemed quite happy and interested in what we did come across. Many people just don’t get out into the bush and snoop around in the dark so this type of activity provides them with an opportunity to do just that. “The Jabiru volunteers assisted with promotion of the event and shared their knowledge on the night. Thanks Geoff McClure and Dave O’Brien.” Activities included insect attracting light sheets and guided tours, information on electric ants and book stalls.
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Australian Institute of Horticulture recognises Friends for their role The Friends of Botanic Gardens, Cairns was pleased to receive an award from the Australian Institute of Horticulture during its annual conference in Cairns on 27 October. The award recognised the efforts made by the Friends over more than three decades to enhance the Cairns Botanic Gardens. Visitors always comment favourably on various features funded by the Friends: for example, the Jade Vine arbour, the native bee signage at the Friends’ house and the beautiful timber and metal seats and gates that add interest to the Gardens. Friends’ President Val Schier and Patron Dr David Rentz AM accepted the award.
President of the Friends Val Schier (right) with the awards ceremony MC Costa Giorgiadis (centre) and Gardening Australia’s Clarence Slockee (left).
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Gardens’ Starry Night event Cairns audiences never seem to tire of getting dressed up each year to enjoy The Rocky Horror Picture Show as part of Starry Night Cinema on the Cairns Botanic Gardens stage lawn. This year’s entrants paraded on stage, with the winner selected by the audience and level of applause popularity. For those who have never attended a Starry Nights event, the Friends will again partner with End Credits Film Club to present Love Actually at 7.30pm on Saturday 16 December.
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The Agile Project protecting our wallabies
Joel Groberg Just after sunrise, as you are getting up and having your first coffee, a team of local wildlife rescuers has already been out on our local roads and fields protecting wildlife. Every morning just before dawn volunteers from The Agile Project patrol local roads and sport precincts. Their efforts focus mainly on the Northern Beaches and White Rock area, both hot spots for wildlife deaths, especially Agile Wallabies. In both these areas recent and ongoing development has crowded wildlife into smaller and smaller areas, forcing more of them to cross roadways and forage in the suburbs for food. The Northern Beaches have had 639 documented wildlife casualties in the past 12 months and the White Rock area has recorded 239 documented casualties over the same time period. Car strikes are the cause of 95% of the casualties, with dog attacks making up most of the remainder. All the casualties have been compiled and mapped; you can see what’s been going on in your neighbourhood on The Agile Project’s website: www.theagileproject.com.au/resources Beyond the cost to wildlife and the drivers unfortunate enough to hit a wallaby, there is a fiscal cost to the city through the labour costs for removing an animal from a roadway. The Agile Project was started by Cairns local Shai Ager, who in 2018 moved back to Trinity Beach after completing her university studies. At that time she saw a problem and decided to do something about it. The reasons for the morning patrols are to locate these casualties, check for and organise treatment for injured animals, and rescue joeys. A joey in its mother’s pouch can survive the car strike that kills the mother. In fact, the survival rate is somewhere around 50%. The rescued joeys are cared for by a large network of The Agile Project’s specially trained and permit-holding 16
volunteers. Once a joey grows large enough, they begin the transition back to a wild and free life at one of several supervised soft release enclosures, located in safer habitat away from the city. In recent years, carers from the Agile Project have raised around 100 joeys each year. The commitment of time and capital is intensive; Joeys require frequent feeds of a special formula. The estimated cost of bringing up a rescued pouch joey is over $1000 per individual. The Agile Project has also been actively translocating wallabies from the Trinity Sporting Precinct, where there was tremendous overcrowding, to safer habitats outside town. The group, in partnership with Cairns Regional Council and the Humane Society International, has safely moved more than 800 wallabies from the precinct to safe habitat - the largest such translocation in Australia. Other mornings, volunteers patrol the Trinity Sports precinct to safely escort wallabies out of the fenced sporting grounds that they have infiltrated overnight. Doing so protects the wallabies from dog attacks, which can be particularly gruesome when fencing comes into play; two years ago loose dogs killed over 60 wallabies in one sporting ground in a single night. A field cleared of wallabies is also safer for the folks using the fields later in the day and protects the turf from overgrazing. Wallabies find sports turfs especially attractive; they are more nutritious than their natural foods. Sports turf also contributes to the high number
Agile Project founder, Shai Ager with a rescue.
While twins are rare in nature, carers have learned that at certain life stages joeys do much better in care when they have a friend.
of animals in suburbia because the reproductive rate of wallabies can double if they feed on it. The Agile Project currently has around 180 members who fill a variety of volunteer tasks. There are folks that sew pouches for joey carers, and folks that transport rescued wildlife of all species from where they are rescued to where they can be cared for. Our most skilled rescuers and carers lead rescue and carer courses, which are held throughout the region each year. Other volunteers staff a 24-hour hotline to field calls from the public and organise rescues. And others visit schools and community groups, set up booths at local market days and festivals, interface with Council over ways the death toll can be reduced, and many other tasks. “Some of the work undertaken can be quite confronting as we’re dealing with emergency and unfortunate situations that our local wildlife has been exposed to,” says Agile Project founder Shai Ager. “We have to look after ourselves and each other, in order to look after the wildlife. We aim to prioritise our sense of community so that we know we’re all in this together. We hold regular social events and meet-ups that help connect our incredible group of like-minded people.” Like most volunteer organisations, there’s always more to be done to improve the chances for our local wildlife. If you would be interested in joining up with The Agile Project, please make contact:
Wallabies inside the Trinity Beach AFL club. They can make their way in, but don’t seem to able to get out without someone to open the gate for them. Agile Project volunteers have been releasing wallabies trapped inside the sports clubs since 2019.
n 0467 022 358 n secretary@theagileproject.com.au n www.theagileproject.com.au
The Agile Project carers. 17
The other Tank Gallery Sydney’s unusual new arts space
Janice Pichon Stepping into the underbelly of the new building at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, there was an instant sense of déjà vu. A moody atmosphere with a forest of regularly spaced columns surrounded by austere concrete walls. Another old military fuel bunker had been reborn as a very original public arts space! Fuelling wartime operations Like our very own Tanks Arts Centre, this gallery began life as a naval fuel oil bunker in World War II. Located adjacent to the wharves at Woolloomooloo in Sydney, it supplied the nearby Garden Island Naval Base which was responsible for the maritime defence of the Australian East Coast. Built in 1942, the oil reservoir was excavated into a hillside and covered with soil, then eventually lawn. Comprising two identical and adjoining rectangular tanks, the all-concrete structure had a total capacity of 14,200 tonnes. The walls of each tank are 7m high and up to 5m thick. The roof is supported by 125 slender square columns, spaced 4m apart and shaped with boxlike bases and inverted pyramid tops. Given it’s industrial purpose, the stylish pillar design is probably a nod to the architectural style of the day. This underground oil bunker is heritage-listed by the NSW Government for its role in making Sydney a major naval base. It is the only example in Sydney of underground wartime fuel storage tanks. The reservoir was decommissioned in the 1980s and remediated in the 1990s. Only the bunker access hatches rising above the grassy hillside provide clues to its existence. Earlier plans to use the tanks to store water for irrigating the adjacent Royal Botanic Gardens never eventuated. Likewise, repurposing the site as a cellar promoting New South Wales wines was abandoned. Adaptive reuse Just like the Cairns artists who were scoping the Edge Hill oil tanks as a new home for community arts, the potential of this bunker space underneath the land slated for redevelopment was soon recognised by gallery planners. Along with the dramatic reverberating acoustics, decades of contact with oil had coated the vertical surfaces with a richly textured petroleum patina. Rather than demolishing the bunker, the architects instead planned its incorporation with a minimum of alteration. One of the two tanks was repurposed to a 18
gallery space, retaining the original floor, walls, columns and roof to provide a large exhibition space of 2,200m2 square metres. The other tank was converted to a service and storage area. Now known as the Tank, the only major structural alteration was a hole cut into the gallery roof to install an imposing white spiral staircase for visitor access. With a reverberation time of 25 seconds, the soundscape needed to be managed to accommodate the intended uses of the Tank. Extensive acoustic modelling identified how low-impact additions such as acoustic curtains and baffles could be used to realise the gallery’s potential for performance events. Inauguration The cavernous space of the repurposed oil tank creates a simple and bare canvas, which now fuels the arts. The focus is on installation art, providing an intriguing environment for large works. It will also host musical performances, with the long reverberation sure to foster an original listening experience. Argentine-Peruvian artist Adrian Villar Rojas was commissioned to create the inaugural exhibit. Opened in 2022, The End of Imagination display took four years’ work and comprised a series of large abstract sculptures, which were showcased by roving lights designed to promote a surrealist encounter. Recently, the second exhibition to take over the Tank opened. Best known for her large-scale sculpture and installation art, Louise Bourgeois’ Has the Day Invaded the Night or Has the Night Invaded the Day is a retrospective of her works and uses the Tank Gallery to stage the ‘Night’. Reusing oil bunkers bestows X factor Wandering through the Sydney Tank Gallery today, it is hard to believe it is a military relic from a traumatic period of world history. Like the Cairns Tanks Arts Centre, its repurposing has given new life to wartime infrastructure, at the same time conferring better recognition of the heritage value of the original site. In return, adaptive reuse of the abandoned oil bunker has transformed it into a surprising public space offering unique visitor experiences. Indeed, the respect for the past engendered by heritage obligations has been instrumental in making the Tank Gallery a highlight of the Art Gallery of New South Wales redevelopment.
Tank Gallery inaugural exhibition 2022
Kgbo - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126720795
Remediated bunker site 2010s
https://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/woolloomooloo.html
Construction of Woolloomooloo oil bunker 1942
https://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/woolloomooloo.html
Oil tank interior 2000s
https://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/underground-reservoirs.html
Repurposed Tank Gallery with spiral staircase access 2022
Kgbo - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index. php?curid=126720795
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Swans, the largest waterfowl In ‘What is a Duck?’ (GSOP Volunteers Voice, Issue 40), I discussed various ducks of the large waterfowl family Anatidae, which includes ducks, swans and geese. Now let’s look at some other ducks’ relatives: swans for example. Swans are the largest waterfowl species in the Anatidae family.
fly with slow wingbeats and outstretched necks. Sexes are alike, but males (called cobs) are generally larger and heavier than females (called pens). Due to their size and
The largest swan known is the extinct Cygnus falconeri, a flightless giant swan found in fossils on Malta and Sicily in the Mediterranean. It’s thought to have disappeared due to extreme climate fluctuations, or arrival of larger predators. Today, eight swans are recognised. Five have all-white plumage and occur in the Northern Hemisphere: two forms of Tundra Swan (Bewick’s of Eurasia, and Whistling of North America); Mute Swan and Whooper Swan (both of Eurasia); and Trumpeter Swan (of North America). The Mute Swan is believed to be among the most ancient living bird species on Earth. It isn’t silent as its name implies: it grunts, snorts and hisses. For its beauty, it was introduced to other nations, and in the Russian classical ballet Swan Lake, the white swan Odette is a Mute Swan, and the ‘duckling’ in the children’s story The Ugly Duckling is a cygnet that grows into a beautiful Mute Swan.
Black-necked Swan of South America carrying cygnets.
Photo: Frank Todd. www.waterfowl.org.uk/wildfowl/swans-geese
weight, most swans need large areas of open land or water for successful take-off and landing. Some members of family Anatidae dive to feed, but swans dabble in shallowish waters mainly for aquatic vegetation, using their feet to expose roots and shoots. They ‘upend’, or plunge their heads into the water, reaching deeper with their long necks than most other waterfowl, reducing competition for food. When aquatic food is limited, some swans eat grasses and cereal crops. Young cygnets will eat aquatic insects and crustaceans as they need more protein in their younger years. Swans are sociable except in the breeding season. Though mainly monogamous (pairing for life), occasional partner changes occur from a significant nesting failure, or if a mate is lost. Pairing for life has many benefits, such as experience in raising families. This is especially so with Bewick’s Swan, which migrates around 2,500 km a year reducing available breeding time.
When swimming, Mute Swans hold their wings above their backs. Note the orange bill and black face.
Courtship involves mutual bill dipping or head-to-head posturing. The pen incubates around six eggs on a heap of vegetation near water, while the cob keeps close
Photo: www.metroparks.com/bird-of-the-week-mute-swan
A small population of Mute Swans introduced to Western Australia in the 1800s, survives on the Avon River east of Perth. Native to the Southern Hemisphere are Black-necked and Coscoroba Swans (of southern South America) and Australia’s Black Swan. Our Black Swan’s plumage is completely black except for white flight feathers on its wings; it too was introduced internationally for its beauty. South America’s Black-necked Swan has a white body and black neck; the Coscoroba is white and the smallest of the swans. Swans have long, elegant necks, but heavy bodies with big feet, yet they glide gracefully when swimming, and 20
Swans are heavily-built birds with big feet. Note the white flight feathers on this Black Swan. Photo: Jennifer H Muir
species guard. In some species he helps with brooding.
Feathered Friends JOHN PETER BirdLife Australia
Young swans, called cygnets, are shortnecked and thickly downy when they Jennifer H Muir hatch. Within a few hours of hatching, they can run and swim, but are carefully tended by their parents for several months. In some species, eg Mute, Black, and Black-
Spotted Catbird Black Swan family: Mum, Dad and ‘kids’ on the Canning River, Perth. One of the ‘kids’ is on its parent’s back. Photo: Jennifer H Muir
necked Swans, cygnets may ride on a parent’s back. Swans have few natural predators. Their main threat is degradation/destruction of habitat, hunting, or even lead poisoning after ingesting lead fishing weights or spent lead gunshot. Australia’s Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) was once so common in Perth, that the Swan River was named for this species by Dutch explorer Captain Willem de Vlamingh in 1697. Aboriginal lore tells how ancestors of the Noongar people of south-west WA were once Black Swans who became men. The Black Swan was used on the original WA State Crest, then the State Coat of Arms, which sometimes incorporated the motto, ‘Cygnis insignis’ meaning ‘noted for swans’. Subsequently the Black Swan was incorporated into many WA State emblems and Commonwealth Coat of Arms. In 1973, the Black Swan was proclaimed the Bird Emblem of Western Australia. Australia’s Black Swan occurs in much of Australia, and, partially nomadic, it sometimes follows the rains to flooded regions for the food bonanza.
A Black Swan family on a mission through a carpark between nearby wetlands. Photo: Jennifer H Muir
The sounds of the rainforest aren’t always what they seem. Someone hearing a loud, yowling call from the canopy may be forgiven for thinking they’d heard a feral cat. But there’s a good chance that it was in fact the call of a Spotted Catbird, a species that is often more likely to be heard rather than seen. Indeed, they can be heard calling throughout the day. Sometimes, when approached, they retreat ever higher into the canopy, hopping from branch to branch. There, their deep-green plumage blends in well with the foliage of the rainforest trees, often making them quite difficult to spot. Spotted Catbirds spend much of their time foraging in the rainforest canopy or among tangles of vines, usually plucking fruits, or, occasionally, finding fallen fruits among the leaf litter accumulated on the forest floor. Sometimes they raid fruit in nearby orchards. They also eat insects, and rarely, the eggs and young of small birds. They remain in their rainforest territories throughout the year, and, although they are a type of bowerbird, they don’t build bowers, instead simply hopping back and forth on branches as a courtship display. Their peak breeding season is between October and December. Up to three cream-coloured eggs are laid in a bulky, cup-shaped nest made from twigs, stems, vines and broad leaves. Only the female catbird incubates the eggs, and although both sexes feed the young, it’s mostly the female. 21
Dr David Rentz AM
Orchid Weevil One would think that growing orchids in the tropics would be quite easy. Not so. Common complaints are that it is too wet or too dry. The growing medium gets too soggy and the plants die or it is too dry and they don’t take root. And there is the problem of pests and diseases. This article deals with probably the worst pest of all in the northern tropics, the Orchid Weevil, Orchidophilus aterrimus (Waterhouse). The origin of the Orchid Weevil is a bit controversial. Prena (2008) states that it is native to Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. However, it was described from ‘Australia’ from specimens taken in San Francisco from the Australian orchid, Sarcochilus hartmanni. Prena thinks it is not native to Australia. Another small weevil, Tadius sp. has been reared from orchids. But O. aterrimus is by far the most important orchid weevil in our area. Orchid Weevils are easy to recognise once you see them. They are small black beetles (about 4mm in length) with longitudinal lines (called carinae) running the length of their body. The beetles are active by day and readily fly about seeking flowers on which to feed and mate. But that is not the greatest damage that they do. Female beetles lay their eggs on the stems (pseudobulbs) of the orchid plants and when the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the plant tissue and commence feeding. They are not noticed until much later when the pseudobulb becomes brown and shrivelled after the beetles emerge. By that time, it is too late. The collection is infested and it becomes extremely difficult to eradicate the beetles. There are no currently available pesticides that can deal with the Orchid Weevil. What is needed is a systemic pesticide that can be taken up by the plant and kill the larvae within the pseudobulbs. But presently there is no such pesticide available to the orchid grower. In the past, there was a systemic pesticide but it was removed from the market because of potential toxicity to 22
growers. I have met many older hobbyists who claim to have purchased ‘a gallon of the stuff’ just before it was removed from sale and presently use it surreptitiously. They have no trouble with the Orchid Weevils! The take home message is that any orchid could be harbouring larvae of the Orchid Weevil in its stems, so care is needed when purchasing orchids from unknown sources. Carefully check stems for yellowing and ask if the owner knows the Orchid Weevil. Inadvertently introducing this pest is an important reason why the Botanic Gardens is so restrictive when it comes to introducing plants from unknown sources. Some might ask about biological controls for the beetle. If it’s native to our part of the world, biological controls accompany it. But if from elsewhere, it may have few or no biological controls (the Cane Toad is a good example of what can happen if there are no biological controls accompanying an introduction). Further work is needed to determine if the Orchid Weevil is truly Australian. As an aside to the story, I witnessed a bit of ‘biological drama’ - potential biological control - one morning in my shadehouse. A Jumping Spider (Salticidae) had eyed an Orchid Weevil. It cautiously approached and pounced on the beetle. It rotated the beetle and attempted to pierce it with its fangs at the base of the legs and at the intersegmental membranes where one would expect the spider could gain entry. But the beetle was so ‘tight’ that the spider could not pierce it. The spider eventually gave up and moved away leaving the beetle unharmed and able to get on with its nasty business on my orchids! For a look at other ‘pests’ of local orchids have a look at my blogpost: https://bunyipco.blogspot.com/ search?q=orchid+weevil Literature cited Prena, J. 2008. A synopsis of the orchid weevil genus Orchidphilus Buchanan (Curculionidae, Baridinae), with taxonomic rectifications and description of one new species. Zootaxa 1783: 18-30.
Small Wonders nature in miniature
Barry Muir
Bridgette Gower Is it a lizard? Is it a fish? No, it’s the surface of the fruit of the Snake-fruit Palm, Salacca magnifica. This particular species is from Indonesia and is cultivated for its fruit in Sabah (part of Malaysia that is on Borneo). The fruit is about the size of a large golf ball, and has one or two seeds within it. These seeds are surrounded by crisp, slightly acidic flesh and are a delicious thirst-quencher on a hot day. The seed itself is not edible. They are very short-stemmed palms, with leaves up to 8m long and are very spiny to deter squirrels and monkeys getting at the fruit. These Green Tree Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) are building a nest out of leaves. They are holding ant larvae (the little white grubs) in their jaws and using their silk to tie the leaves together. A mob of ants cooperate to pull the side of another leaf across to where they want it. While the ‘pulling team’ hold the two leaves together, the ants with the grubs run along the join and use the grubs to attach the silk to both sides of the join. The silk quickly hardens, making a tough and almost permanent join. This is a fine example of cooperation and tool use among insects.
These are the 2-5mm fruiting bodies, not of a fungus, but a slime mould (Lycogala epidendrum), sometimes called Wolf’s Milk (why – who knows?). They have mobile, creeping amoeba-like bodies, not hyphae, and more closely resemble animals than fungi. When not fruiting, single celled individuals move about as very small, red amoeba-like organisms called plasmodia; masses of protoplasm that engulf bacteria, fungal and plant spores, protozoa, and particles of non-living organic matter through a process called phagocytosis (literally feeding by engulfing). 23
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