Cradle to Coastlines December 2022

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Above: The assortment of rubbish that was removed from the harbour foreshore

STRAHAN COMMUNITY ‘OUR PATCH’ CLEAN UP

Cloudy skies and a cool southerly on Friday 11th November did not dampen the enthusiasm of a dedicated band of 55 people from Strahan and a few NW Coasters, including 31 students and four teachers from Strahan Primary School, who combed the 3 5 km of foreshore from Mill Bay to Regatta Point to complete the annual Strahan township clean up of ‘Our Patch’

The event was coordinated by Dianne Coon, the chair of the Strahan Aquaculture Community Forum, and followed on from the incredibly successful community harbour cruise attended by around 100 people earlier that week

A ute load full of rubbish was collected in only 2.5 hours and there was a wide array of waste collected The usual assortment of food wrappers, cans, plastic bottles and broken glass was mixed with an old tyre, various bits of plastic pipe, a broken fishing rod and marine debris such as rope and fishing line as well as several old plastic buckets and plastic drums The more unusual items included a full drum of used vegetable oil, home renovation waste stacked in a crate and an old suitcase carefully packed with a range of domestic wastes Ironically, someone had thrown away a large plastic rubbish bin which had also ended up on the harbour foreshore

The event was generously supported by a range of agencies and organisations Staff from Cradle Coast NRM, Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service and West Coast Council assisted with this event including Mayor

“This was the fourth community harbour foreshore clean up of ‘Our Patch’ and it was great to see so many willing helpers working together to improve the health of the harbour. Hopefully the amount of rubbish will diminish every time we run this event,” said Dianne.

Above: Harbour clean up participants with their haul of rubbish found along only 3.5 km of the foreshore

After the clean up, all participants had worked up a healthy appetite and enjoyed a friendly chat over a sumptuous BBQ lunch at the picnic shelter at West Strahan Beach. This year the event catering was kindly provided by Gordon River Cruises, World Heritage Cruises and Petuna. A big thanks to all the BBQ chefs who got all the meat cooked before the hungry hordes arrived back at the picnic shelter and to all the people who made sure that the event ran smoothly by filling in wherever they saw a job that needed doing

Top: Iona (CCA NRM) & Richard chat with students from Strahan Primary School about their Harbour clean up experiences

REPLICA MAUGEAN SKATE CREATED TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS

AspartoftheAustralianGovernment fundedMaugeanSkate AwarenessProject,CradleCoastNRMcommissionedspecialistwildlife sculptor,TimJohnman,tocreatealife sizedmodelofoneof Tasmania’slesser knownendangeredspecies,theMaugeanSkate Thisancient lookingfish,nowfoundonlyinMacquarieHarbouron Tasmania’sruggedwestcoast,isthesubjectoftheinauguralSkate Exhibition(SKATEx)hostedbyCCNRM,whichwillbeheldinStrahan earlynextyear.

“OneofthereasonswhyTasmania’slargestendemicfishisn’tbetter knownisthatitlivesindarktannin stainedwater,andoftenburies itselfonthemuddyfloorofMacquarieHarbour,”saidProject CoordinatorBenCorrey.

“Onlyahandfulofintrepiddivers,dedicatedresearchersandregular fishershaveeverseenthisfascinatingcreatureface toface.This meansthatclearqualityphotosoftheskatefromthewildareinvery shortsupply Wethoughtthatcreatingamouldtomakesome3 Dlatex skateswouldhelpmaketheanimalmoreaccessibletoabroadrange ofpeople,especiallyanyartistswhomightbeenteringSKATEx,”said Ben.

“The creation of the latex skate has been an interesting journey. Obtaining a specimen of this endangered species for Tim to work from was out of the question Initially we contacted the CSIRO’s Australian National Fish Collection, but they weren’t able to loan us a pickled specimen as they only have a handful which must be kept in solution and are part of an immensely valuable scientific collection.

The CSIRO staff were incredibly helpful and shared all the images of their specimens and even some x rays which helped get our sculptor going. Tim was also assisted by the researchers from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) who kindly provided their own photos and advice. This was one of Tim’s most challenging animals and he was assisted by seasoned skate researcher Dr David Moreno who generously provided regular video phone hook ups to make sure that he would get it right,” said Ben.

This skate is interesting for many reasons, including the fact that it shares many characteristics of the deep sea skates as the darkened waters of Macquarie Harbour are similar to the low light levels of the deep ocean This ancient Gondwanan relict fish is almost dinosaur like; it is certainly another one of Tassie’s iconic species

All skates in Macquarie Harbour are now protected and they must all be returned to the water unharmed without delay. See: https://fishing.tas.gov.au/news-events/macquarie-harbournetting-changes for more info.

In addition to fishing impacts, Maugean Skates are also threatened by habitat changes that have occurred in Macquarie Harbour. See: https://nre.tas.gov.au/conservation/threatened-species-andcommunities/lists-of-threatened-species/threatened-speciesvertebrates/maugean-skate for conservation advice

Specialist wildlife sculptor Tim Johnman created the replica skate in his Lithgow studio and rates it as “one his most challenging animals yet”.

Ben Correy (NRM CCA) carefully holds "Spike" by the snout

The fin-ished product

This project is a massive collaboration between a whole host of stakeholders (or ‘skateholders’ as we refer to them!) including the West Coast Recreational Association who have already done a lot of work educating recreational fishers about the easiest ways of identifying Maugean Skates, how to handle them carefully by the snout and to release them immediately if they are inadvertently caught The rec fishers' cartoon character was named ‘Spikey’, so the latex version is named ‘Spike’ in honour of his predecessor, and in reference to the thorns on the body and tail, which are formidable looking but are not venomous

‘Spike was an instant hit with the students at Strahan Primary when he visited them in their classroom last week, and the replica provided a tactile and visual experience that gave students a chance to connect more deeply with this endangered species The skate’s visit was coordinated with presentations by Dr David Moreno from IMAS who provided students with the unique opportunity to learn more about this special fish that resides on their doorstep, and also to ask their questions directly to a scientist who has studied these animals for the last ten years.

One of the key aims of this project is to use the combined power of scientific knowledge and art to encourage people to learn more about the Maugean Skate and how it has become one of Australia’s most endangered species

Cradle Coast NRM have launched a webpage which is dedicated to the Maugean Skate and includes an image library as well as links to other informative sites We will post regular project updates on the webpage and you can also follow on the NRM Facebook page.

For more information visit: maugeanskate.au

Pupils from Strahan Primary School face to face with “Spike”

Dr David Moreno showing the skate’s egg case to pupils from Strahan Primary

This project is delivered by Cradle Coast NRM through funding from the Australian Government

LAUNCH OF THE HEATHLAND RESERVE

Congratulations to Rees Campbell, Col Meyers, and all the volunteers from the Friends of Remnant Heathlands of Wynyard on the launch of the successfully relocated Heathland Reserve by Deputy Mayor (now Mayor) Mary Duniam in October With the help of 75 volunteers and the Waratah Wynyard Council, more than 60 plants, some of which are the only living specimens in the Wynyard region, were relocated from a vacant block destined for development at Goldie Street, to Frederick Street Reserve, Wynyard

Cradle Coast NRM supported the project through a Community Capacity Small Grant to purchase materials to construct the impressive volunteerbuilt boardwalk across the heathland, which allows the community to view the diversity of heathland plants without trampling them.

Now located at Frederick St Reserve, off Lowe St in Wynyard, and informally known as the praympi Reserve after the palawa kani name for Common Heath, Epacris impresa, the Heathland Reserve is able to be viewed by the public at any time.

confirm IDs on the app.

Right: Tiger Snake and Heart

A number of NVA users have embraced the iNaturalist app as a way of quickly recording species observations in the field, and they have done this with the expectation that the NVA team will then harvest the data from iNaturalist for upload onto the NVA While Tasmanian iNaturalist records are harvested at regular intervals for inclusion on the NVA, there are a number of issues that users should be aware of.

The issues:

1. We are only harvesting records which are ‘research grade’, and to be classified as research grade, iNaturalist records must:

include either a photograph or a sound recording which can be used to help identify the species. have the identity of the species corroborated by at least 2 out of 3 iNaturalist users

Unfortunately, many potentially ‘good’ records are actually not achieving research grade, because no one within the iNaturalist community has managed to corroborate/correct the identifications Currently such records are being left behind by the NVA, as we are reliant

NATURALIST DATA

Adapted

from the Natural Values Atlas Newsletter Issue No.6 Sept 2022

on the iNaturalist community for this verification service

2 iNaturalist automatically obscures the locations of many threatened species records. This means that, while you may have entered a precise location for your observation, the exact location is actually not available to other iNaturalist users (including the NVA team)

The solutions: If you are a member of the iNaturalist community who has some level of expertise in the identification of Tasmanian species, please consider devoting a little time to helping review the identifications of your fellow iNaturalist members. If everyone helps to review a few iNaturalist records, the number of records being included in the NVA will be greatly enhanced

The NVA team is working on a solution to the location problem, but in the meantime, if you want to have accurate locations for your threatened species records available on the NVA, you will need to submit the records directly to the NVA. You are welcome to email records to us directly.

Email: support@naturalvaluesatlas tas gov au

Photo left: Screen-shot of observations from the iNaturalist App. The NVA staff are encouraging Tasmanian experts to help

Berry observations entered into iNaturalist during a hike to Montezuma Falls.

FEEDING STRAY CATS: THE CAT LOVER’S DILEMMA

You see a small cat out in the street, and it looks a bit thin and scruffy. As an animal lover, your first instinct is to help, so you put a little saucer out with some kibble. Over time this routine of putting food out for one cat turns into putting food out for a few more cats who have since gathered. These cats then have enough food to have kittens, and before you know it, you’re feeding 15 20 cats that have congregated around yours and your neighbours’ homes. This is how a cat colony begins and what is initially meant as an act of kindness can lead to multiple problems, not just for these cats, but for you and your neighbours as well.

Life in a cat colony is tough, and the frequency of illness can be quite high In fact, the average lifespan of a colony cat is 5 years, whereas pet cats can live 15 20+ years! A lack of vet care and transmission of diseases such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), panleukopenia and cat flu mean that mortality rates in cat colonies are much higher particularly in kittens Colony cats often carry heavy burdens of fleas and worms, meaning that cats and kittens can be anaemic and malnourished This leaves them susceptible to other contagious conditions like fungal ringworm White or light coloured cats left to roam in the sun also carry the risk of developing skin cancer on their ears and noses.

Free roaming cats are also at a much higher risk of physical harm, such as being struck by a car, developing abscesses from fights with other cats, being mauled by a dog or even worse being exposed to cruelty from other humans Unfortunately, even those of us who love cats can’t deny that cats can cause a nuisance to humans Roaming cats can pose a risk to human health through the transmission of toxoplasmosis a parasitic disease carried by cats that costs Australia $6B a year Toxoplasmosis occurs in higher rates in Tasmania than elsewhere in the country and has health implications for production animals and wildlife.

Community views towards cats can vary greatly, with some acknowledging the damaging effects cats have on local wildlife populations, while others believe it’s just in their nature to be predators or that a well fed cat won’t hunt When cats are fed in a single location and grow to become a colony, their capacity to hunt increases as competition between cats grows and nuisance issues such as spraying, defecating, and fighting increases. This can cause tension between neighbours who hold differing views on cats

This information paints a bleak picture for stray cats, so what can you do if you want to help? Firstly chat to your neighbours: you might be feeding a neighbour’s greedy pet cat It’s also worth contacting your nearest Cat Management Facility The north and north west regions in Tasmania are serviced by RSPCA Tasmania and Just Cats, with Ten Lives Cat Centre and RSPCA Tasmania servicing the south of the state.

If your local facility establishes that the cat has no owner, you may consider taking ownership of it yourself Desexing and microchipping will safeguard your cat against getting lost or contributing to stray populations through breeding and is a legal requirement. Keeping your cat up to date with vaccinations and flea/tick/worming treatments will ensure that your new pet has a better quality of life

You may even decide to take the next step and build a “catio” to keep your cat safe while still allowing them fresh air and sunshine. Further information on all things cats, including cat legislation in Tasmania, keeping your cat safe and happy at home, and cat borne diseases can be found on www.tassiecat.com

MIXED FORTUNES FOR GIANT FRESHWATER CRAYFISH PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

A very wet winter and recent major flooding across our north west rivers in August and October has had both positive and negative impacts on participants in the Giant Freshwater Crayfish project

Fast flowing waters that broke over the banks in both the Leven and lower Inglis River catchments badly impacted fencing and revegetation projects undertaken by landholders who are trying to increase the stability of their riverbanks and enhance stream shading to improve the environment for the Giant Freshwater Crayfish

In the Inglis, although fencing was damaged and many plants lost their tree guards, a lot of the plants survived and in fact are displaying new growth. Sediment and nutrients left by flood flows across the river flats will provide a better environment for growth and some revegetation will be required

Below: Plantings in Detention were impacted by cross paddock flow from river breakout but plantings have benefitted from wet weather

In the Leven, however, large amounts of debris and fast flowing water destroyed fences and washed away the majority of new plantings that were only put in the ground in late autumn

Project landholders in the Duck River and Detention largely escaped damage with most plain wire fences trapping some debris but remaining intact Revegetation sites benefitted from the water and were undamaged as the water was much slower moving and these sites had a good narrow band of existing vegetation along the river batter

Project Coordinator Fiona Marshall is working with those affected to try and assist with recovery and replacement

This project is delivered by Cradle Coast NRM through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Tasmania

Above: Damage to plantings in the Inglis River

TASMANIAN CLIMATE CHANGE

LEGISLATION PASSES PARLIAMENT

TheTasmanianClimateChange(StateAction)AmendmentBill2021has passedParliamentwithatargetofnetzeroemissions,orlower,from2030, andoutlinestheGovernment’sfocusonreducingemissions,measuresto supportindustriesandcommunitiestobuildresilienceandadapttoclimate change.

TheBillincludesarequirementtodevelopthefirstClimateChangeAction Planwithinoneyear,EmissionsReductionandResiliencePlansforall majorsectorswithintwoyears(includingagriculture,transport,wasteetc), andaClimateChangeRiskAssessmentwithintwoyearsoftheBill becominglaw Modellingshowsthat,whileTasmaniahasachievednet zeroemissionsforthepastsevenyears,ouremissionsaregrowing We mustimplementactionsnowtorapidlyreduceouremissionsandreliance onfossilfuelstoensureasafeclimatefutureforTasmaniansandthe naturalsystemswerelyupon

Formoreinformationvisit: https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/Bills/Bills2021/pdf/63 of 2021.pdf

AUSTRALIA COMMITS TO GLOBAL METHANE PLEDGE

Australia has recently become a signatory to the Global Methane Pledge. The pledge is a voluntary commitment with 122 signatories including the United States, United Kingdom andtheEuropeanUnion,workingcollectivelytoreduceglobal methane emissions across all sectors by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030 The Global Methane Pledge is based on data from the United Nations Environment Programme Global Methane Assessment. That report highlights the critical role that cutting methane emissions will play in slowing the rate of global warming Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas that absorbs heat 84 times faster than carbon dioxide over a 20 yearperiod

The Australian agricultural sector, like all sectors, has been under pressure to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, especially as ruminant animals produce a lot of methane. Many of the major agricultural industries are looking to new techniques to reduce methane emissions such as using Asparagopsis seaweed developed by the company Sea Forest as a feed additive This type of native red algae dramatically reduces methane emissions Other methane reduction research is looking at improved herd genetics, fertiliser and waste management The coal and gas industry is also a huge contributor to methane emissions in Australia, asisthewastesector

Check out this recent webinar from Farmers for Climate Action for more information on the Global Methane Pledge andwhatsigningitwillmeanforfarmers: https://youtu.be/nwVK9GyZHCw

THE BENEFITS OF USING COVER CROPS AS SOIL EROSION INSURANCE

We all have insurance for our home, contents and vehicles, don’t we? So why shouldn’t we consider some sort of insurance to protect our productive and valuable soil?

Across Australia, the average rate of soil erosion is estimated to be 1.86 tonnes per hectare per year, but in Tasmania we can lose up to 15 tonnes per hectare from one significant rainfall event alone.

Some of our most productive Ferrosol soils in the Cradle Coast region happen to exist on hillsides, but there are things we can do to reduce soil erosion and keep much of the soil in place The rate of soil erosion is determined largely by four factors: Climate, topography, land use and ground cover We can’t change climate or the topography, and we aren’t really looking to change the land use from cropping One factor we can change though is the ground cover: to reduce erosion risk, we should increase ground cover through autumn and winter, when rainfall is generally highest Cover crops represent a practical and relatively cheap means to improve soil protection through the wetter months of the year

A cover crop or green manure mix can be a simple as a mix of tic beans, lupins, peas, rye corn, oats, and barley, sown in autumn to protect a hillside cropping paddock before the next cash crop in rotation is sown in August So, what are cover crops physically doing to protect our soil?

Firstly, once the canopy of the cover crop reaches around 70% closure, our soil is now protected from raindrop impact This is important as raindrops impact the soil like miniature meteorites, dissipating their kinetic energy into the soil surface This causes soil particle detachment, where particles of sand, silt, clay and rich organic matter are detached from the surface and are easily eroded downhill by surface runoff

Raindrop impact also causes sealing of the soil surface, rendering it less permeable for rainfall to infiltrate into the soil profile and increasing the rate of surface water runoff. Increased surface runoff will lead to higher rates of erosion, exacerbating the problem.

Secondly, the contact cover plays a significant role in slowing down surface runoff and allowing the deposition of sediment. As we know, the faster water moves downhill, the greater the amount of soil particles it can wash away. The contact cover is any part of the plant touching the ground, such as prostrate stems, senescing leaves or leaf litter and plant residue. While leaf litter and crop stubble in a paddock may look a little untidy, it may well be providing a valuable service in soil conservation.

Tom and Nick from the Cradle Coast Authority NRM team attended the Upper Murray Seeds open day at Cressy Research Station in November, talking to around 80 landholders and agronomists about how and why to include an autumn sown cover crop in a crop rotation.

“Using simple cover crop mixes to protect bare fallow paddocks through autumn and winter is a cost effective means to provide a level of insurance for your most valuable on farm asset your soil While the cost versus benefit stacks up favourably when using cover crops to reduce soil erosion alone, there are also other benefits of covers such as increased soil carbon and the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by free living and symbiotic bacteria,” said Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator Tom O’Malley

For further information, touch base with Tom O’Malley (tomalley@cradlecoast.com) or Nick Jamson (njamson@cradlecoast.com) from the Cradle Coast Authority NRM team. This project is delivered by Cradle Coast Authority through funding from the Australian Government.

Cradle Coast Authority Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator Tom O’Malley talking to the crowd about the benefits of using simple cover crops to reduce soil erosion at the Upper Murray Seeds open day at Cressy Research Station held on 22nd November.

SOIL TESTING: A USEFUL TOOL

Our region is home to exceptionally productive landscapes across a variety of soil types. Despite this, farmers face a number of challenges to maintain this productivity, including the high costs of fertilisers and amendments, environmental pressures and the high intensity nature of agriculture in the region Soil testing is an important part of farm management It can be used to:

Establish a snapshot or baseline of soil chemical, physical and biological properties

Monitor the impact of changes to farm management practices

Provide information for certification purposes (e.g. carbon credits)

Determine optimum fertiliser and amendment rates

The results of soil testing can often be confusing, with a long list of numbers, units and testing methods, with little context. The Cradle Coast Soil Extension Program has been running workshops on understanding soil testing and other field tests and what this means for soils and practical land management. Topics covered have included acidity, soil structure, nutrients, carbon, soil biology and alternative soil amendments. Participants have also received a subsidised soil sample and dedicated one-on-one support to translate these learnings to their properties

If you are interested in the soil extension program, or further information, please contact Nick Jamson (Soil Extension Officer): njamson@cradlecoast.com

This project is delivered by Cradle Coast Authority through funding from the Australian Government

There is widespread community concern about the number of Tasmanian Devils (and other wildlife) killed on Circular Head roads, particularly on Woolnorth and Montague Road where there are disturbingly high numbers of roadkilled devils being observed.

Circular Head’s primary school students are the latest leaders in the community to inspire change in the way we share the roads with wildlife Students from grades 3 6 at Stanley, Smithton, Forest, Edith Creek and Redpa primary schools will be participating in a program to learn more about this local issue during November and December The program is delivered to students in their classrooms by Cradle Coast NRM staff and local wildlife carer, Alice Carson. During the program, students connect to Tasmanian Devils by seeing a taxidermy specimen up close, gain an understanding of the local threats to this unique animal, are inspired by learning how the community is collaborating to protect Devils, and empowered to take action by making signs which can be displayed around the local area

INSPIRED STUDENTS LEADING THE WAY TO PROTECT TASMANIAN DEVILS

Keep an eye out to see if you can spot any of the signs made by students they may be most easily seen at night as they are made with reflective tape that glows when lights are shone on them. This technique was first used by South African artist, Bryan Little, during an installation in Cape Town called The Endemic Project. Bryan was pleased to hear that his concept would be used in Tasmania to help reduce devil roadkill.

ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE IN LANDCARE

Mount Roland Land Care Inc are a group of committed, energetic volunteers who act at a local level to try to address the global issues of environmental destruction and climate change. Their membership is growing, and they are thinking for the long term, not just through the work they are undertaking in habitat resilience, but also in group succession planning and tooling up the land managers of the future.

Mount Roland Land Care (MRLC) has only a few young members at present and they are seeking to change this; young people should be part of the decision making processes that will shape their own future MRLC are taking steps to actively address this by introducing family and young person membership categories to their incorporated group, and allowing young people over 12 to vote and to be elected to the Committee They have engaged the local scouts in planting days and the group will soon establish a sub committee to strategically plan ways to engage young people

Check out their great new website to find out how to get involved or make a donation to help fund their volunteers run on ground activities:

www.mountrolandlandcare.org.au

Photo: A sign made by students at Stanley Primary School to increase awareness of Tasmanian Devil Roadkill

A Mount Roland Land Care public tree planting event, September 2022

IT’S FOXGLOVE SEASON IN KENTISH,

LAND CARE

It’s that time of the year when foxgloves start to flower in full glory They are magnificent and spectacular flowers! Newer foxglove varieties with showy long lasting flowers in a range of colours, sold for home gardens, are often sterile and don’t produce viable seed But the older varieties mostly purple but occasionally pink or white have become a major environmental weed in Tasmania If you see foxgloves unexpectedly popping up on your rural property, then BEWARE! These weedy plants are prolific seeders and can take over land at a truly alarming speed, leading to many years of expensive and time consuming work. More than this, the foxglove is also a major health hazard to humans and most other animals. Touching the plant can lead to sickness, breathing the exudates from foxgloves (while slashing or brushcutting for example) can make you very unwell Eating the plant can result in death.

Weedy foxgloves have spread explosively across Tasmania in recent years. The tiny seed is highly mobile; it blows in the wind, flows in water, and is often unknowingly transported on machinery, on footwear and clothing, and in the fur of animals Foxgloves thrive when the soil is disturbed

In the Kentish Municipality, Mount Roland Land Care (MRLC formerly Mount Roland Rivercare) has made action on foxgloves a high priority Foxgloves are flowering now on hundreds of acres of land on the foothills of Mount Roland, around Wilmot and in the Forth Valley MRLC is engaging contractors and enlisting volunteers to manage the highest priority foxglove populations threatening Mount Roland. We also provide coordination and management support to affected landholders and we do what we can to raise the profile of the problem

MRLC has established a Foxglove Hotline, where over the next few months, people can report the location of weedy foxgloves observed in Kentish From the reports gained, a map of Kentish foxglove populations will be produced, laying the foundations for a future, coordinated municipal foxglove management program

Importantly, MRLC has also allocated funds to the management of the highest priority foxglove sites reported on the hotline A single foxglove plant can produce hundreds of thousands of seeds that remain viable for many years, so control now before seeding can prevent years of future work

To report your sighting of foxgloves in Kentish, go to MRLC’s new web page, at www mountrolandlandcare org au and fill out the brief reporting form you will find there. Your actions will not overcome the foxglove problem, but they may help to reduce a major threat to our environment and the health of our community, including our children, our companion and farm animals, and our native ecosystems.

"A single foxglove plant can produce hundreds of thousands of seeds that remain viable for many years, so control now before seeding can prevent years of future work."

AND EVERYWHERE!

ARTICLE CONTRIBUTED BY GREG TAYLOR, MOUNT ROLAND

ORCHIDS AROUND THE REGION

It’s orchid season on the Cradle Coast and we’ve been getting reports of some interesting sightings!

On King Island, the King Island Field Naturalists recently went for a hike on private land in the north west of the island Among many other interesting invertebrates, fungi, birds and plants, the group recorded the endangered Leafy Greenhood, Pterostylis cucullata Its natural environment is paperbark stands, which are often trampled through by livestock.

Over on Three Hummock Island, Iona spent an enjoyable hour orchid spotting while waiting for an aeroplane pick up in the fog. The special Three Hummock Island Leek Orchids weren’t quite flowering yet, but there were plenty of Sun Orchids, Caladenias and some Calochilus paludosus, the Red Beard Orchid

Keep an eye on the Facebook Group, Tasmanian Native Orchids, to learn more about our little native beauties We also have copies of the Central North Field Naturalists’ handy booklet, Beginner’s Guide to the Common Orchids of North-West Tasmania. Get in touch with Hannah for a copy: hsadler@cradlecoast com

Pterostylis cucullata, photo by Lizzie Cambra, King Island Field Naturalists and King Island Landcare

Caladenia pusilla, Pygmy Caladenia

Calochikus paludosus, Red Beard Orchid

Probably Thelymitra nuda and Thelymitra ixioides

ORCHIDS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE

On 10th October 2022, a large patch of Disa bracteata, otherwise known as the South African Weed Orchid, was sighted in the Burnie area along Brickport Road First reported in Australia in the 1940s, it was thought to have entered the country through means of freight contaminated with seed, or by escaping a collection It was first recorded in Tasmania in 2005 around the Bridport area and has since marched its way westwards and has now been reported as far west as Smithton and as far south as Huonville Below are some points outlining the threat this plant poses to Tasmania’s biodiversity

D. bracteata starting to flower

Disaeasilycolonisesdisturbedgroundlikeroadsidesandwaste sites.Coloniesbenefitfromdisturbanceastheydevelop.Manual removalnotrecommendedduetothisunlessnecessary.

Oneinflorescencealonecandispersetensofthousandsof minisculeseedsthatcanbetransportedbywind,water,cars,and freight.Inflorescencescanstillproduceseedafterbeingremoved bytheplant.

Majorthreattobiodiversityasitmusclesnativeplants,especially orchids,outoftheirhabitat Withwellover200speciesof terrestrialorchidsinTasmania,manyofwhichendemicand eitherthreatened,vulnerable,orendangered,thisoneforeign invaderstandsincompetitiontothemall.

Disaisageneralistwhenitcomestomycorrhizalrelationships (whereasnativeorchidsaremuchpickierandusuallyonly associatewithafewfungi),whicharecrucialforseed germinationandprotocormdevelopment Veryunevenplaying field.

Eachtubercanproducemultipledaughtersinsteadoftheusual onetypicalofmostnativeorchids.Tuberscanalsostaydormant undergroundforuptoseveralyears,whichmaymake determiningthesuccessoferadicationeffortsdifficultand providesanarrowwindowoftimethatthisplantcanbedealt with.

NativetoSouthAfrica,whichhasverysimilarclimateand geologytoTasmania,makingitrightathome.

Inconspicuousandhighlycamouflagedamongstgrasses Could bemistakenforanativeorchidspeciesifnotcorrectlyidentified Holdsanecologicalnichebeinganaturalisedorchidandcanbe easilyoverlookeduntilinfestationsreachaconsid

This article is based on Victorian and South African fact sheets about Disa bracteata as well as: Wapstra, M., Baker, M., & Daniels, G. (2020). Collecting history and distribution of the potentially invasive Disa bracteata (South African orchid) in Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, 154, 51–60. https://doi.org/10.26749/rstpp.154.51

Ifyouseethisinvasiveorchid,reportitto BiosecurityTasmaniaortoMarkWapstra onmark@ecotas.com.au Formoreinformation,goto: wwwkeyserverlucidcentralorg/weeds/data/m edia/Html/disa bracteata.htm

ntified infestation is currently being dealt with ocal Council’s Natural Resource ement Officer and the Department of Natural ces and Environment Tasmania’s Biosecurity through a combination of spot spraying, removal, and long term monitoring. s existing colonies in the area are being ed by Coastal Landcare Services, who are contracted for up to two years to provide ing and follow up works, gaining valuable nce in this weed’s control and eradication.

NEW UTAS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPACT OF SPARTINA ON FISH COMMUNITIES

published their latest research into the saltmarsh ecology of

Th i h i th fi t f its kind in southern Australian glica, or “Rice Grass”, on fish he effects of Spartina on sediment an “invasive transformer”

e Spartina grassland has d abundance Displacement of sery habitat as evidenced by fewer Smallmouth Hardyhead)

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nd Surrounds project controls Rice to native fish populations and and Cradle Coast NRM

0 ha) providing habitat and an s, including thousands of migratory eria, and Cradle Coast NRM llanger Bay area

B (2022) Introduced Spartina Restoration Ecology,

Scientists from the University of Tasmania have

th R bbi P B ll B

Dr Vishnu Prahalad measures the water depth in a Spartina infestation of a saltmarsh

Photo: Rice Grass flowering

A juvenile fish. Photo: Dr Vishnu Prahalad

SWIFT PARROT SIGHTINGS

Tom Sayers

Swift Parrot distribution in Tasmania varies each year, depending on available tree hollows in which they raise young, and proximity to highly variable flowering of their main food sources - Blue Gum (E. globulus) and Black Gum (E. ovata), and in the Eastern Tiers - Brookers Gum (E. brookeriana).

Swift Parrot surveys (conducted by Dr Matt Webb and volunteers) and Eucalypt bud surveys (conducted by the ANU on behalf of NRM South), along with sightings provided by industry (Sustainable Timbers Tasmania) and the community, provide a picture of where Swift Parrots are likely to be each year. This information can help guide where planners and managers should focus efforts to minimise risks of their activities impacting on this critically endangered species.

Swift Parrot records this year show birds to be concentrated in the Eastern Tiers, Tasman Peninsula and Bruny Island, as well as some in Little Swanport, Boomer Bay, Hobat, Kermandie/Port Huon and Ida Bay. Swift Parrots have also been sighted with some breeding activity by the community at Sandford, Devonport (Kelcey Tier) and Burnie.

It remains possible that breeding is occurring in other parts of the Swift Parrot breeding range, as shown on the map.

These areas corroborate with annual eucalypt bud surveys, conducted in September-October this year, that reported light bud across most areas surveyed (especially E. ovata) and a prediction that main flowering would be on Bruny Island, Tasman Peninsula and in the Eastern Tiers.

This information may be a useful tool in planning operations on a regional basis. If you're considering activities in these areas that could impact on breeding, and that can't be delayed till autumn, please contact the Conservation Assessments Team (ConservationAssessments@nre.tas.gov.au) and the Threatened Species Section (ThreatenedSpecies.Enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au) for further advice. Spring burning and vegetation clearance in forested parts of the areas listed above where Swift Parrots are likely to breed have the potential to impact on the population.

The Threatened Species team at NRE welcomes any additional observations of Swift Parrots and of flowering Blue, Black and Brooker’s Gums. You can find a parrot identification guide on the Threatened Species Link, and sightings can be logged by emailing naturalvaluesatlas@dpipwe.tas.gov.au or else entering the data yourself on to the NVA (www.naturalvaluesatlas.tas.gov.au). You can also use iNaturalist or Birdata.

Important information to record from your sighting includes: your name, sighting date, location (preferably a GPS position), notes on behaviour, and images/video/audio to verify your record and provide important context. This information helps scientists understand more about the parrots’ broader movements, diet, behaviour, habitat and threats. Sightings of injured or dead birds and information related to collisions etc. provide valuable insights into causes of injury and death and how this may be prevented.

There is an excellent BirdLife Australia document called Saving the Swift Parrot: A Conservation and Management Guide that you might like to read if you are interested in these beautiful birds.

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EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

WHAT WHERE AND MORE INFO WHEN

SKATEx Maugean SkateArt Exhibition

Entries to art competition close More information on Page 6

Exhibition Grand Opening Sat 14 Jan at Strahan Primary School Hall A ‘Skate Art Trail’ will be established hosted by a range of local businesses (details TBA)

3pm 19th December 2022

Exhibition will run at a variety of venues around Strahan, 14th to 28th February

Caring for Landcarers Evening Workshop

Conference Room, Apex House Community Innovation Hub, 3 Gollan St, Ulverstone support@landcaretas org au

Weeds Workshop Cape Bridge Picnic Ground, Wynyard support@landcaretas.org.au

Rakali information session Online Event

CCA Office Closed

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6:00pm 8:30pm 8th December 2022

1 4pm December 10th 2022

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22nd December 2022 to 5th January 2023

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