Banksia Bulletin summer 2011 by Banksia Bulletin

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issue number 039 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; summer 2011

Friends of Bayside

In this ISSUE

2011 contact list Bayside Environment Friends Network Coordinator: Barbara Jakob Mobile: 0408 032 963 Email: baysidefriends@gmail.com Friends of Balcombe Park Coordinator: Joan Couzoff 26 Balcombe Park Lane, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 1060 Friends of Bay Road Reserve Coordinator: Michael Norris (Southern Ward Councillor) 5 Deakin Street, Hampton 3188 Phone: (03) 9521 0804 Email: menorris@ozemail.com.au BRASCA Coordinator: Janet Ablitt 4A Fairleigh Avenue, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 6646 Friends of Brighton Dunes Coconvenors: Elizabeth McQuire 34 Normanby Street, Brighton 3186 Phone: (03) 9592 6474 and Jenny Talbot 71 Champion Street, Brighton 3186 Phone: (03) 9592 2109

Friends of Long Hollow Heathland/ Friends of Table Rock/ Friends of Gramatan Avenue Heathland Sanctuary Coordinator: Ken Rendell 33 Clonmore Street, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 4452 Friends of Merindah Park and the Urban Forest Coordinator: David Cockburn 72 Spring Street, Sandringham 3191 Phone: (03) 9598 6148 Friends of Native Wildlife Coordinator: Michael Norris (Southern Ward Councillor) 5 Deakin Street, Hampton 3188 Phone: (03) 9521 0804 Email: menorris@ozemail.com.au Friends of Ricketts Point Landside Coordinator: Sue Raverty 5 Rosemary Road, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 2103 Email: sraverty@westnet.com.au Friends of Watkins Bay Coordinator: Moira Longden 73 Dalgetty Road, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 2725

Friends of Cheltenham Park Coordinator: Valerie Tyers Phone: (03) 9588 0107 Email: valerietyers@hotmail.com

Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc President: Ray Lewis ray.lewis@greypath.com Mobile: 0408 308 768

Cheltenham Primary School Sanctuary Charman Road, Cheltenham 3192 Phone: (03) 9583 1614

NED (New Environment Directions) at Elsternwick Park Coordinator: Neil Blake Port Phillip EcoCentre, cnr Herbert and Blessington St, St Kilda 3182 Phone: (03) 9534 0413 Email: neilblake.ecocentre@iinet.net.au

Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve Coordinator: Kim Croker Phone: (03) 9589 2443 Friends of George Street Reserve Coordinators: Val Tarrant 47 Bayview Crescent, Black Rock 3193 Phone: (03) 9598 0554 Email: vtarrant@ozemail.com.au and Pauline Reynolds 9 Reno Road, Sandringham 3191 Phone: (03) 9598 6368 Enviro Kids Enquiries to Barbara Jakob Phone: 0408 032 963

St. Leonards College Conservation Group Contact: Luisa Ingram 163 South Road, Brighton East 3187 Phone: (03) 9909 9300 Email: Luisa.Ingram@stleonards.vic.edu.au Bayside Community Nursery 319 Reserve Road, Cheltenham 3192 Phone: (03) 9583 8408 Open Thurs and Sat 10am - 12pm

Acknowledgements Thank you to all the people who have contributed to this issue of Banksia Bulletin. The editors encourage people to submit articles, however Bayside City Council reserves the right to edit or omit articles. Artwork, illustrations and photographs can also be submitted to feature in the publication. Disclaimer The views expressed in the Banksia Bulletin are not necessarily those of Bayside City Council or its representatives. Editors Fiona Dodge, Amy Hough, Neri Brown and Sue Braddy Photography Pauline Reynolds Copy deadlines 2010/11 Copy deadlines are set for the first Friday of the month of release: Autumn 2011 Friday 4 March for release end March Winter 2011 Friday 3 June for release end June Banksia Bulletin is published quarterly by Bayside City Council to service people interested in enjoying and protecting the local environment. If you would like to be added to the Banksia Bulletin mailing list, please contact Bayside City Council on 9599 4444 or email: banksia@bayside.vic.gov.au. Please indicate whether you would prefer to receive your Banksia Bulletin by post or via email. Corporate Centre PO Box 27 Royal Avenue SANDRINGHAM VIC 3191 Telephone: 9599 4444 www.bayside.vic.gov.au enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au Hours of business 8.30am – 5pm Monday – Friday (except public holidays)

From the Mayor

New To The Crew

Friends of Balcombe Park Joan Couzoff

Family Life Open Garden Day 2010 Friends of Brighton Dunes Dr Jim Willis Reserve Jenny Talbot

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Ecological Burn and Post-burn Management Policy 10 New Recycling Station

Friends of George Street Reserve Valerie Tarrant

Revamp to the Coastal Art Trial 14 Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve Alison Johnston

Artic Tern sightings

Stingrays 17 Ray Lewis Invasion of the Nurdles Tom Walsh

Enviro Kids

Winifred Waddell and Bayside 22 Valerie Tarrant Creature Feature Dr Mel Mitchell

Review and outlooks for BEFN 24 Barbara Jakob Tawny Frogmouth sightings

Friends of Bayside Working Bee Times

I recently attended a BBQ held to thank all of the very generous people who dedicate time to volunteering with the Friends Groups, busily working away in our precious reserves, parks and foreshore areas. I was struck by their energy, motivation and drive to maintain these areas and restore them to some semblance of their indigenous state. Bayside City Council is lucky indeed to have such dedicated people making valued contributions to our local environment. Those of us who don’t have time to volunteer can still support this cause in our day-to-day activities and habits. Ensuring weeds from our gardens are disposed of properly, watching out for people who may be illegally dumping lawn clippings in public places and reporting it to Council, taking home our rubbish when we go to the beach, respecting open space areas set aside to be dog free and ensuring we clean up after our dogs. Just by respecting these requests we can make a great difference to our bushland areas. These good habits also support the health of the Bay. Coastal Victorian councils are working together with waste management groups this summer on a campaign called “Victorian coasts - too lovely to litter.” The challenge of this campaign is to initiate behaviour change without production of promotional material. It will rely on social media and direct contact with the public rather than pamphlets. Council will target the Sandringham foreshore with signage on bins, conduct litter audits and undertake a promotion at the Bright ‘n’ Sandy Festival. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) are a great resource of information and options for reporting litterers. You may like to consider adding the EPA

litter reporting hotline number to your mobile phone (1800 35 25 55). This is handy, especially when you see littering from vehicles as it relies on licence plate numbers to contact offenders. Did you know that the EPA also conduct summer water quality forecasting and monitoring from December to March at 36 bayside beaches around Port Phillip Bay? You can log on to their website at www.epa.vic.gov.au/ beachreport to check the condition of the beaches. This may be especially useful after rainfall events when it is not recommended to swim near stormwater outlets for at least 24 hours. The forecasts are a prediction of bacterial levels, based on the latest weather conditions, beach water quality history and recent bacterial sampling results. Recent rainfall has allowed us to keep irrigation to a minimum, however the rain brings us other mixed blessings. While weeds are keeping our maintenance crews very busy, sightings of rare frogs and a new shrub species not seen in Bayside before are both very good news. More details in the articles to follow. It is also wonderful to see all the trees in Bayside responding to the rain with vibrant new growth. Year to date rainfall has well exceeded all that of the last ten, but is not significantly higher than long term averages. Thus, we are still cautious that the rain may stop in the drier months of February and March 2011 and we continue to nurture and water our significant trees. Wishing you all a safe and happy new year. Cr Alex del Porto Mayor

Printed on 100% recycled paper

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New to the Crew

New to the Crew Hi there! My name is Anthony Davidson, and I recently started on Citywide’s Bushland Team (Bayside City Council’s Open Space Contractor). I have the privilege of looking after Cheltenham Park (bushland section), George St Reserve and Gramatan Ave Heathland Sanctuary. I also sometimes work with Liam and/or Matt in Donald Macdonald Reserve, Balcombe Park and Bay Rd Reserve. My background is a bit of a mixed bag, with university studies in Botany, Greencorps team leadership, CSIRO in Canberra, various practical conservation projects and outdoor education. While I grew up and studied in Melbourne, I’ve also worked in Canberra and Gippsland.

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My favourite playgrounds are the Victorian Alps and Tasmania. Since Daniel introduced me to the Bayside Reserves, I’ve developed a great deal of affection for them. I’m steadily learning the local flora with the aid of some good books and good people, both colleagues and ‘Friends’. While I’ve been racing for the last four months to remove Ehrharta from my reserves before it spreads seed, I’m looking forward to seeing the seasonal changes in these reserves, and some new challenges, over the coming months. I’ll see you in the reserves! Anthony Davidson Citywide Bushland Team

I have been working with the Citywide Bushland Team since late June, as an assistant in the heathland reserves and on the foreshore, maintaining indigenous plant populations and ecosystems. It is important to me that we work as a collective to ensure we preserve our environment for future generations to enjoy. I first became interested in the environment through camping, canoeing, hiking and a variety of other outdoor activities that I participated in as a member of Scouting Australia. I have had the opportunity to participate in numerous tree planting events in the municipality in which I live, as well as the Murray River Rescue program which focused on

reducing salinity in the MurrayDarling Basin. Here, alongside many other volunteers we planted thousands of indigenous tree species in a variety of locations. Whilst completing my Queen Scout Award I completed a project at Iramoo Sustainable Living Precinct at Victoria University, St Albans, to maintain the grassland habitat of the Striped Legless Lizard. In 2009, I gained a Bachelor of Environmental Sciences (Wildlife and Conservation Biology) at Deakin University in Burwood, which has increased my desire to get out there to work and gain practical experience in the field. As part of my studies I completed work experience at Moonlit Sanctuary (Pearcedale Conservation Park) working with

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a variety of native species. Prior to gaining employment with Citywide Open Space, I was fortunate to work in the Yarra Ranges for a few months, with a small company who had a contract with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, doing flora and fuel assessment surveys. I am enjoying working in the City of Bayside, and am looking forward to many more opportunities to use the knowledge I have gained to assist in the maintenance of our local environment. Liam Bucknell Citywide Bushland Team

Friends of Balcombe Park

Family Life Open Garden Day 2010

These photos compare the control burn in 2001 and how it looks now in springtime 2010. There is now good regeneration of the Wedding Bush (Ricinocarrpus pinifolius) which dominated the wildfire site of 1996. Our control burn in 2008 is also showing great regeneration especially since our good spring rains. 1,2,3. Photos of burn site taken in 2010 shows good Wedding bush regeneration

Joan Couzoff Coordinator Friends of Balcombe Park

4,5,6. Photos taken immediately after the control burn in 2001

With the sun shining and six beautiful gardens open in Brighton, the Family Life Open Garden Day in October provided a great day for the 1,300 people who attended.

Crowds gather at one of the gardens for the Family Life Open Day 24 October 2010

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This annual event, organised by a dedicated group of volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year, raised an amazing $40,000 for Family Life! The money will help Family Life run local support groups for vulnerable families, children and young people. The event was only possible thanks to the generous hosts who kindly opened their gardens on the day, providing ideas and inspiration to garden enthusiasts. Local sponsors

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and supporters donated to the event, contributing to its great community atmosphere. If you would like to know more, or are interested in supporting Family Lifein the future, please visit www.familylife.com.au or call 8599 5433. Stephanie Werner Community Relations Officer Family Life

Friends of the Brighton Dunes (Dr Jim Willis Reserve) January 2011 Rain, rain, rain! Everything is growing, green, thriving; instead of hanging on by a thread. The Tea Tree and the Boobiallas are smothered in flowers. Last Tuesday hundreds of dragonflies “danced” in the air. We have had the wettest Spring for 18 years and, over the year, we have reached average rainfall for the first time since 1996. As usual, we have seen various species of birds in the reserve and over the sea – two Pacific Gulls (Larus pacificus) are regular visitors (the largest of the Gulls found in our area), and now there are two huge fluffy brown grey juveniles. We have seen

Cormorants regularly, eight Pelicans flew overhead last week, we have also seen a number of Blue Wrens, Crows, Magpies, Wattle Birds, the occasional Scrubwren, Silvereyes, Crested Pigeons (near Green point), Sulphur-crested cockatoos (Green Point). We have been pulling weeds off indigenous plants giving them room to breathe – pampas-lily-of-the-valley and Kikuyu grass are major pests. The small patches of Madeira vine (Arredera cordifolia) we treat with great respect, as it is such a prolific and strangling grower with its horrible tubers. We bag it and carry it out of

the reserve, being very careful not to drop even a single leaf. There is a lovely Spinifex (Spinifex sericeus) bed at the South end of Dendy Street beach. The Spinifex runs along the beach to past Dendy Street. This ancient binding grass is the perfect grass for holding the dunes together, it evolved to do this job on Victoria’s coast-line for millennia. It is easily propagated, but we have not had good survival rates when it is planted out. Marram grass has been planted in places along the dune system, as it has right along Victoria’s South Coast,

but is not a satisfactory substitute for the indigenous Spinifex. The dunes that are formed by it grow too high, leaving less sand to blow inland for back-dune plants, so there is a change in ecology (see “Feral Future,” Tim Lowe). If there is a change in the ecology, a flowon change to the dune structure is potentially very damaging. It was Baron Von Mueller, ceaselessly active in introducing weeds to Victoria,

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who in 1875 advised stabilising the beaches at Warrnambool with Marram grass. Male and female Spinifex are separate plants, the male plants being concentrated near Dendy Street and the female at the South end of the beach. As always, thanks to Mark Rasmussen of Citywide, who is a tower of strength to us, and also a most

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experienced and educated person about Victorian plants. Thanks too to the supportive team at Citywide, led by Jo Hurse, a true friend of the environment.

Jenny Talbot Coordinator Friends of Brighton Dunes

Bayside s NEW Recycling Station ’

Old mobile phones and batteries cluttering up your desk? Swapped your old light globes for newer energy saving ones? Upgrading your DVDs for Blu-ray?

Ecological Burn and Post-burn Management Policy

Don’t put them in the bin – They can now be recycled! Long Hollow Heathland March 2006

Fire has been used in Bayside to burn small areas of bushland to regenerate indigenous heathland species since the former City of Sandringham undertook these practices prior to municipal amalgamations. Bayside currently conducts one controlled ecological burn each calendar year. Independent botanical experts recognise that fire is an important tool for managing heathlands and eliminating weed species. Within Bayside, post-fire regeneration of heathland species at many bushland reserves has been successful. One factor that has been identified as contributing to the high quality of post-fire regeneration has been the exclusion of people and dogs from the burnt areas to avoid disturbance to the ash-bed. Post-fire, all burn sites are fenced and intensively weeded to provide the maximum opportunity for indigenous species to regenerate.

Fencing has remained at many sites to protect regenerated vegetation from damage. Some sectors of the community have raised concerns about this in relation to general access to bushland areas. A draft Ecological Burn and Post-Burn Bushland Management Policy has been developed and is now available for public comment. Comments on the draft Ecological Burn and Post-Burn Bushland Management Policy will be received until Thursday 17 February 2011, and can be sent to Council’s Open

Space and Biodiversity Officer, Amy Hough, by post or email: Bayside City Council PO Box 27 Sandringham VIC 3191 Email: enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au Copies of the draft Ecological Burn and Post-burn Policy are available at all Council libraries, the Bayside Corporate Centre, and on Council’s website www.bayside.vic.gov.au For further information regarding the draft Ecological Burn and Post-burn Policy, please contact Council’s Open Space and Biodiversity Officer, Amy Hough on 9599 4444.

Bayside’s new recycling station can accept the following items:* -C ompact fluorescent light globes and fluorescent tubes -M obile phones and their accessories (chargers and cords)

- Household batteries -C Ds, DVDs, VHS cassettes and their cases

The recycling station is located in the foyer of the Bayside Council office at: 76 Royal Avenue Sandringham This is a free service for Bayside Residents. For more information contact Bayside Customer Service on: (03) 9599 4444 * Commercial Quantities not accepted.

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Friends of George Street Reserve The Spring rains have brought forth luxuriant growth in the reserve and we hope the ground will be less thirsty this summer. During the last two work parties, Friends have concentrated on working with Anthony of Citywide at the northern end of the reserve. Weeds have been flourishing, as well as the trees and wildflowers, and we have been removing the persistent veldt grass (Erhata erecta) and small patches of exotic Oxalis. Most of the plants near the large eucalypt are doing well, but inevitably we lose a few. The Tulip Street nature strip plantings have also benefited from the rain and provide passers-by with a glimpse of the variety of flora that belong within the reserve. The best views however come from the interior pathways, from which people walking from the Tulip Street

end can see the long tracts of heathland, and then the stretches with more trees. Bayside Council has recently produced an excellent kit entitled ‘Bayside Walks’, which contains cards with illustrations, a map and directions relating to nine walks. The kit comes with a lanyard for easy carrying. The ‘Heathland Walk’, includes the George Street Reserve. The card shows a fine picture with a Kangaroo Apple in fruit (Solanum lacianatum), swathes of local grasses, and trees in the background and gives precise directions, Melway references and a map. The writer suggests

beginning the walk in Tulip Street and taking the track, via the heathland, through the 6.5 ha. George Street Reserve to Spring Street. Walkers are advised –‘ Feel free to explore the reserve, but please stay on the defined tracks to protect the sensitive vegetation.’ The entire 50 minute walk incudes Merindah Park, the Tjilatjirrin (formerly Tulip Street) Reserve and the Native Resources Garden and Guy Boyd sculpture, at the corner of Bluff Road and Royal Avenue. ‘Bayside Walks’ encourages residents and visitors to discover interesting parts of the local environment, and we expect it will add to enjoyment of the George Street Reserve. Valerie Tarrant and Pauline Reynolds Coordinators

News Update at George Street Reserve......... With great excitement a new plant species has been found in the George Street Reserve in the area affected by the 2006 wildfire. The species (pictured) is Common Dogwood (Cassinia aculeata) as confirmed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. There are no records of Cassinia aculeata being sighted in George Street in the past. However, it is mentioned in the Sandringham Environmental series

1989, written by James H. Willis as being seen growing in Long Hollow heathland. Common Dogwood is seen extensively across the state from the coast to the foothills. It is closely related to Drooping Cassinia (Cassinia arcuata), which is present in many of Bayside’s heathlands. Common Dogwood is not a long lived plant, but one which provides a quick screen while other plants grow.

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Revamp to the Coastal Art Trail Since 1998, Bayside City Council has celebrated the lives and artworks of notable Australian artists, who painted along the Bayside coast.

The Bayside Coastal Arts Trail comprises a number of large signboards that show an image of these paintings, allowing the viewer to compare the present day scenery with the landscape depicted by the artist. This trail mapped an important part of the area’s cultural history whilst enhancing the enjoyment for present day visitors. Despite its popularity, the Trail signage fell into disrepair and proved difficult to navigate due to the weaving network of coastal paths and insufficient mapping. In some circumstances the signs were also inappropriately positioned and obscured foreshore views. Rather than just replace the signs Council undertook the Coastal Signage Strategy that

was completed and adopted in 2007. The strategy was extensively consulted upon with the major recommendations being to: • rationalise existing signage; • improve access and locations; • standardise design; and • add three additional elements; a history trail, Indigenous trail and a more comprehensive and updated environmental trail. A sample of the new signage has been on display for more than six months at Green Point, Brighton at the Brighton Rotary viewing platform. Approximately 90 signs will be installed, stretching from Head Street, Brighton to Charman Road in Mentone.

Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve At our November working bee, large quantities of Bower Spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma) were removed from the area behind the Memorial. It was quite aggressively climbing over and smothering all the vegetation in its path, and is regarded as a coastal, rather than heathland species. In December we weeded the nearby re-vegetation site, collected seed from the Spear Grass (Stipa mollis) and walked around part of the site of the wild-fire burn of 2006, where there is quite a remarkable, very extensive and beautiful regeneration of Kneed Wallaby Grass (Danthonia geniculata).

We decided to cancel the January working bee, as it fell over the New Year weekend, and in February, expecting hot weather, we’ll meet from 9.00am – 11.00am, an hour earlier than usual. I am relinquishing my role as Coordinator of Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve, mainly due to health problems, but of course we’ll still be actively involved. We are delighted that Kim Croker has agreed to take on the position from the beginning of 2011. Many thanks Kim! Our Friends Group was formed in 1992, when a group of interested people met with Ms Lisa Milley, the Council’s Conservation Officer. The area allocated to us was 50 metres

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More information about the trails can be found on Council’s website: www.bayside.vic.gov.au/ walks _ trails.htm In addition to the installation, a comprehensive brochure is being completed that will assist and encourage an exploration of the trail. Future plans include audio tours and access via smart phones.

A well loaded truck and a satisfying day! Photograph by Kim Croker

into the Reserve from Haydens Road. Since that time, the role of the Friends Groups, and of coordinators, has developed considerably, but the central activity is still participation in the working bees, as expressed in our current Action Plan: “The members of the Friends Group, in conjunction with CityWide’s Bushland team will work to preserve manage and enhance the indigenous vegetation of Donald MacDonald Reserve.” In 2011 we look forward to continuing to work with Liam, from the Bushland team. Alison Johnston Coordinator

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Diet: Carnivore Average life span in the wild: 15 to 25 years Size: Up to 6.5 ft (2 m) Weight: Up to 790 lbs (350 kg) Protection status: Threatened Images: 1. Stingaree (Western) Photographed by Ray Lewis 2. Spotted Ray Photographed by Phil Watson

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Arctic Tern sightings An Arctic Tern has been sighted at Ricketts Point along with one Common Tern (longer bill, longer legs...). This follows sightings at the mouth of the Mordialloc Creek from 2 October 2010. On the 14 October 2010 I saw both birds near the “triangle” marker but did not get close enough to check properly. There was also a Turnstone or two, and later that week there were eight stints. To complicate the tern situation a White-fronted Tern joined the other two species at Mordialloc yesterday morning where excellent photos were taken. See: http://picasaweb.google.com.au/BobBirdPics/ TernsOct2010?feat=directlink

It may be the birds are generally at Mordialloc in the morning and at Ricketts Point in the afternoon. Incidentally, the Arctic Tern could have come from as far as the UK, the Common Terns from Japan, and the White-fronted Terns from New Zealand. Michael Norris Coordinator, Friends of Native Wildlife

1. An Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) 2. The birds in the foreground are: left to right; an Arctic Tern, Crested Tern and Common Tern Photographs by Kim Croker

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Stingrays Stingrays are commonly found in the shallow coastal waters of temperate seas. They spend the majority of their time inactive, partially buried in sand, often moving only with the sway of the tide. The stingray’s colouring commonly reflects the seafloor’s shading, camouflaging it from predatory sharks and larger rays. Their flattened bodies are composed of pectoral fins joined to their head and trunk with an infamous tail trailing behind. While the stingray’s eyes peer out from its dorsal side, its mouth, nostrils, and gill slits are situated on its underbelly. Its eyes are therefore not thought by scientists to play a considerable role in hunting. Like its shark relatives, the stingray is outfitted with electrical sensors called ampullae of Lorenzini. Located around the stingray’s mouth, these organs sense the natural electrical charges of potential prey. Many rays have jaw teeth to enable them to crush

2 mollusks such as clams, oysters, and mussels. The stingray’s spine, or barb, can be ominously fashioned with serrated edges and a sharp point. The underside may produce venom, which can be fatal to humans, and which can remain deadly even after the stingray’s death. That said, stingrays are generally docile and will swim close to divers and snorkelers without fear. Generally we don’t swim over them, especially in shallow water. We have many stingrays and stingarees, (stingarees have a fish like tail, rather than the pointed tail of the stingrays), visiting the sanctuary. The largest are the Eagle Rays and Smooth Rays who can be up to two metres or more from tip to tip. They sail through the water calmly and majestically like giant bats. It is quite a thrill to see them cruise by when you are snorkeling. Eagle Rays will often come in to shallow water seeking fish scraps at known

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fishermen’s locations. So close to shore in fact that their wing tips are half out of the water at times. Smaller rays are common, and some quite beautiful, as is this Spotted Ray, (Urolopus gigas). The Fiddler Ray, of placid nature and common in the sanctuary, is more correctly known as the Banjo Shark. It has no barb. Through the experience of Mike Letch, we have developed techniques for examining Banjo Sharks, (and Port Jackson Sharks), for leeches and other irritants. Our usual advice for people walking over sea grass beds if they feel they have to, (best not to of course), is to shuffle, as stingrays do like to settle into sea grass and if trodden on, can react by swinging their barbed tail over in defence!

Ray Lewis President, Marine Care Ricketts Point

Invasion of the Nurdles Recently, together with my fellow Environmental Education Officer Kirsten Friend, I was conducting an audit of litter on Sandringham Beach. We wanted to gather some data, ahead of an upcoming litter reduction campaign, that showed the amount and types of litter present on the beach. You would expect the most common type of litter to be cigarettes or drink containers. However what we found were dozens of little round pieces of semi-transparent plastic.

They were literally everywhere, so what are they?

Called ‘Nurdles’, these small beads of plastic are an intermediate product in the production of plastic. Produced in their millions (if not billions) they are transported to manufacturers that mould them into products for the consumer to purchase. So how are they ending up on our beaches and why does it even matter?

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Firstly I needed to figure exactly where they were coming from.

Nurdles bond with persistent organic pollutants (colloquially known as POPs). They are made up of pollutants that do not break down - such as dichloro-diphenyltrichlorethene (DDT) and dioxins. In fact they attract these toxins so that concentrations of these toxins can be a million times higher than in surrounding waters.

Nurdles are potentially spilled when they are produced and when they are moved from container to container during transport (essentially a giant vacuum tube is used to achieve this). Being plastic they are lightweight and float and so are carried by wind and rain down our storm drains and eventually into Port Phillip Bay.

Both DDT and dioxins are endocrine disruptors. They mimic oestrogen and can disrupt normal human development. Pre-natal exposure even in very low doses can cause irreversible damage. High levels of oestrogen-mimicking substances in the marine environment have resulted in the twilight zone-esque discovery of fish with both sets of gonads.

So basically they can be coming from either the producer, or any number of plastic manufacturers (or both). This posed a problem. How can I make a company accountable if I don’t know where they are coming from?

So finding these Nurdles on Sandringham Beach is a very bad thing.

In my opinion, the only acceptable number of Nurdles (or in fact any plastic) in the environment is zero. Also, given their size and ability to travel, it is much simpler to stop them from getting into the environment in the first place. So began my investigation into achieving just that.

the process that produces them. This was exciting news, as it meant that I could potentially trace the Nurdle back to its manufacturer. That brings you up to date on the investigation so far. Currently I am looking into getting a sample of the Nurdles tested to measure the amount of pollutants present and also to see if I can match the plastic to a specific manufacturer. In the meantime if you do come across a large amount of Nurdles on the beach, use the following numbers to call the EPA pollution hotline. Melbourne Metropolitan Area (03) 9695 2777 Outside Metropolitan Melbourne 1800 444 004 Tom Walsh Environmental Education Officer

During a conversation with a representative from the National Toxics Network, in which we discussed the impact of plastic on the marine environment, they mentioned that polymers are quite distinct; their structure is unique to

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answers with their parents or carers, and they are enthusiastic about the world and their place in it. Best of all, they enjoy being outside. Engaging these little children and their parents means catching their interest and motivating them to explore Bayside’s reserves and foreshore further. They develop an understanding of the importance to keep bushland in an urban environment. They not only gain knowledge, but they act as advocates when they use the outdoors with friends and family.

Enviro Kids

Enviro Kids offers age related fun activities. In August the playgroup started at Ricketts Point. We watched pelicans and other birds, collected interesting items on the beach and learned through Kim Croker what it could be. Children contributed

their own beach experiences and learned to bring the collected items back to the beach. In September we concentrated on an indigenous plant, the ‘Weddingbush.’ We examined leaf and flower shapes and where it can be found in Balcombe Park. In October the playgroup was part of the ‘Water for Wildlife’ project. At Half Moon Bay the children listened to the different birds, learned what they need to eat and drink and what our responsibilities are. They practised building a nest in a tree branch that was safe enough to hold eggs, and they potted a bowl that holds water for birds. In December the playgroup conducted the Baykeeper’s shell research at Hampton Beach.

Plans for 2011 include: • Bugs and Butterflies; • Clean up Australia; • Get rid of it - weed removal at Balcombe Park; and • Plant, protect and water! It is a fully packed program for the kids and we look forward to meeting them all. Kim Clement Facilitator Enviro Kids Barbara Jakob Coordinator Bayside Environment Friends Network

“Our first teachers are our feet, our hands and our eyes” Jean Jacques Rousseau Enviro Kids Playgroup Bayside was formed in August 2010 after a very successful trial at World Environment Day. Up to 10 three to five year olds meet with their parents monthly in a different reserve or on the foreshore. Members of Friends groups participate when the activities are conducted in the reserve they volunteer in. A survey undertaken by Bayside City Council has shown that parents of young children have a keen interest in sustainability and looking after the environment, in order to provide a better, healthier future for

their children. These children spend only 10 percent of their leisure time outside, compared to 30 percent twenty years ago. There are several reasons for this development: • Both parents work now and mothers return to the work force before children start school. • Greater population and more high density living in the city suburbs leaves less parkland and vacant land for children to freely explore. • Technology is much more influential in our lives – recreation

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and leisure time is more sedentary in front of computers and game consoles (for parents and for children). • Safety concerns see parents less likely to allow their children to go out unsupervised. During the ages of three-to-five years children develop a range of skills that are especially important for self-esteem and learning: They learn through their senses and ask complex questions; they are open to exploration, experiments and willing to try things; they enjoy finding

banksia bulletin — summer 2011

1. Sweet Wattle (Acacia suaveolens) 2. Running Postman (Kennedia prostata)

WINIFRED WADDELL AND BAYSIDE Winifred Waddell loved wildflowers. She is remembered in Bayside through the reservation which bears her name and is located in Gramatan Avenue at the south eastern corner of Long Hollow. In Springtime, visitors may discover Golden Guinea (Hibbertia species), White Heath (Epacris impressa), scarlet Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata) and Sweet Wattle (Acacia suavolens) which flourish` among the reserve’s Eucalypts and Cherry Ballart. Born in Carlisle, England in 1884, Waddell graduated with a science degree; and journeyed to Australia in 1915. She became a teacher of mathematics at Melbourne Church of England Girls’ Grammar School, and later a tutor in mathematics at Trinity College, University of Melbourne. She maintained a lifelong interest in botany and once settled in Melbourne spent much time riding or walking through the bush. She understood the importance of creating an organisation through which like-minded people could

work for a common cause. Hence, in 1949, she formed the Wildflowers Preservation Group of the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria. This later was transformed into an independent body – the Native Plants Preservation Society of Victoria. Waddell served as its first honorary secretary from 1952, until she retired due to ill health, in 1967, five years before she died at the age of 87.

Victoria, Maryborough,Vic., 1976) was published as her memorial. The book is a collection of the articles she wrote for The Junior Age (between 1961 and 1964) which she trusted would appeal to children, as well as adults. Elizabeth Cochrane drew the illustrations accompanying each article in the memorial book and Jean Galbraith undertook the sensitive task of editing.

She also draws attention to ‘Our Bushland Enemies’ . (Diary, p.19) in a way that many workers in our bushlands will find familiar. ‘The worst in Victoria is the South African Boneseed, Chrysanthememoides …. Any public spirited person who values the country’s natural flora can do something to check its further spread ….Watch out for this enemy of native plants.’

Waddell became deeply concerned at the disappearance of beautiful Australian flora and worked to have protective fencing established in threatened areas. In the 1950s, when local Beaumaris Tree Preservationists were urging Sandringham City Council to conserve the Gramatan Avenue bushland, she lent her support and made a financial contribution to the cost of the fence.

Bayside residents would find the pages on Coastal Plants (Wildflower Diary, pp. 114-115) of particular interest. Waddell writes about the plants to be seen in January, showing her keen powers of observation. ‘It is unnecessary to go farther than Black Rock to see Sea-box (Atriplex buxifolia) which is now in flower… each flower has five white slightly-twisted petals spreading from an orange-coloured flower tube, and is followed by berry-like orange to red fruits. Seabox still grows abundantly on the foreshore, and its seed is collected for propagation by the Bayside Community Nursery.

Winifred Waddell was awarded the MBE for her ‘outstanding public service’ and the Australian Natural History Medallion of the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria. Her knowledge and energy contributed greatly to the movement to value and care for the wildflowers she loved, and it is fitting that she has a memorial in Bayside.

Winifred Waddell aimed to educate people through her writing as well as through personal enthusiasm. Wildflower Diary (Native Plants Preservation Society of

banksia bulletin — summer 2011

Valerie Tarrant Bayside Resident and Coordinator George St Reserve

banksia bulletin — summer 2011

Creature Feature

submitted to the museum from this same time, all found at Ricketts Point.

During stormy weather in August 2010 a strange creature was washed onto the shores of Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary. A 160 mm long pale coloured Holothuroid (sea-cucumber) was found by local naturalist John Eichler and submitted to Museum Victoria (MoV) for identification. John, who is a member of the Field Naturalists of Victoria Marine Research Group (MRG), was surprised to hear back from MoV scientist Mark O’Loughlin that three other similar specimens were also

The creature is a soft-bodied slug-like Echinoderm, often called a sea-cucumber, that lives in fine sediments. It feeds on plankton or detritus and has a ring of tentacles around the mouth that can be retracted if disturbed. A similar more common grey or brown coloured species of Holothuroid is Australostichopus mollis. This local species grows to 200 mm length and has pimples all over the body surface.

Recently I searched in my archive and found the first official minutes of BEFN from February 2008. Some exerts include:

• Improve the website at Bayside City Council

Thank you everybody for coming to the encouraging start of the new Bayside Environmental Friends Network on February 20, 2008.

• A flyer for all Friends groups would make it easier for the public to recognise the groups; A combined logo adds to that; nametags with the logo help identifying and makes it easier to speak to the Friends

• The public is not well informed about the Friends groups and their work • Friends groups have not enough participants/members • Communication between groups within and outside Bayside could be improved Several suggestions were made: • Speakers from outside for teaching and infusing new ideas

Dr Mel Mitchell Committee Member Marine Care Ricketts Point Photographs by John Eichler

The museum has since reported to John that his specimen is of a species that has not been previously identified and may be a new scientific discovery. MoV has submitted samples to a laboratory in the USA for DNA analysis to determine if these specimens are indeed a new species.

Review and outlooks for Bayside Environmental Friends Network (BEFN)

We had a lively exchange about current needs for the Friends Groups.

Discoveries like this one demonstrate that there is still much to learn about the marine environment. We are indeed lucky that places like Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary are put aside for protection of marine life, including those species that still remain to be discovered.

• Professional display material needs to be available

• A new starter pack for interested people needs to be put together • Another action day like the ‘Nature Discovery Day’ provides a common goal. What an achievement since then! BEFN’s first accomplishment was a Friends flyer. 15 Friends were sitting at Hampton Community Centre in 2008 working hard to find the right words to describe the valuable work

banksia bulletin — summer 2011

they are doing. In record time the flyer was finished and has been well used since then. Working on what they share, the engagement for the environment, this brought the Friends groups closer together and prepared the groundwork for the at BEFN. A first Bayside Forum saw guest speakers like Brendan Conden from Climate Positive, or students from Sandringham Secondary College encouraging the Friends to continue and extend their engagement. Other guest speakers have done likewise at the monthly meetings. Display material has been developed which promotes the Friends work wherever we are invited to be. Joan Couzoff, Friends of Balcombe Park, has designed a logo for the Network and as I am writing this it is with the designer getting its computer appropriated finishing touches. A new starter pack for people interested in volunteering has been developed and will be published shortly. We are also learning how to use ‘Facebook’ as

a tool to inform the public about the Friends work.

has shown that there are still two areas that need more focus.

The public face of BEFN showcases an abundance of events and great participation by our members in a range of community initiatives; Nature Discovery Days, a Focus Group for Open Space, ‘Breakfast with Birds,’ active involvement in the development of the Community Plan for Bayside, being part of the annual Seniors’ week, working on ‘Living Links’ in the catchment area, and creating awareness for school children and seniors about the necessity of local links in the lead up to World Environment Day 2010. The Network now runs a monthly environmental playgroup to educate pre-schoolers and parents about indigenous plants and local wildlife and ensure our work is multi generational. We are also proud of winning the ‘Keep Australia beautiful award’ in 2009.

The numbers of volunteers in the Friends groups for the monthly working bees are slowly declining. Nowdays people tend to volunteer on a less regular basis and need constant encouragement to do so. Last year’s public working bee at Watkins Bay has proven that people are interested to come when they get a personal invitation. There needs to be a connection between people. Only then are they reassured and encouraged to join in. In 2011 Bayside Environment Friends Network will work on this, and develop steps to invigorate the groups.

A lot has been achieved during the last three years: The recent strategic planning meeting for the Network

Working in Open Space Strategy groups, developing the Bayside Community Plan and other local events, have shown that community groups and individuals really understand the significance of looking after reserves and the foreshore. The historical significance of how the area looked before European settlement, as well as

banksia bulletin — summer 2011

the uniqueness of indigenous plants and animals in Bayside and beyond is of utmost importance. Their relevance to the environment is a message that needs to be spread to stakeholders and the public. Bayside Environment Friends Network plans for 2011 include collaborating with other community groups to encourage their members to support the work the Friends are doing. In December 2010 Genevieve Siggins reflected at her year 6 graduation ceremonies at Woodleigh School: “Everything in the world is put there for a reason, and as human beings we need to be able to maintain this balance for future generations, and all the living things we share the earth with.” With these encouraging words I wish us all a successful 2011. Barbara Jakob Coordinator Bayside Environmental Friends Network

Friends of Bayside Working bee times for February and March 2011

Time/Day

Tawny Frogmouth sightings In early September we noticed magpies attacking something in a huge gum tree in a neighbours’ garden. A check with the binoculars revealed a Tawny Frogmouth firmly established in a magpie’s nest - no wonder the magpies were upset! After roosting there for a few weeks we figured that it had to be hatching an egg or two. Sure enough a few weeks later junior appeared. In early November, Junior and Mum and Dad took to checking out the neighbourhood and perching in various trees during the day. One of those trees was right by our back door which is where I took these photos.

Tawny Frogmourth (Podargus strigoides) Photographs by David Peake

February

March

Balcombe Park

Last Sunday 10am – noon

Bay Rd

2nd Saturday 10am – noon

Bayside Environmental Friends Network

Last Monday 4pm – 6pm

Bayside Community Nursery

Every Thursday & Saturday 10am – noon

BRASCA

Tuesdays 6.30am – 8.30am

Brighton Dunes

Tuesdays 8am – 10am

1, 8, 15, 22

1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Cheltenham Park

1st Sunday 10am – noon

Cheltenham Primary

Contact school ph. 9583 1614

Donald MacDonald

1st Sunday 10am – noon

Enviro Kids

2nd Friday 9.30am – 11.30am

George St

3rd Sunday 10am – noon

Gramatan

1st Sunday 1pm – 3pm

Long Hollow

Last Sunday 1pm – 3pm

Merindah Park and Urban Forest

2nd Sunday 10am – 2pm

Friends of Native Wildlife

1st Saturday 9.30am

Contact Michael Norris ph. 95210804

Ricketts Point Landside

3rd Tuesday 12.30pm – 2.30pm

Table Rock

Last Tuesday 12.30pm – 2.30pm

Watkins Bay

Last Wednesday 1pm – 3pm

Contact Nursery: ph. 9583 8408 Contact coordinator (Janet Ablitt): ph. 9589 6646

David Peake Bayside Resident

banksia bulletin — summer 2011