Banksia Bulletin summer 2013/14

summer 2013/2014

Update from Cheltenham Primary

Watch for Bayside wildlife this summer

Our splendid Bayside beaches

and foreshore

Research Local Nature Kit a great success

banksia bulletin — summer 2013/20142

From the MayorWelcome to the summer edition of the Banksia Bulletin.

What a magnificent spring season we had with just enough rain to prepare our gardens for the hot summer months.

Bayside’s Spring Open Days were certainly a success this year with many residents and visitors inspecting our wonderful reserves, many for the first time. It has been an exceptional season for the wildflowers in the Heathlands due to the much-needed rain – more than we’ve had for many years. Our Open Days are always the perfect time to see the reserves at their best, with many species of heath, orchids and flowering.

Speaking of great successes, Bayside was the number one Victorian City to participate in this year’s Garage Sale Trail. One hundred and twenty-eight households, two shopping villages and hundreds of individuals got involved in the annual program by buying and selling pre-loved goods. In total, Baysiders purchased approximately 31,000 secondhand goods on the day thus reducing the overall impact on our environment if these items were sent to landfill. What an environmental win!

Summer by the Sea is another great event Baysiders can look forward to again this year. This summer Bayside Environmental Friends Network (BEFN) and Marine Care Ricketts Point will be running a series of informative and exciting events to get Baysiders out and about and thinking about the importance of our natural environment. We hope to see you and your family at one of the many local events during January.

As Bayside’s newly elected Mayor, I look forward to meeting with as many of you as possible over the coming year as we work together creating an even “greener” Bayside and promoting the projects undertaken by our wonderful environmental volunteer community.

I trust that you, your family and friends enjoy this edition of the Banksia Bulletin and may I take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the festive season and hope you all have a happy and healthy 2014.

Cr Laurence EvansMayor Bayside City Council

Front cover image

Horny Cone-bush Isopogon ceratophyllus photo by Pauline Renolds

Back cover image

Sea shells by the Brighton seashore photo by Triér Murphy

banksia bulletin — summer 2013/2014 3

In this ISSUEOther articles Special featuresSummer by the Sea 6 Barbara Jakob

Onion Orchids 8 Alan Sherlock

Planting in Bayside 9 Michael Norris

Bayside Built 1O Environment Awards Danielle King

Celebrating 11 bushland reservesValerie Tarrant

Open Garden 13 Day wrap up Pauline Reynolds

National Tree Day 14 Daniel Noonan

Batting for Bayside 15Elizabeth Walsh

Kids Corner 22 (Water for Wildlife) Megan Macindo and Elizabeth Walsh

Xanthorrhoea Minor 23 (Small Grass Tree)Rob Saunders

Balcombe Park 24 Ian O’Loughlin and Joan Couzouff

Volunteer opportunities 25

1216

Update from Cheltenham Primary James Wilson

Research Local Nature Kit a great success Sue Raverty and Barbara Jakob

Watch for Bayside wildlife this summer Michael Norris20

4 Our splendid Bayside beaches and foreshoreRaymond V Lewis


Our splendid Bayside beaches and foreshoreNot only do we live alongside the world’s cleanest Bay next to a major city, but we have become so used to its beauty, that most take it all for granted.

Our marine sanctuary at Ricketts Point is the jewel in the crown of Bayside.

Serendipity is our constant companion as we walk our beaches, as evidenced by just some recent events.

Echidnas waddling about happily in various locations, a wallaby sitting in the water at Watkins Bay looking at passersbys, regular dolphin and Australian Fur Seal sightings, increasing numbers of

locally rare sea birds resting on our reefs, Pink and Grey Galahs, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and Rainbow Lorikeets in conclave in some of our larger trees. These sightings and more, have become almost ‘ho hum…’

A new record of some 120 pelicans staying over into autumn passed largely unnoticed.

We were even graced by the recent parade of the tall ships, just offshore. On that day our

foreshores were crowded by ‘out of towners’, with their cameras.

We have unspoilt beaches and splendid wild scenery, especially along our exposed cliff faces, and we are a fossil paradise for world researchers.

And for those who like to snorkel, we have underwater gardens that rival anywhere in the world.

Along our beaches we have intertidal reefs that encourage the exploration of our many

Rock Pool Ramble photo by Ray Lewis


Resting Spoonbill photo by David Reinhard

invertebrates, sea stars, limpets, crabs, shrimps, anemones, top shells, mussels and much more.

We are blessed with a line of stylish beachside coffee shops where we can enjoy time with our friends, we have kilometers of ‘themed’ bayside trails and in most places, we are a dog walkers paradise.

Even on the worst of days, we have the high drama of angry

seas at our doorstep and many, many, awe inspiring sunsets across the Bay to the west.

There are no doubt other great places in this wide world of ours, but few, if any, are so wonderful, so free, and so close and accessible for so many people, as is this seventeen kilometre long gift of nature that lies on our doorstep.

We are indeed most fortunate to be living in Bayside.

Raymond V Lewis OAM

Ray Lewis is the President of MESAC inc and the Citizen Science Officer for Marine Care Ricketts Point inc. He is a local marine photographer and author. He may be contacted via email: [email protected]

Male Saltbush photo by Ray Lewis

Seastars at Half Moon Bay

SS Europa photo by Emily Baulch


Summer by the Sea is Victoria’s annual celebration of the coast.

Bayside’s Summer by the Sea program will take place from 5 to 26 January. The statewide program includes hundreds of individual activities in over 90 locations along the Victorian coastline.

The program provides a diverse range of fun and informative events and activities for locals and visitors alike to explore, understand, conserve and enjoy our unique marine and coastal environments.

Different activities are suitable for different age groups, with opportunities for both kids and adults to get involved.

Discover the wonders of Bayside’s special coast this summer.

To book visit http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/ or https://www.facebook.com/summerbythesea

For more information about local activities, please contact:

Barbara Jakob Bayside Environment Friends Networkmobile: 04 0803 2963 [email protected]

Michael Coleman Marine Care Ricketts [email protected]

Summer by the Sea

mailto:[email protected]


Bayside Environment Friends Network and Marine Care Ricketts Point present

Summer by the Sea 2014Sunday05.01.2014

9.00 am – 11.00 am

Enviro walk Meet at Love Street Car Park, BeaumarisMEL 85 J2

Take a guided walk through Bayside’s coastal environment towards Sandringham. Discover flora and fauna on stations; suitable for children and adults.

BEFN

Sunday05.01.2014

9.00 am – 12.00 pm

Ride on the wild side

Meet at the car park opposite Trey Bit Reserve, SandringhamMEL 76 F8

Grab your bike and join us on a guided ride along Bayside’s foreshore towards Black Rock. There are stations along the way to explain local flora and fauna.

BEFN

Wednesday08.01.2014

6.00 pm – 8.30 pm

Geocaching Cheltenham Park, enter from Park Road, CheltenhamMEL 86 G1

Geocaching is modern treasure hunting with a GPS. It is a fun activity in the outdoors and one discovers a lot about the local environment. Suitable for children (8yrs +) and teens with a parent. GPS supplied.

BEFN

Sunday12.01.2014

9.30 am – 11.30 am

Enviro Kids: Boon Wurrung and Banksia

Meet at Ricketts Point Car Park B17 (north)

Discover the magnificent Banksia trees and how the Boon Wurrung people used leaves, flowers and cones.

BEFN

Saturday18.01.2014

9.00 am – 12.00 pm

Dog’s breakfast Brighton, Sanddown SpitMEL 67 B9

Breakfast for dogs and their owners BEFN

Saturday18.01.2014

9.00 am – 11.00 am

Snorkelling for first-timers

Yacht club carpark north of the Teahouse

First time snorkeler’s introductory session at Ricketts Point. Limit: 20 persons

Marine Care Ricketts Point

Saturday18.01.2014

11.00 am – 12.30 pm

Rockpool ramble

Beaumaris Life Saving Club south of Teahouse

Rock pools contain an amazing diversity of life. Come and learn about them. Sponsored by Beaumaris Community Bank.


Saturday18.01.2014

12.00 pm – 3.00 pm

Free BBQ Beaumaris Life Saving Club south of Teahouse

Come and share your experiences at Ricketts Point


Saturday18.01.2014

2.00 pm – 3.30 pm

A ‘Nairm Marr’ Coastal walk, with Raymond Lewis

Beaumaris Yacht Club north of the Teahouse

This is a foreshore walk and talk covering Bay history, local human prehistory, marine life along the foreshore, fossils, and local native plants and their uses.


Sunday19.01.2014

9.00 – 11.00 Snorkelling for first-timers

Yacht club carpark north of the Teahouse

First time snorkeler’s introductory session at Ricketts Point. Limit: 20 persons


Sunday19.01.2014

11 am – 12.30pm

Rockpool ramble

Beaumaris Life Saving Club south of Teahouse

Rock pools contain an amazing diversity of life. Come and learn about them. Sponsored by Beaumaris Community Bank.


Tuesday21.01.2014

9.00 am – 11.00 am

Enviro walk Meet at Love Street Car Park, BeaumarisMEL 85 H3

Take a guided walk through Bayside’s coastal environment towards Sandringham. Discover flora and fauna on stations; suitable for children and adults.

BEFN

Tuesday21.01.2014

9.00 am – 12.00 pm

Ride on the wild side

Meet at the car park opposite Trey Bit Reserve, SandringhamMEL 76 F8

Grab your bike and join us on a guided ride along Bayside’s foreshore towards Black Rock. There are stations along the way to explain local flora and fauna.

BEFN

Friday24.01.2014

9.30 am – 11.30 am

Enviro Kids: She sells sea shells

Ricketts Point between Beaumaris Lifesaving Club andDalgetty Road MEL 86 D9

Mud Pies and other sandy adventures BEFN

Sunday26.01.2014

6.00 pm – 8.30 pm

Geocaching Cheltenham Park, enter from Park Road, CheltenhamMEL 86 G1

Geocaching is modern treasure hunt with a GPS. It is a fun activity in the outdoors and one discovers a lot about the local environment. Suitable for children (8yrs +) and teens with a parent. GPS supplied.

BEFN


Onion Orchids (Microtus sp.)Onion Orchids are tough little critters!

They are indigenous to Bayside and are found in a number of our reserves.

They produce a single stem with a narrow leaf similar to an onion plant. The spike of tiny, green, crowded flowers emerges from about half way up the stem - rather like a miniature Gladiolus.

Recently a colony has been found growing on the nature strip on the corner of Sims Street and Fernhill Road, Sandringham. They must be a remnant population that has survived residential development. They are competing with a dense cover of Buffalo Grass (Bouteloua dactyloides) and would have survived countless ‘assaults’ from lawn mowers, walking feet, hard rubbish collections and the like, over many decades. Currently the adjacent house block is being redeveloped and the nature strip has been somewhat ‘neglected’ allowing the orchids to grow and flower without having their ‘heads’ constantly cut off.

In 1985, my family moved to a house on a large block in Keats Street, Sandringham. The house was built in the early 1920s and the garden was converted into a typical ‘European style’ garden with exotic trees. Sixty-five years later a number of the original trees were fully grown and very majestic. Unfortunately a few were subsequently lost when Armillaria fungus moved through the street.

Soon after our arrival, my nine year old son Oliver, who already knew about orchids and had ‘very good eyes’ discovered an Onion Orchid colony in our front garden! I think it is very important for all our Friend’s Groups to try and ensure this type of knowledge is passed on to the younger generation if we are to have continuing carers for our precious reserves. Oliver now works at The Royal Botanical Gardens, Cranbourne!

Subsequently our lawn mower was taught to divert around the colony and over the following nineteen years the colony flourished and spread to several square metres in extent, flowering most years in the spring.

In February 2003 we sold the house and moved to Beach Road. Unfortunately the Keats Street block was subsequently ‘extensively redeveloped’ and ‘our orchids’ are probably now buried under tons of concrete! This raises an important issue we should all seriously consider. What should we do in situations like this? Is it reasonable to transplant these important indigenous plants to safer habitat if they are threatened?

Alan SherlockLocal Resident

Onion Orchids by Pauline Reynolds

Onion Orchid by Pauline Reynolds


Planting in BaysidePlanting seedlings and other stock from the Bayside Community Nursery can be fun and it’s great to see the results of your labours.

So I’ve enjoyed seeing Correas and Goodenias thriving at my home. I keep on forgetting to prune them, but I must because there are no kangaroos to keep them in shape!

I’ve also happily joined in community plantings in the foreshore or parks. These have usually been to reinforce the existing vegetation, or to replace the weeds that all too often thrive along the coast, or to create new vegetation beds. The community plantings are a great way to meet people.

Planting in our bushlands is different. I understand the reasons for giving a home to rare species, such as the Juniper Wattle (Acacia ulicifolia) planted in Bay Road Heathland following the discovery of one or two plants on the Royal Melbourne Golf Course. And I like the idea of boundary planting to protect our special places from wind-blown seed and intrusions from neighbouring roads.

Ian Parson’s photographs show some of the wonderful results of planting earlier this year in a bare area in the north-east of Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary. There, an ecological burn yielded little except dense growths, which the Friends helped to thin, of Twiggy Daisy-Bush Olearia ramulosa and Black Wattle Acacia mearnsii.

Planting inevitably means disturbing the soil, therefore creating beds for weeds. It takes precious time to prepare sites, at the cost of weeding and burns. Planting in bushlands takes plants that usually could be more effectively planted on nature strips, in private gardens, at roundabouts, and numerous sites in parks desperately needing local habitat and a chance for people to understand where they live.

Michael NorrisLocal Resident

This article is a personal view of planting in Bayside and does not necessarily represent the views of Friends of Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary or Bayside City Council

Button everlasting Helichrysum scorpioides

Wedding Bush Ricinocarpus pinifolius photo by Ian Parsons

Bent Goodenia Goodenia geniculata


Introducing the winner of the 2013 Bayside Built Environment Awards Ecologically Sustainable Design category – 24 Glencairn Avenue East Brighton.

This property has been meticulously designed and built in total harmony with the natural environment. The home features north facing and efficient glazing to windows in living areas. It also has exposed polished concrete flooring providing good thermal mass, which has proven to deliver high levels of comfort for minimal active heating and cooling.

The extensive use of recycled timber, high levels of insulation and many natural internal finishes also contributes to the environmental benefits this property offers.

Keeping the energy use in check is the ‘real time’ energy monitoring and management system, highly efficient lighting, hot water and heating, and 4.25 kW Solar PV array generating onsite clean energy.

In the garden is a natural pool (not heated and no chemicals) and landscape planting which is highly water efficient and assists with summer shading. There is also a large underground rain water tank that services much of the property including toilets, laundry, veggie garden, green wall, ponds and natural pool which minimise the

amount of potable water needed around the home.

The combination of these features, together with good use of space (keeping the footprint efficient and functional) has resulted in a beautiful, highly sustainable home that is very light on environmental footprint, and the pocket to run.

Our congratulations to the owner, designers and builder for creating such an inspiring home.

Danielle King

Sustainability ConsultantGreen Moves Australia

Homes in harmony

winner of the 2013

Bayside Built Environment Awards Ecologically Sustainable Design

category

LANDSCAPE DESIGN BY: Philip Johnson Landscape

ARCHITECTURE BY: by Zen Architects


Here and over there: Celebrating bushland reservesIt is interesting to compare how different conservation reserves have been established across the country.

Bayside’s George Street Reserve, unlike Kelly’s Bush in Sydney, was established in a peaceful manner. The Sandringham City Council in 1924 with considerable foresight set the land aside from building development, and it has provided interest and pleasure for residents and visitors ever since.

Kelly’s Bush however, became the site of a memorable conflict over land use. The 4.8 hectare area is situated in Hunter’s Hill with bushland clothing the land down to the waterside. When local residents discovered a plan to develop the area, they made representations to the authorities in order to ensure the land they valued was kept intact and free of housing.

The residents failed in their intent, but did not give up. A radical move was made in order to gain the support of the Builders Labourers, led by Jack Mundey, who described the Kelly’s Bush Battlers as ‘Upper Class Tea Ladies’. The Battlers and Unionists created a successful working relationship and the first of the ‘Green Bans’ became an important part of conservation history.

As a result of the persistent efforts, the developer abandoned the proposed plan and Kelly’s Bush was saved.

In the former City of Sandringham, the early 1970s saw successful efforts

to care for the local trees, shrubs and wildflowers that clothed the foreshore, but it was not until the following decade that serious interest developed in the George Street Reserve. Today, the new signboards inside the George Street entrance record the history of the Reserve, including the important role of fire in the regeneration of heathland.

An unusual wildflower which has benefited from fire is the Sticky Longhead (Podatheca angustifolia). Once thought to be extinct in the area, the wildflower emerged after a wildfire in 2006. That same fire also resulted in the arrival of a Cassinia – Cassinia aculeata, which had not been sighted before.

The glorious Showy Eggs and Bacon Pea (Bossiaea cinaria) and Slender Sun Orchid (Thelmytra pauciflora) have also benefitted from the fire. Fire was once a tool of Aboriginal Australians, including the Boonerwrung of the Bayside area and beyond.

The visitors who came to the Reserve’s recent Spring Opening were delighted with the flowering.

We look forward to the arrival of more people who can walk the tracks and see the Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpos pinifolia) which flourishes in springtime.

Valerie Tarrant Joint Co-ordinator with Pauline Reynolds Friends of the George Street Reserve Thelymitra pauciflora

by Pauline Reynolds

Bossiaea cinerea Showy Bossiaea by Pauline Reynolds Ricinocarpus piniofolius Wedding Bush by Pauline Reynolds


Cheltenham Primary SanctuaryThe Cheltenham Primary School is very proud to be the custodians of a wonderful heathland Sanctuary located at the rear of our school. Thanks to the ongoing generous support of Bayside Council and the tireless efforts of the school Sanctuary Committee, we aim to maintain and improve this beautiful piece of native land.

The Sanctuary covers an area of 2.2 acres of native heathland and is home to a large array of native flora and fauna. This year we have continued our replanting program with native species provided by the Council. Many trees and grasses were planted by the students and volunteers of the Sanctuary Committee a few weeks before spring, giving the seedlings a chance to settle in before the warmer weather provides real growth. So far we are seeing good results from these plantings.

Our major work over spring has been once again tackling the weeds that also sprout back to life at this time of year. Thanks to the ongoing guidance and hard work from Andy, our Citywide Parkcare representative, we are seeing pleasing results as the beautiful native flowers come into bloom.

We have also uncovered the amphitheatre at the rear of the sanctuary which had become overgrown in recent years, and to our delight is being returned to an area that the students will get much use of. Thanks again to our students and volunteers who have worked so hard to bring this back to life.

As to be expected our unpredictable Victorian weather has thrown up its challenges, such as a large gum coming down in the recent strong winds. This will now be cultivated into natural habitat for the native animals that we are happy to report are thriving in the sanctuary.

We will continue our work over the summer months, removing more weeds, cultivating our new seedlings and restoring the pathways and amphitheatre, keeping secure a now rare piece of native heath land that few councils or schools in Victoria can claim to enjoy.

With the efforts of staff, students, volunteers and Bayside Council we are thrilled that the future is bright for the sanctuary - a place where students can learn the true value of our native flora and fauna and experience the beauty of our local habitat.

This is a place we should all be proud of and work to maintain and protect as so few truly native areas of remnant vegetation and biodiversity still exist in our community today. Our greatest thanks goes to the generations before us at Cheltenham Primary school and Bayside Council that had the foresight to keep this pocket of land untouched for us and future generations to enjoy.

James Wilson Cheltenham Primary Sanctuary


Although the Family Life Open Garden Day was held on Sunday the 13th October which, people will remember, was not the best of days to look at gardens. However despite the weather, the day was again a great success. The gardens were beautiful with all the lovely garden hosts putting in hours of work so that the gardens were shown off to their best advantage which wasn’t an easy job because of all the winds during the weeks leading up to the event.

In fact, a most beautiful eucalypt fell all over the front garden at 5 Bellaire Court two weeks before the day creating havoc and, of course, sadly leaving a huge gap where there had once been a beautiful tree.

About 730 people turned out in rain coats and umbrellas and enjoyed the gardens. The garden owners, sponsors, sausage sizzle and devonshire tea contributed to the figure of $33,000 raised on

the day which will help to run Family Life Community Bubs Programme.

Thank you to all the readers of the Banksia Bulletin who continue to support the day in so many ways, and who appreciate the variety of gardens we are given by the generous people who open their gardens for use each year. See you all next year.

Pauline Reynolds

Joan, Mia and Marylyn enjoyed participating

in the Open Garden Day

Family Life Open Garden Day wrap up


National Tree DayThe rains had finally arrived! The staff at Citywide, along with the volunteers, were ecstatic when the first rains arrived just in time to commence the 2013 Bayside planting season.

The volunteer force was in fine form with their trowels in hand, watering cans at their side and most importantly, plants ready to set root deep into the sandy soils within our reserves and foreshore.

National Tree Day is one of the highlights within the planting season calendar that brings together the community.

This year Citywide had prepared two sites along the foreshore in Sandringham. One site adjacent to the Sandringham Yacht Club and the other site situated in front of the Sandringham Football Club, which is also neighbouring 2012 National Tree Day site.

Preparing the sites, many months of chemical weed control and

manually removing weeds. Cubic metres of large African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) were removed in order to make space for approximately 2,000 indigenous plants.

Both sites have been very successful and the survival rate of plants has been phenomenal with an array of plant species specific to the sites and their conditions. Not only are the sites aesthetically pleasing, but the number in birds, reptiles and other native fauna have increased. These animals use the generous amount of species of plants for food, shelter, and of course also help to spread the seed.

Despite the variable weather patterns, plants have been thriving and producing spectacular floral displays for all to admire. Not only are our indigenous plants thriving, but so are the dreadful weeds we work so hard to manage.

This planting season the main weeds volunteer groups and the bushland crew dedicated most of their time towards were Panic veldtgrass (Ehrharta erecta), Annual veldtgrass (Ehrharta longiflora) and the many thistles from the Asteraceae family we have here in Bayside.

Fortunately our hard working volunteer groups and Citywide’s bushland team manage to keep down weed distribution and have provided another spectacular flowering spring.

The Bayside Community Nursery is filling up with tubes, pots and springrings, and it won’t be long before 2014 planting season will be upon us and they too will be getting planted into our reserves and foreshore.

Daniel Noonan Coastal crewCitywide

Volunteers helping out the Citywide crew on National Tree Day

National Tree Day planting


Keeping down the quantity of insects in Bayside WITHOUT chemicals is being carried out by our natural and elusive microbat population.Small bats with wing spans of 100mm to 200mm and weighing as little as 10 to 40 grams, quietly go about eating up to half their body weight in insects each warm evening. That is when mosquitoes hatch and breed. Insects are wonderful food for birds and bats and Bayside’s natural environment is a good home for them.

It is really hard to see many of these tiny microbats. Some of them flick around the tree tops at up to 30/40 kms per hour. Try to spot them at dusk or around street lights later on. As microbats use echolocation to zero in on their prey, various echo recording devices are used to record their high pitched sounds. Some people can hear just one of our species, the White-striped Freetail Bat (Tadarida australis).

Bayside Friends of Native Wildlife (FoNW) joined the Council sponsored ARCUE (Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology) Research Team on two public events over the last two years. Up to seventy people

each time learnt from highly skilled bat researchers about the lives of these tiny creatures. Most importantly we learnt about their habitat. Without places to sleep and food provision they cannot survive. It has been demonstrated that there is a varied population of ten plus species in Bayside.

Have you heard of the Chocolate Wattled bat (Chalinolobus morio), Gould’s Wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii) or the Little Forest bat (Vespadelus vulturnus)? They are the most common in Bayside. They appear to survive in more suburban habitats than some others. Some other species of microbat have been recorded but possibly only passing through while hunting for food. They can fly up to 30 kms in an evening.

Recent records in Bayside also list the:

• Southern free tail bat (Mormopterus sp)

• Eastern broad-nosed bat (Scotorepens orion)

• Common bentwing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii)

• Large-footed Myotis (Myotis adversus)

• Lesser long-eared bat (Nyctophilus geoffroyi)

• Southern forest bat (Vespadelus regulus)

FoNW are calling for residents to join in our search to see how widespread these creatures are. We want to find out if some have roosts in our area and how and where we can encourage home roosts for these creatures.

Next year we anticipate, over a few weeks in February or March, to call on families and individuals to test their areas for activity and to learn about an important part of Bayside’s Web of Life. We plan to have a core group, with an Anabat bat detector to encourage families and individuals to join in around your personal homes, your street with neighbours and maybe a local park as well. The core group will run the study, including managing and analysing the Anabat recordings. Results will be passed back to residents who take part in the activity and summarised for the City of Bayside and ARCUE.

Interested in the surveys of your local area or being in the core group? Please contact us at [email protected] or on Facebook.

Elizabeth WalshFriends of Native Wildlife

Batting for Bayside

Microbat photo by Andrew Harris

Anabat Detector


Research Local Nature – an Enviro Kids project Putting the kit togetherThe Enviro Kids Research Local Kit began with an innovative idea by the Enviro Kids team to create an online tool which would inspire young children to learn about their local natural environment.

Enviro Kids, as part of the Bayside Environmental Friends Network, asked some Friends with specialist knowledge of the environment to join the Research Local Nature team. We were delighted to be asked because it was a fantastic opportunity to share our love of the environment with children.

The team chose four topics: “Indigenous Trees”, “Birds”, “Insects and Other Invertebrates” and “Night Time in the Garden.” That was the easy part.

Choosing the content and condensing it all into a few pages of information was more difficult. We also had to make sure that the information was correct, presented in a language that the children could easily understand, and was in a way that they would find interesting, exciting and challenging. We also needed to

make the kit appeal to the adults helping the kids.

Email made it easy to work from home. Lots of messages circulated with suggestions, corrections, drafts and re-drafts. Finally, our part in the project was finished. It was then up to the rest of the team to put the kit together.

Sue Raverty Convenor Friends of Ricketts Point Landside

Using the kit‘There’s not really all those insects living in the garden?’ Imogen is a four (“and a half”) year old living in Brighton who is fascinated by all living creatures. I had just finished showing her the Enviro Kids Research Kit we were about to attempt. I assured her it was absolutely possible that all the insects, animals and plants listed in the kit could be found in her garden. Imogen’s response, ’I just can’t believe it. No way!’ So I set out to prove her wrong.

Imogen and I spent 2.5 hours slowly working our way through the kit, we laid very still and listened for birds, we searched every corner of the garden for insects and examined trees and bushes to determine their species. The most amazing part was the discussions the kit started. The more she saw and learned, the more she wanted to know.

Later that week we stayed up late “even after bed time” and practiced being still and quiet to watch for possums. Sadly we

couldn’t find any, but we did count more the 40snails!

Imogen wasn’t satisfied at the end of the research, she wanted to do more to encourage wildlife into her garden. Together we designed and made an insect hotel using a wooden box frame. We filled it with bamboo, pinecones, and wooden blocks with drilled holes to encourage more insects to make her garden their home. With the warmer weather coming Imogen decided her garden didn’t provide enough water for the wildlife. We found and placed two shallow water sources made from terracotta trays to supply insects, birds and native animals with a reliable supply of water over the hot summer.

The research kit is well worth the time it took to complete, as it is a gateway into new ideas, scientific thinking and appreciation of the natural environment for children.

Following are a few tips to ensure doing the kit with your children goes smoothly.

• Make sure you have read the kit prior to starting

• Have all the equipment you need ready to go

• Don’t try to do everything at once (I broke it into 3 sessions, this allowed Imogen to take her time with each page and investigate at her own pace)

• Be enthusiastic! If you find it genuinely interesting so will they!!

Megan Macindoe Student at ACU, Bachelor of Education


The Results The Research Local Nature Kit was downloaded an impressive 250 times from Council’s website within a few weeks. A lot of parents took the opportunity to spend some quality time with their children in the school holidays. Kindergarten and Primary School teachers in Melbourne and beyond used the kit for environmental education. Landcare coordinators as far as the Mallee sent us emails and recommend it to their Landcare groups.

If you haven’t yet completed the Research Local Nature Kit, download it today from Council’s website: www.bayside.vic.gov.au/researchlocalnature

Barbara JakobCoordinator, Bayside Environment Friends NetworkBarbara Jakob guided the team and is responsible for communication, initiation and coordination of the research kit.

Acknowledgement

‘Research local nature’ was developed in 2013 by a team of very committed people.

Many have volunteered their time and skills to help put this research kit together.

Our thanks go to:

Andrea Lange, Early Childhood Teacher at Hampton Community Kinder and Facilitator Enviro Kids

Aneirin Galloway McLean, Year 4, Firbank Grammar - Sandringham House

Cheryl Gardner, Retired Primary School Teacher and Facilitator Enviro Kids

Elizabeth Walsh, Friends of Native Wildlife

Ian Parsons, Friends of Native Wildlife

Kim Croker, Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve

Megan Macindoe, Student at ACU, Bachelor of Education

Michael Norris, Friends of Native Wildlife

Sal Anderson, Year 6, Firbank Grammar - Sandringham House, Environmental Captain

Staff from Bayside City Council’s Environmental Sustainability and Open Space Department.

Taliesin Galloway McLean, Year 7, St Leonard’s College

A special Thank you to Sue Raverty, Friends of Ricketts Point Landside for her creative ideas, ongoing advice, review and support whilst developing the kit.

A big thank you to our local photographers that donated all their photos.

Ian Parsons for the wattlebird on the water tap

Kim Croker for the lovely bug that accompanies you from front page to the last page of the research kit

Pauline Reynolds for her marvellous photos of indigenous trees

Steve Kuiter for all his birds, possums and moth photos taken with great patience

One of the many creatures you can spot in Bayside Backyards – a beautiful Lorikeet. Photo by Kim Crocker

http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/researchlocalnature

http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/researchlocalnature


The Bayside Community Nursery is located at 319 Reserve Road in Cheltenham and is open to the public from 10am to 12noon on Thursdays and Saturdays from April to October.

The nursery propagates local indigenous heathland species to provide trees, shrubs, and ground covers to revegetate our remnant heathlands, the coastal environment and suburban gardens.

Planting indigenous vegetation in public and private gardens is encouraged as these plants are naturally suited to our environment and do not require fertilisers, pesticides or regular watering once established.

Indigenous plants also create habitat for local native birds, butterflies and other animals, and preserve the natural heritage of Bayside’s environment now and for future generations.

Come along to to the Gala Open Day on Saturday 5 April 2014 from 9am-2pm. Free BBQ 11am – 1pm

Don’t forget to bring a box to take your plants home.

Please Note: No plants will be available for purchase before the Gala Day

For more information contact the nursery on 03 9583 8408.

Bayside Community Nursery

Gala Open Day coming soon…


Recently the Friends of Watkins Bay (FOWB) decided on a name change to Friends of Ricketts Point (FORP).

It was almost unanimous. There was no argument, rather a wistful love of Watkins Bay and the loss of its name. We currently do most of our work sat Ricketts Point so the name seems more suitable, and it would complement the Friends of Rickets Point Landside.

A problem is that many people do not know where Watkins Bay is despite it being in the Melway and

shown on maps. It is variously known as Dalgetty Road Beach or Dogs Beach.

The formation of the Marine Sanctuary it has raised the profile of Ricketts Point very much. In our small way we would like to be identified with that area too.

However it should be understood that nothing has really changed except our name.

Moira LongdenCoordinator Friends of Ricketts Point

Friends of Watkins Bay become Friends of Ricketts Point


Watch for Bayside wildlife this summer!There’s an amazing range of wildlife you can see in the summer in Bayside. Our records show that people have seen 17 species of butterfly and 159 birds between November and February in the last ten years!

Less eye-catching are a host of other creatures like reptiles, nocturnal mammals, spiders, and other invertebrates, with the most noticeable including frogs and wasps.

We have some small native wasps but there are three large ones. Yes, they can sting (don’t grab them!) but they don’t have colonial nests like those that European wasps defend so vigorously.

Sand-wasps (Bembix spp) are about 20mm long with blue and

black bands. You can easily see them along the foreshore walking tracks where they hide their young in burrows in the sand. They catch small insects and then dig furiously to return to their burrow, hoping they’ve survived the feet of walkers.

The foreshore is also where you are most likely to see the dramatic Spider-hunting Wasp (Heterodontonyx bicolor). Around twice as large as the Sand Wasp they catch spiders to take home to their young. Erika Anderson’s shot of one at the Bayside Community Nursery shows how brave they are!

The third wasp seems to be most common at playgrounds and other mulched areas. The beautiful Blue Flower Wasp

(Scolia soror) is about 30mm long and feeds on nectar. What you see in the mulch is a party when wasps emerge from their underground birth place: their mother made sure they were fed by injecting her eggs into the larvae of Christmas beetles.

Summer is also when our scarcest frog, the Peron’s Tree Frog can be heard; in quiet conditions from well over a kilometre away. No wonder it’s also called the Maniacal Cackling Frog. Go to www.frogs.org.au to listen to recordings of its call and those of other frogs.

A more familiar very loud summer sound is the cicadas that emerge after years in the soil. The photograph by Erika

Blue Flower Wasp (Scolia soror) on Melaleuca styphelioides photo by Peter Woodward

http://www.frogs.org.au

http://www.frogs.org.au


Anderson is our most common one, the Greengrocer Cicada (Cyclochila australasiae).

My favourite summer bird is the Musk Lorikeet. There are sometimes a few throughout year but most – as you might guess from their colours – arrive in large numbers to feed in particular on the Western Australian Flowering Gums (Corymbia ficifolia). They must nest here, though we have never found a hole. Listen for the wheezing calls of their young.

Amongst the special summer birds are the shorebirds that make the huge journey from the far north of Planet Earth to visit us, mainly at the rock platforms at Ricketts Point. Please take care not to disturb them. Many are small as you can see from John Eichler’s photograph on 19 October of the first Curlew Sandpiper to be definitely recorded in Bayside.

And there’s lot more wildlife under the sea. Go for a snorkel this summer!

Michael NorrisBayside Friends of Native Wildlife

Author’s Note: PS if anyone can identify the species of huntsman spider – or correct any information – please write to [email protected]

Musk lorikeets by Kellie Dene of My Wild Life

Sand Wasp photo by Kristi Ellingsen

Spider-hunting Wasp photo by Erika Anderson

Greengrocer Cicada photo by Erika Anderson

Curlew Sandpiper by John Eichler

mailto:[email protected]


Making your garden more nature friendlyComing into the warmer months there is a very simple step you can take to make your garden/court or yard more insect and animal friendly.

Water is vital for all forms of life.

Water helps birds digest the seeds obtained from grasses and shrubs, especially when the food supply is also under stress from drought and the plants themselves are drier than usual.

Adding a dish, tray or even filling a natural basin in a tree or log can provide water for an array of different native wild life.

Shallow bowls 2cm deep will help small birds and skinks. The edges should be about 1cm thick to allow perching. Glazing on the outside will prevent seepage while an unglazed, rougher inside will enable animals to grip.

If you don’t have a suitable dish at home, it is easy enough to make one out of air dry clay.

If you have worked with clay before, just free form your water bowl making sure it is not deeper than 5 cm and has an edge of about 1 cm for birds to sit on.

If you are new to clay follow these instructions:

1. Roll out a handful of clay on a board, being careful not to make it too thin so it doesn’t break. About 1 cm thick is good.

2. Use a bowl to measure and cut out a circle.

3. Use an upside down plate as a mould. Put either some fly screen or an old piece of fabric on your mould. This makes it easy to remove the clay after drying.

4. Lay the clay over the plate (this will make a dish a couple of centimetres deep). Make sure that the dish is still 1cm thick on the outer edges. Birds need this to perch.

5. Leave to dry. This might take a few days

6. Optional addition: You can use a glaze or waterproofing paint on the dish before placing it in the garden. However this is not necessary as the rough surface from the unglazed surface will prevent little animals from slipping in.

Don’t forget to ask your parent or guardian’s permission before making your water dish.

Megan Macindoe Elizabeth WalshEnviro Kids Friends of Native Wildlife

Banksia

A free form water dish created by Enviro Kids participants

Local artist Valda Cummins donated them to the ‘water for wildlife’ project. The dish is currently watering birds and animals along Bayside’s foreshore


Banksia

Xanthorrhoea minor (Small grass tree)Long Hollow Heathland had a wonderful display of Xanthorrhoea minor (Small grass tree) this season. One plant in particular was amazing. It had two dozen flower heads, which had somehow become twisted and tangled into a natural sculpture that looked quite bizarre up close. The explanation has to be the extended period of windy weather we experienced during spring. As the flower stems grew up and were knocked down by one gale, they gradually stiffened as they grew upwards again.

With a huge effort put into weeding (thanks to Citywide and the Friends), regeneration in the south east section of the reserve (now affectionately known as the ‘non-burn area’) has turned out well. Certainly the Xanthorrhoeas have appreciated the extra light. I think it is our best display of Xanthorrhoea minor in the past 30 years!

Rob SaundersCoordinator Friends of Long Hollow

Butterfiles on Xanthorrhoea

Xanthorrhoea minor Long Hollow


Balcombe ParkA number of years ago an uncontrolled fire tore through Balcombe Park Reserve. The fire was very hot and burnt much of the existing vegetation. Soon afterwards, a huge number of Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus pinifolius) seedlings were observed growing where the fire had been. Wedding Bush is considered difficult to propagate and grow, but in the north of Balcombe Park it is now abundant.

In September the purple-flowered Love Creeper (Comesperma volubile) twined through the white flowers of the Wedding Bush creating the perfect picture.

Ian O’Loughlin and Joan CouzoffFriends of Balcombe ParkPhotos by Ian O’Loughlin

Lovecreeper and wedding bush

Tortoise dies as a result of prohibited fishingA tortoise has been found dead near the edge of the lake in Basterfield Park in Hampton East. The tortoise died as a result of ingesting a fishing hook and becoming entangled in discarded fishing line.

Residents are reminded that fishing in lakes at Basterfield,

Landcox, Elsternwick and Pobblebonk Parks is prohibited because of the danger it poses to native wildlife.

If residents notice anyone fishing in the lake they should contact Council immediately on 9599 4444.


White Dianella photo by Pauline Reynolds

This is a hybrid

Dianella from the 2001

Balcombe Park controlled

ecological burn site

Unusualplant

found


Volunteer OpportunitiesFRIENDS/ENVIRO GROUPS

MELWAY REF

CONTACT DETAILS TIME JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH

Friends of Balcombe Park 86 C4 Coordinator: Joan Couzoff Phone: (03) 9589 1060 10.00 am – noon 26 23 30

Friends of Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary 77 B11 Coordinator: Michael Norris

Phone: (03) 9521 6879 Email: [email protected] 10.00 am – noon 11 8 8

Bayside Bushwalking Club (Charman to Cromer Rds, Beaumaris)

Contact: Jo Hurse Phone: (Citywide) 9283 2052

Contact Jo Hurse (Citywide) 9283 2052

Bayside Environmental Friends Network

Coordinator: Barbara JakobMobile: 0408 032 963 Email: [email protected] 4.30 pm – 6.00 pm

Bayside Community Nursery 77 D12Contact: Erika Anderson 319 Reserve Road, Cheltenham 3192 Phone: (03) 9583 8408 Open Thurs and Sat 10am – 12pm

10 .00 am – noon 24 24

Beaumaris Conservation Society President: Ron Morris, PO Box 7016, Beaumaris 3193 Email: [email protected]

Black Rock and Sandringham Conservation Association

President: Bob Whiteway Phone: (03) 9502 0060 Email: [email protected] 10.00 am – noon 3, 17 7, 21 4, 18

Cheltenham Primary School Sanctuary

Contact: Cheryl Clark Phone: (03) 8585 3200 Email: [email protected]

9.00 am – noon Contact School 9583 1614 5 2

Enviro Kids Enquiries to Barbara Jakob Phone: 0408 032 963 9.30 am – 11.30 am 23 23

Friends of Brighton Dunes 76 C2 Co-ordinator: Jenny Talbot Phone: (03) 9592 2109 8.00 am – 10.00 am Every Tuesday

morningEvery Tuesday


morning

Friends of Cheltenham Park 86 G1 Coordinator: Valerie TyersPhone: (03) 9588 0107 Email: [email protected] 10.00 am – noon 5 2 2

Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve 86 B6 Coordinator: Kim Croker


Friends of George Street Reserve 86 B1

Coordinator: Val TarrantPhone: (03) 9598 0554 Email: [email protected]. Coordinator: Pauline Reynolds Phone: (03) 9598 6368 Email: [email protected]

10.00 am – noon 19 16 16

Friends of Gramatan Avenue Heathland 86 C6 Coordinator: Ken Rendell

Phone: (03) 9589 4452 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm 5 2 2

Friends of Long Hollow Heathland 86 D5 Coordinator: Rob SaundersPhone: (03) 9515 3383 Email: [email protected] 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm 26 23 30

Friends of Merindah Park & Urban Forest 77 B12 Coordinator: David Cockburn

Phone: (03) 9598 6148 Email: [email protected] 10.00 am – noon

Friends of Native Wildlife Coordinator: Michael Norris Phone: (03) 9521 6879 Email: [email protected] 9.30 am 7

Friend of Picnic Point Sandringham

Coordinator: Terry Reynolds Phone: (03) 9598 2978 Email: [email protected]

Friends of Ricketts Point Landside 86 C9Coordinator: Sue RavertyPhone: (03) 9589 2103 Email: [email protected]

12.30 pm – 2.30 pm 21 18 18

Friends of Table Rock 86 E10 Coordinator: Ken RendellPhone: (03) 9589 4452 12.30 pm – 2.30 pm 28 25 25

Friends of Ricketts Point 86 D9 Coordinator: Moira LongdenPhone: (03) 9589 2725 10.00 am – noon 29 26 26

Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc 86 C9 Phone: (03) 9589 4452

NED (New Environment Directions) at Elsternwick Park

Coordinator: Neil Blake, Port Phillip EcoCentrePhone: (03) 9534 0413 Email: [email protected] 12.30 pm – 2.00 pm

St. Leonards College Conservation Group

Contact: Luisa IngramPhone: (03) 9909 9300 Email: [email protected]


January, February, March 2014

Editorial Policy The purpose of publishing the Banksia Bulletin is to circulate information, report on events, and to profile relevant environmental issues important to our community. The Bulletin is also published to support the network of people involved in enjoying and protecting our local environment.Bayside City Council encourages people from our local community groups to submit articles of interest, share experiences and news about any upcoming events. All articles are reviewed prior to publication and Council reserves the right to omit or edit submissions.

AcknowledgementsThank you to all the people who have contributed to this issue of Banksia Bulletin.

DisclaimerThe views expressed in the Banksia Bulletin are not necessarily those of Bayside City Council nor its representatives.

EditorSimon Hill, Manager Environmental Sustainability & Open Space. Content CoordinatorTriér MurphySustainability Promotions Officer.

Copy deadlines 2013/2014Autumn 2014 7 February for early March release

Winter 2014 9 May for early June release

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: [email protected] Please indicate whether you would prefer to receive your Banksia Bulletin by post or via email.

Corporate CentrePO Box 27 Royal AvenueSANDRINGHAM VIC 3191Telephone: 9599 [email protected] of business 8.30am – 5pmMonday – Friday (except public holidays)

FRIENDS/ENVIRO GROUPSMELWAY

REFCONTACT DETAILS TIME JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH

Friends of Balcombe Park 86 C4 Coordinator: Joan Couzoff Phone: (03) 9589 1060 10.00 am – noon 26 23 30

Friends of Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary 77 B11 Coordinator: Michael Norris


Bayside Bushwalking Club (Charman to Cromer Rds, Beaumaris)

Contact: Jo Hurse Phone: (Citywide) 9283 2052

Contact Jo Hurse (Citywide) 9283 2052

Bayside Environmental Friends Network

Coordinator: Barbara JakobMobile: 0408 032 963 Email: [email protected] 4.30 pm – 6.00 pm

Bayside Community Nursery 77 D12Contact: Erika Anderson 319 Reserve Road, Cheltenham 3192 Phone: (03) 9583 8408 Open Thurs and Sat 10am – 12pm

10 .00 am – noon 24 24

Beaumaris Conservation Society President: Ron Morris, PO Box 7016, Beaumaris 3193 Email: [email protected]

Black Rock and Sandringham Conservation Association

President: Bob Whiteway Phone: (03) 9502 0060 Email: [email protected] 10.00 am – noon 3, 17 7, 21 4, 18

Cheltenham Primary School Sanctuary

Contact: Cheryl Clark Phone: (03) 8585 3200 Email: [email protected]

9.00 am – noon Contact School 9583 1614 5 2

Enviro Kids Enquiries to Barbara Jakob Phone: 0408 032 963 9.30 am – 11.30 am 23 23

Friends of Brighton Dunes 76 C2 Co-ordinator: Jenny Talbot Phone: (03) 9592 2109 8.00 am – 10.00 am Every Tuesday



morning

Friends of Cheltenham Park 86 G1 Coordinator: Valerie TyersPhone: (03) 9588 0107 Email: [email protected] 10.00 am – noon 5 2 2

Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve 86 B6 Coordinator: Kim Croker


Friends of George Street Reserve 86 B1

Coordinator: Val TarrantPhone: (03) 9598 0554 Email: [email protected]. Coordinator: Pauline Reynolds Phone: (03) 9598 6368 Email: [email protected]

10.00 am – noon 19 16 16

Friends of Gramatan Avenue Heathland 86 C6 Coordinator: Ken Rendell

Phone: (03) 9589 4452 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm 5 2 2

Friends of Long Hollow Heathland 86 D5 Coordinator: Rob SaundersPhone: (03) 9515 3383 Email: [email protected] 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm 26 23 30

Friends of Merindah Park & Urban Forest 77 B12 Coordinator: David Cockburn

Phone: (03) 9598 6148 Email: [email protected] 10.00 am – noon

Friends of Native Wildlife Coordinator: Michael Norris Phone: (03) 9521 6879 Email: [email protected] 9.30 am 7

Friend of Picnic Point Sandringham

Coordinator: Terry Reynolds Phone: (03) 9598 2978 Email: [email protected]

Friends of Ricketts Point Landside 86 C9Coordinator: Sue RavertyPhone: (03) 9589 2103 Email: [email protected]

12.30 pm – 2.30 pm 21 18 18

Friends of Table Rock 86 E10 Coordinator: Ken RendellPhone: (03) 9589 4452 12.30 pm – 2.30 pm 28 25 25

Friends of Ricketts Point 86 D9 Coordinator: Moira LongdenPhone: (03) 9589 2725 10.00 am – noon 29 26 26

Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc 86 C9 Phone: (03) 9589 4452

NED (New Environment Directions) at Elsternwick Park

Coordinator: Neil Blake, Port Phillip EcoCentrePhone: (03) 9534 0413 Email: [email protected] 12.30 pm – 2.00 pm

St. Leonards College Conservation Group

Contact: Luisa IngramPhone: (03) 9909 9300 Email: [email protected]


Subscribe to the Banksia Bulletin todayTo receive your copy please refer to our website

www.bayside.vic.gov.au/environment_banksia_bulletin

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