After the Fire - Community Therapy

Today it was a thrill and a privilege to help run a nest box building workshop with fire-affected residents from the 2014 Parkerville / Stoneville / Mt Helena area. We had the wonderful hospitality of Eastern Hills Senior High School, with Design and Technology teacher David Annear donating his Sunday to facilitate use of the school's woodwork workshop. Home Economic students also generously gave their time to provide yummy morning tea and lunch for a merry bunch of people. We constructed 9 boxes altogether, one for each resident to take home and install in their backyards. I was so pleased at the end of the workshop when I heard someone say how therapeutic they found this activity, and how they didn't realise how much enjoyment it would provide. Happy days!

My enormous thanks go to Debbie Screen and the Shire of Mundaring for organising this initiative and engaging us to have the opportunity to provide a fun and educational day for the local community. The nest box component of Mundaring Shire's post fire recovery initiative was made possible by a grant from Westpac Bank. Also, Delta Corporation supplied the recycled form ply timber, and Pete and his fantastic team at Mundaring Hardware pre-cut it to size for us prior to the workshop.

There is a second workshop in 2 week's time, so if you are interested in enrolling to attend please see below for contact information.

After the Fire - Bush Recovery

As part of Mundaring Shire's post fire recovery project, which aims to assist the local community affected by the 2014 Parkerville / Stoneville / Mt Helena bushfire, I have been engaged to construct a number of nest boxes for local bush reserves burned in the blaze. This was in response to residents' concerns for the impact of the wildfire on native animals. Today, with the fantastic assistance of my friend Emily, I began installing the first batch of nest boxes in Milligan and Sunninghill Reseves, just near Riley Road. The first thing that became apparent was how the incredibly resilient native plants have regenerated, flourishing from the ashes and filling the scene with fresh green growth. Less than 18 months after the intense fire swept through the area, there is now a knee-deep covering of regeneration, and the ground beneath it was a minefield of diggings made by foraging Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoots Isoodon obesulus). These native marsupials are known to respond well to fire during the early stages of regeneration, benefiting from the new, dense cover (that protects them from predators) and the source of 'goodies' (worms, beetle larvae, roots, etc) in the richly fertile ash bed which they dig in to feed.

Just over 2 years post fire and the Jarrah forest is well on its way to recovery.

A spectacular Orb Weaver spider, one of the many creatures flourishing in the post-fire regrowth.

Spending time in these two relatively small but beautifully diverse reserves made me realise how important it was to be installing nest boxes. As you may know, boxes are designed to provide a source of 'hollow homes' for wildlife in areas where old, naturally hollow trees are scarce. Even before the fire, it was evident that these two reserves were composed mainly of relatively small trees (Jarrah and Marri), and most were too young to have hollowed out (small hollows take at least 100 years to form). Enter an intense wildlife such as the one in question, and the number of large 'habitat trees' (those bearing hollows), which are often dead and highly susceptible to being consumed in the flames or falling over, becomes even further reduced. We indeed found several such trees charred and lying on the ground, emphasising the importance of nest box installation to replace them.

This large Marri tree (in the foreground) was burned and subsequently collapsed, the result being a net loss of wildlife habitat.

Different species of animals have different requirements for nesting and roosting (or den) sites, and seeing as the Perth Hills are known to support a large diversity of creatures, I built a variety of nest boxes to help cater for their needs. Most boxes are installed using an extendable ladder, and secured in place around a sturdy fork of a tree using wire. This is passed around the tree's trunk above a horizontal limb and hung in a large loop (which allows the tree many years of growth without restraint), and then threaded through a length of old hosepipe to protect the bark from the wire.

 

Above you can see a medium-sized vertical nest box in place (click to enlarge the images), designed to suit the nesting requirements for native parrots such as the Australian Ringneck and Red-capped Parrot. We observed both these species during installation so we are hoping that, as we were watching them, the parrots were also looking at us providing them with a 2015 nest site!

Nest boxes suitable for black cockatoos (which I've had great success with down south near the Porongurup Range) are much larger than the parrot ones, have a vertical entrance which is designed to replicate their preferred natural nest site, and also take a more involved installation process. These boxes are over a metre long and being quite heavy, they must be hauled into a large tree using ropes and a pulley system.

Once it had been hoisted 20 m or so into the canopy of a huge Marri tree, I secured this very large 'top entry' nest-box in place with a large length of chain, again threaded through hosepipe to protect the tree. It was just magic to be up such a tall tree with an expansive view over bushland. This position gave me greater appreciation for the rapid regeneration, and was also a nice place to be listening to the soothing calls of nearby Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, hopeful candidates for this new hollow home.

The last design of nest box we hung today was one suitable for bats. Most people picture some kind of blood-sucking vampire when they read the word bat, but our local hills species are very cute 'microbats', nothing more than a tiny mouse with wings. Bat boxes have a small slit entrance at the bottom, allowing these delicate mammals to land and crawl upwards inside the box, where fine wire mesh allows them to cling on inside. Microbats are seldom seen or heard, but they are immensely useful insect eaters that silently roam our bush at night and consume many of the 'bities' that have been known to cause us barbequing Auzzies an itch or too! Bat boxes are made to provide a similar diurnal roost site to a natural site, such as a small cavity beneath the bark of a tree.

The last nest box, this one targeting microbats, hangs in place at Sunninghill Reserve.

So, as the sun set on another beautiful Djeran (late Autumn) day, it was a thrilling feeling to know that not only is the burnt Parkerville bushland well on its way to a new phase of post-fire life, but that it is now well-equipped with a diversity of artificial homes for local wildlife. And seeing as we are well in time for the Kambarang (Spring) breeding season, I am super excited to see which boxes might be used later this year! Thanks for the help Emily :-)

Wattle We Do? Pull it out - NOW!

WEEDS POSE A FIRE RISK! Especially below power lines.

But isn't this just a beautiful wildflower? NO! Flinders Range Wattle (Acacia iteaphylla) has become one of the most common and rapidly spreading weeds in the Perth Hills. In the last 10 - 15 years I have watched it take over natural bushland throughout the Mundaring Shire and choke out native plants. Why is this a problem? It not only disrupts local biodiversity, replacing the normally diverse Jarrah forest understorey with one exotic species (a 'monoculture'), but it increases the bushfire risk enormously. The seemingly lush foliage, which is currently adorned with pale yellow flowers, vividly lining most roads in the Parkerville-Stoneville-Mt Helena-Sawyers Valley area (and beyond), is in fact highly flammable. Try putting a green branch on your next backyard bomb-fire and watch it ignite like petrol. And it's even worse when the plants are dead.

Flinders Range Wattle has distinctive pale yellow flowers which are currently visible all over the Perth Hills.

Our 'bush' is often blamed for posing a fire threat to human lives and property, but much of the native Perth Hills vegetation is low and practically incombustible compared to the 5m or so that Flinders Range Wattles grow to. Intense summer bushfires (like the 2014 Parkerville - Stoneville - Mt Helena fire) only become so severe when high fuel loads take the flames from the forest floor roaring into the canopy. There is more to the term 'fuel load' than backyard leaf litter and fallen branches, which is what most people imagine when they hear this phrase. Understory plants (especially weeds) are equally as responsible for allowing fire to reach the canopy, and there are few native understory plants that are as flammable as Flinders Range Wattle (Kerosene Bush, Hakea trifurcata, is perhaps an exception but this is nowhere near as abundant). It is particularly concerning when you see hedges of this plant below power lines, as in the photo above, and this one (click to enlarge):

Currently Flinders Range Wattle is in full flower and is easy to spot - you literally can't drive around the Mundaring Shire without noticing it. This makes now a perfect time to identify it and implement control measures. Many people may delight at the sight of a pretty 'native' wildflower, but for me, the bright yellow displays remind us of this invasive plant's ability to set large quantities of seed that can remain viable in the soil for many years. I also think of how native Bronzewing Pigeons (Phaps chalcoptera), which are a granivorous bird that love to forage on Acacia seeds, can readily be observed beneath this weed, filling their bellies and unknowingly spreading it further. And pigeons aren't the only local to exacerbate the problem. This weed is sold as a 'screening plant' by local nurseries, meaning people are actually directly responsible for selling and spreading a noxious weed that sickens our environment and increases the fire threat to our community!

I have seen few attempts made by local authorities or private landowners to control this weed. In early 2014, however, I was encouraged to find Lake Leschenaultia managers had removed several plants around the perimeter of the lake, a place where it has not yet taken hold. This removal of individual plants is a start, but to actually make any impact, a landscape-scale removal program is urgently required. What's more, there are numerous other fire-prone weed species colonising local bushland, which increase every year (Blackberry, Watsonia and other exotic wattle species are some examples), and these species also require urgent attention. Sadly, weed control is currently underfunded and its importance (to both nature and people) is overlooked. Football and city-centre redevelopments are apparently more urgently required.

Human health is intricately linked to environmental health and killing weeds to restore biodiversity does actually benefit us too, not just our wildlife. If we as a community are serious about reducing the risk of bushfires to our lives and homes, then the control of Flinders Range Wattle should be made a top priority. We need to consider the whole picture, not just bits and pieces.

Do you have Flinders Range Wattle on your property? Or on a street near you? If so, then now is the time to take action and get rid of it. Working together as a community with cooperation and vigilance is the only way we will be able to efficiently control and eliminate this exotic plant. You can read about the best control methods on the Mundaring Shire's website, which includes a fantastic replacement initiative.

You can also read more about how the impact of weeds on a local patch of bush has been addressed by students from Mundaring Primary School at the Mardo Reserve website here.

Remember, Planet Earth is a spaceship on which we are all crew.

Andean Giants

CONDOR! This impressive bird (Vultur gryphus), one of the largest vultures in the world, was a long way off as it circled high above me, floating close to the rugged crags of the Atacama Desert. Even so, its massive size was evident - condors have a wingspan which can reach 3.2m, more than another whole METRE on top of my 2m armspan! As soon as I saw the white colar I knew instantly this bird, and the juvenile with which it drifted, was a condor, and as I am always delighted by a pair of massive feathers arms overhead, I grinned from ear to ear! What a sight!

Like other vultures, condors are scavenging birds, feeding on the carcasses of dead animals which include the indiginous Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) a member of the camel family, pictured below), as well as introduced sheep and goats. Unlike eagles, they do not have the specialy adapted crushing ability in their feet, nor the large talons capable of inflicting a mortal wound to live prey. Delcines in the availability of their native prey has reduced the Andean Condor population significantly, and they are now listed as ´Near Threatened´, but the sheer expanse of the unique Andes Mountains has meant the species still has a stronghold. And nothing symbolises this vast mountain range more perfectly than the characteristic silhouette of this truly magical bird.

Pupuya

On the coast of Chile about 200 km from the frantic city life of Santiago lies a small holiday settlement. The dark sand dunes are punctuated with amazing forms of vegetation - cacti, small succulents and various grasses - which wait out the mostly dry conditions, only able to quench their thirst in the morning, when a thick mist of evaporated Pacific Ocean water descends on the coast. Waterbirds of many shapes and sizes congregate in the mouth of the small river which cuts through the sand dunes to the sea. Giant rock stacks just offshore dance with activity as breeding seabirds - pelicans, boobies, and cormorants - hurry back and forth from their hungry chicks to the vast ocean that is their larder. Black vultures circle overhead, scanning the breeding colonies and the beach and farmland below, hoping the next victim of nature´s harsh reality will provide them with another meal. Where is this place, you ask? It is not in a fairytale book, but a real and wonderful destination where I currently have the privilege of staying. A stunning beach town called Pupuya.

This town is a very quiet and largely unknown place, but in recent years its popularity among the surfing, wind-surfing and kite-surfing community has grown. This has created an accommodation demand for young people who are into these sports, as well as the occasional wandering Australian (not really into any sports) like me! The place where we are staying, Dunas de Pupuya, is a small hostel located only 10 minutes walk from the beach. When my friend Sofia told me a few weeks ago that we would be staying at a ´hostel´, a certain image formed in my mind, but this was nowhere near accurate enough to depict the real situation I would find myself in. Indeed, my mental image fell far short of this beautiful reality! Hostel Dunas de Pupuya is a classic beach-style building, made mostly from wood, and with an overriding rustic theme that for me created an instant feeling of homeliness. From the white-washed brick wall outside to the half-sanded aqua-blue table in the kitchen, and the wood-grained wall panels and irregular staircase which creaks as you follow it upstairs to your cosy bedroom, the raw nature of the hostel can be observed throughout.

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Hostel Dunas de Pupuya

As well as the numerous bunk rooms on both floors, there is a ping-pong table in the main entrance, an outdoor decked area complete with a fire pit (and a brilliant wall mural of a very topical kite-surfer), a cosy lounge with a TV and videos for those cold, ´indoor days´(not relevant on my current holiday!), and a couple of secretive hammocks for those desiring a quiet read or nap to recharge the batteries. One of these, in the front garden, is in a particularly pretty spot as the front wall is decorated with a stunning Fuscia plant, adorned with pink flowers that hang like pendant jewels. Being one of my Mum´s favourite garden plants, I always get a sense of nostalgia when I see them.

Some ´backpackers´enjoying the front garden, complete with Fuscias.

Plenty of room to relax in the ´backyard´and enjoy the sun.

Outside, narrow dirt roads and tracks connect the hostel to the main part of Pupuya, as well as a supermarket (only a 2 minute walk from the front door), and a few different routes to the beach. If you are like me and super keen to quickly immerse yourself in nature at the earliest possible opportunity, you can scramble down a lupin-clad embankment just 50m from the hostel and follow a small stream which eventually leads to the estuary. Although this waterway is far from pristine, and there are obvious signs of degradation from cattle crazing, plastic litter and other pollution, I quickly discovered that there is an amazing diversity of natural history to discover and observe. The noisy calls of ´Telquehue´(a local lapwing species which sounds the alarm at the first sign of an intruder) are the first thing to capture your attention, and many small songbirds including Diuca, Loica, Gorrion (a sparrow) and Tenca flitting about the open paddocks and perching atop blackberry bushes further bring the place to life. You might even notice a Tiuque, a local bird of prey in a family known as ´caracaras´ (not found in Australia), and a species which I have noticed regularly land on the ground and are not too worried about human presence, something most unusual for a raptor.

Further downstream the narrow waterway opens out into a wide estuary, and here a variety of shorebirds, including oystercatchers, curlew, terns, ducks, gulls and stilts, perch regularly on a large sandbar. These are the obvious species, but when you spend some time sitting quietly at the water´s edge, you might be very lucky to spy more secretive waterbirds dashing out from the cover of their reedy habitat - birds like the Gallineta (Blackish Rail, Pardirallus nigricans) and Taguita (Spot-flanked Gallinule, Gallinula melanops), which bring a tingle of excitement to any birdwatcher eager to encounter those species which rarely allow even the slightest glimpse of their unique beauty to the world. Considering the amount of grazing by cows that are allowed to roam around the river banks, I was pleasantly surprised to see even a small patch of natural riparian vegetation, let alone one big enough to support a several secretive reed-dwellers. It is these examples of nature ´clinging on despite the odds´ which I draw huge positive energy from, and feel the need to emphasise the importance of using such examples to tell as positive stories about the environment, when it comes to educating and inspiring others.

The Pupuya estuary is just back from the Chilean coast and is a popular spot for family holiday activities.

Just before you reach the main beach, the estuary comes to a dead end - in summer a large sandbar prevents the freshwater from flowing into the salt. This is great for Chileans on holiday as the estuary water, being much warmer and shallower than the ocean, makes a great spot for swimming and fun and games for the kids. Looking closely at the water I observed quite a bit of sediment, and having just observed the cows defecating straight into the water upstream, I did wonder about the potential health impacts of ´taking the plunge´. Perhaps there is an opportunity here for some research into the impacts of human activity on this system, and how the excess nutrients might affect both the wildlife and people who live here?

Beyond the sandbar lies the pounding ocean. On a fine blue day, like the above photo, it is a soft aqua in colour, and the white froth on the waves looks gentle and beckoning. But when the coastal mist I mentioned at the beginning (thickest in the early morning) hangs overhead, the sea adopts a very different appearance. It is cold, duller and angry, and the distant rock stacks just off the coast appear as abandoned castles. Even though they seem lifeless to the naked eye, however, when viewed through binoculars you can easily see they are far from deserted. The dozens of black dots wheeling above are actually (you guessed it!) more birds - pelicans, boobies and cormorants - each species making their nests on the bare rock, and enjoying the safety provided by the sheer number of birds that make up this breeding colony. I have visited a few seabird colonies in the past, but none with as much mystery as the rock off the coast of Pupuya.

A large rock stack off the coast of Pupuya houses thousands of breeding seabirds.

Brown Pelicans, Peruvian Boobies and the occasional Cormorant are visible on the ´block of flats´ rockface.

An adult Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) perches on a rock on the Chilean coast.

Juvenile Kelp Gulls are much duller than their parents but are equally as beautiful. 

For those more adventurous types, long beach walks both north and south of the river mouth make a nice day out. Whether the sky is blue or grey, there is always something to see, and experiencing this environment during different conditions only allows the visitor a greater appreciation of the variety of both wildlife and culture in this unique place. A favourite for me has been the incredible vegetation types covering the cliffs (I also mentioned these in my scene-setting opening). Gardens of cactus and succulents carpet the harsh rocky escarpments from top to bottom, and are definitely worth a closer look (just take care when lying on your belly to capture those low-angle shots – cactus spines can be quite unforgiving!). It is quite remarkable to think how plants really can survive in any condition, eking out a living in the most unliveable places.

When it´s time to walk back home (and trust me, you will feel at home when staying at Dunas de Pupuya), nothing beats continuing the ´loop´ walk you began earlier and scaling the taller dunes on the north side of the estuary. This bit of higher ground not only gives you a fabulous view of the beautiful coast and ocean, but there is one more very important stop to make. And this time, it doesn´t involve birds… but it does involve food! The Márola Restaurant is a relatively new addition to Pupuya, and before you even enter the door you already know it is going to be the best place to eat! I was amazed with the building´s fantastic design and brilliant vista - perfect at midday if you care to stop in for lunch and a coffee, and even better at any time throughout the afternoon for those people keen to indulge in a great variety of local specialties to bring a highlight to their holiday.The first lunch I enjoyed was a Sandwich Mediterraneo con pollo, queso de cabra, pimiento asado y pesto (a roasted chicken sandwich with goat´s cheese, capsicum, pesto and olives if you wish). This was one of the best meals I have ever had, especially as I chose to wash it down with a couple of gold Corona´s! But returning in the evening to have a hot meal and watch the sun set over the Pacific is really the way to get the full appreciation for the Marola Restaurant. The pink sky and pretty interior lighting create just the mood one needs for a relaxing evening, and if you are like me and can´t resist a dessert, I thoroughly recommend the Volcán de Chocolate con helado vainilla (chocolate cake and vanilla icecream - mmmmm!).

The Marola Restaurant´s large windows make you feel like you are outside on the beach!

Chocolate pudding with icecream is the perfect way to finish (or start!) and holiday!

I would like to thank Daniela y Julio, managers of the Hostel Dunas de Pupuya and the Marola Restaurant, for their wonderful hospitality, generosity with letting me use their laptop (so I could write this blog!), and fantastic Spanish lessons which have been most helpful to a wandering Aussie! More information about both places can be found at the website links given in this post. The Marola Restaurant is open from 12 noon until 11 pm every day except Tuesday. In case you want to tease your tastebuds before going, the menu can be viewed on the restaurant´s website.

Simmo en Chile

Being over 2 m tall has many advantages, but folding yourself up to sit in the time machine that is a commercial aircraft for more than 12 hours certainly isn´t one of them! After a long and arduous flight I finally arrived in Chile, a country I have long wanted to visit since meeting some wonderful people who became close friends of mine while studying in New Zealand 5 years ago, on Saturday. It was brilliant to be collected by my friend Jaime and be shown around Santiago for the first time. There are many things to write about, but for these blog posts I will focus on (surprise, surprise!), BIRDS!! I hope I will be able to add pictures of the different species I see as I go, and share with you some of the new discoveries I make while travelling.

The first bird I laid eyes on was a pretty looking parrot, known locally as ´Corro Argentina´, or the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus). This species is initally beautiful to observe, but when you learn they are an invasive bird responsible for the ousting of many endemic and now endangered species of Chilean parrot, their bright appearance loses its gloss quite considerably. I instantly thought how amazing it was to learn of an ecological equivalent to the feral Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) which is having a virtually identical impact to local native parrots in the south-west of Western Australia. Here are a couple of photos of the Corro Argentina that I took close to the centre of Santiago, where they can be observed easily.

Badness beneath beauty: Monk Parakeets have displaced native parrot species in Chile.

Let´s move on to a very common species which is much more widespead, and although also associated with negativity, this bird is generally pretty harmless to other speices. As you might expect, the most well known bird of the city is a Feral Pigeon, one of the most common and widespread birds in the world! Even though they are often described as ´rats of the sky´, they are still beautiful when viewed in the pretty sunlight.

One of the first birds whose Spanish name I learned is this fella, a ´Zorzal´.

The male (´macho´) Zorzal has a dark head which contrasts vividly with the yellow beak. The female (´hembra)´s head is pale.

If the bird pictured seems familiar, it is because it is basically the South American equivalent of a Blackbird, commonly observed in the United Kingdom, and eastern Australia and New Zealand, where they were introduced. Again, these species are very common and easy to approach and observe, but it is such birds that we often take for granted and I believe are well worth that second look. Watch this space for more new Chilean birds coming soon!

Film Reviews - from the next generation

TEAR JERKING! I have just received the most wonderful piece of feedback from a close friend about the impact that my latest film, 'Where Do Eagles Dare?', has had on her 5 year-old son:

"You are inspiring the younger generation! He has watched your DVD twice and here he is building a hide so he can watch birds. Notice he is all dressed up in his camouflage gear!!!"

THIS is why I do what I do! It gives me an enormous drive to carry on my life's mission to receive this sort of feedback. THANKYOU to my friend who sent this to me, it makes all those hours spent in the edit suite, and all the effort of finishing a film, worth EVERY minute :D

Here is the little boy's completed hide. What a ripper! 

CREEC Cockies

This photo is nothing out of the ordinary... but the bird in it is very special indeed. It is a male Kaarak (Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus banksii naso), one of three large and threatened cockatoo species found in south-west Western Australia. I took this photo while taking 10 wonderful children (plus a few super keen parents!) for a bird walk today at the brilliant Canning River Eco Education Centre (CREEC) in Cannington.

We all met bright and early at the centre and began the 'Home Among the Gum Trees' workshop, one of the school holiday activities coordinated by the Nearer to Nature Program. Our group was such a wonderful bunch of young, enthusiastic kids who were so efficient that we finished much earlier than expected, securing the final hinges into place on the last box not long after lunch time. This was obviously meant to happen, because we were later to make an EXCITING discovery!

Not far from the busy cafe and rumbling car park, a beautiful pair of Kaaraks were prospecting for a nest site. Being down by the Canning River (Djaalgarra) on a habitat work, exploring the plants and bird life of the area, we hadn't noticed at first, but as we looped past the picnic tables a grating sound caught my ears. It was the male cockatoo giving a breeding call, and we looked up to see him display flashes of his brilliant red tail at his mate, who was inspecting some large hollow branches in an introduced Sugar Gum. We watched with utter thrill as the pair visited about 3 different hollow spouts, the male 'guarding' his partner and watching on as she looked inside, and chewed around the hollow entrances. Soon it became apparent that the hollows were not deep enough, as the female could not get even half of her body inside. The pair continued prospecting though, and flew to look at the potential of several other trees in search of more hollows.

This behaviour is rarely recorded and as far as I know, there is still only one other site on the Swan Coastal Plain where this species breeds. Plans are underway to install a large cockatoo nest box at this site with the hope that it might encourage breeding. We'd like to say a big THANKS to Nearer to Nature who planned this workshop, the parents and volunteers who helped the day run smoothing, and most important, all the wonderful kids who attended, made some fantastic nest boxes to take home, and were an integral part of an exciting day! Here's a group photo of myself and Gill with a few of the kids who took part in the day.

Six of the 10 children with their completed nest boxes for small parrots.