Tangaroa Blue at Westgate Park
On 18 October our friends at Tangaroa Blue visited us to survey and collect litter. Tangaroa Blue is an Australia-wide not for profit organisation dedicated to the removal and prevention of marine debris, and have visited us a number of times over recent years to survey the Yarra River at Westgate Park.
Volunteers from Westgate Biodiversity, Port Philip EcoCentre and over 80 corporate volunteers from Melbourne-based industries surveyed the river shoreline collecting litter and nurdles. A nurdle is a small plastic pellet used to create virtually anything plastic. Accidental spillage and mishandling means billions of nurdles end up in the ocean creating countless problems within the marine ecosystem.
This event provided the opportunity to explain the problems caused by escaped nurdles and ask industry leaders to ensure they work to stop this happening at source.
Microbats at Westgate Park, 7 Oct
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Join us for an exciting evening of microbat monitoring at Westgate Park BBQ shelter in Port Melbourne, Vic. This in-person event is perfect for nature enthusiasts and curious individuals alike.
Get ready to explore the fascinating world of microbats as we observe and learn about their behavior and habitat by monitoring any presence of microbats using echo location recorders and tablets with the aim of identifying the species present.
Interested in learning more about microbats and their value to ecology? See here for our manual.
September 4 bird survey
Water levels have risen, with the overall species number obviously high from the survey today and the efforts of several other observers reporting on eBird over the last month. We are monitoring Noisy Miner numbers within the park. Numbers are low on today’s count, but any encroachment by this species is a concern.
Some pleasant surprises: for example, the White-necked Heron on the southern chain of ponds; the four Darters, at least two of which were young birds (are we now a darterbase?); the continuing presence of Red-browed Finches and the female Musk Duck; and two cuckoo species, Fan-tailed and Horsfield’s Cuckoos.
Gonocarpus tetragynus – Creeping raspwort
To 30CM. Erect bushy herb covered in flattened, short, white bristly hairs. Loose spikes of tiny pinkish-red flowers Sept – Jan. Small fruit, silvery grey. Full sun, semi-shade.
Eleocharis acuta – Common Spike-sedge
to 90cm. Semi-aquatic herb with erect stems. Slender grass-like leaves. Narrow cylindric spikelet straw-coloured tinged with dark brown Sept-Mar.
Eucalyptus viminalis ssp. pryoriana – Coast Manna Gum
To 15M. Spreading tree with dense crown, rough bark, shedding from upper trunk and branches.
Narrow blue green leaves with weeping habit. Egg to spindle-shaped buds in axillary clusters of 3 creamy flowers Jan-Mar. Nectar source for butterflies and other insects. Round fruit with 3 or 4 projecting valves, disc slightly raised.
Eucalyptus radiata s.l. – Narrow-leaf Peppermint
To 40M. Low branching tree with dense canopy, bark rough and fibrous to the small branches.
Aromatic, thin-textured narrow leaves. Numerous small club-shaped buds in axillary clusters followed by profuse creamy to pale yellow flowers Oct-Jan. Nectar source for butterflies and other insects.
Small cup-shaped fruit, disc level, 3-4 valves.
Eucalyptus polyanthemos – Red Box
To 15M. Slow-growing, small to medium tree sometimes with crooked trunk, compact to spreading blue green crown, rough bark.
Terminal panicles of 7 bluish club-shaped buds, scar present, Sept-Jan. Requires good drainage tolerating poor stony soils, full sun, semi-shade. Profuse flowering produces copious, excellent honey.
Eucalyptus paucifolia – Snow Gum
To 30M. Rounded low branching tree, bark smooth, bark on young branches reddish.
Weeping glaucous young growth becoming thick shiny grey- to olive-green leaves.
Axillary clusters of 11+ club-shaped buds on thick stalks with creamy flowers Dec-Feb. Fruit cup-shaped, shortly stalked, usually 3 valves, disc level. Nectar source for butterflies and other insects.
Eucalyptus ovata – Swamp Gum
To 20M. Upright tree with open to moderately dense canopy, bark mostly smooth but rough at base. Shiny broad lanceolate to ovate leaves with wavy edges. Axillary racemes of 7 diamond-shaped buds, turning to profuse creamy flowers Mar-Sept. Nectar source for butterflies and other insects.
Funnel-shaped flat-topped fruit, 3-4 valves to rim level, disc level or raised.