Diversity in a Piped System Project Update - October 2005Diversity in a Piped System project update - October 2005
The Diversity in a Piped System project has been underway for almost a year now. The study sites in the channel/ dam area of the northern Wimmera and the pipeline area of the southern Mallee have all been established and monitoring has been underway since early May.
Winter data collection has been completed. With the winter channel flow and dam fill has come a rapid transformation across the channel network of the northern Wimmera. Frogs began calling everywhere and spawning in the channels and newly filled dams. In the northern Wimmera I have detected frogs in three of the eight dam sites and two of the four channel sites. No frogs have yet been observed using the experimental water troughs. In the pipeline country further north, no frogs have been recorded at any of the study sites. The only frogs found in the southern Mallee have been in storm water drains flooded after rain.
The warmer spring weather has woken up the reptiles and I'm now noticing Stumpy-tails and Bearded Dragons sunning themselves in the middle of roads. Small skinks can be seen hiding among leaf litter or under logs. To assist with wildlife sampling, each study site has three pieces of corrugated iron supported on cement roofing tiles, placed so that reptiles, frogs etc could seek shelter under them. These have proved very successful. I have been finding lots of skinks under them, particularly on farms with woodland, but also a few on the banks of channels or farm dams in cropping areas. The pieces of tin have also revealed many spiders, giant centipedes and a few mice. No snakes yet but I live in hope…
Spotlighting for nocturnal wildlife at each site is also an important component of the project. Not much found so far, Brush-tailed Possums at two woodland sites, an Echidna, bats, a few rabbits.
 The experimental water troughs have been well utilised by birds, mostly parrots and honeyeaters drinking and bathing in them. I've also startled a Wood Duck from one of them! Aquatic insects can be found living in the water. The real value of these troughs to wildlife will become more apparent as summer approaches.
I would like to invite anyone interested in joining me spotlighting or bird-watching at any of the sites to contact me at BCG. It will be my pleasure to show you a little of what this fascinating project involves.
Jonathan Starks
Project Officer
Ph. 0428 922 787
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A couple of photos from our visit by RIRDC Program Manager, George Wilson. Jon and George are checking to see what reptiles were seeking haven near a traditional channel. |
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