wildlife rescue south coast inc po box 666 nowra nsw 2541 ... · and proudly display our...

0418 427 214 Illawarra, Shoalhaven & Southern Highlands Eurobodalla & Sapphire Coasts 0417 238 921

Please Help Us Help Wildlife

You can help us to keep up our wildlife rescue efforts Visit http://www.wildlife-rescue.org.au

WRSC receives no government funding to assist with our operational expenses. We rely on your donations and generous support.

WILDLIFE RESCUE SOUTH COAST INC E W SN May 2014

Wildlife Rescue South Coast Inc PO Box 666 Nowra NSW 2541

NPWS Licence No: MWL000100253 | ABN 49 616 307 526 E: [email protected] | W: www.wildlife-rescue.org.au

0418 427 214 Wollongong to Batemans Bay | 0417 238 921 Mogo to Victorian Border

© WRSC Wendy McFarlane


SPECIES CO-ORDINATORS

Birds North (Nowra, Callala, Culburra, Kiama)

Judy Bailey ................................ 4423 2295

0407 946 173

[email protected]

Birds South (Bay and Basin, Sussex, Ulladulla, Durras)

Jenny Packwood .................... 0418 497 345

[email protected]

Flying Foxes and Microbats

Gerry Hawkins ...................... 0414 931 452

[email protected]

Macropods

Kim Goodsell ............................. 4422 4453

0488 996 604

[email protected]

Possums and Gliders

Debbie Colbert ........................... 4441 5948

0403 305 948

[email protected]

Raptors

Jenny Packwood .................... 0418 497 345

[email protected]

Reptiles, Snakes, & Amphibians

Jane Mills ................................... 4421 7883

0407 297 264

[email protected]

Small Mammals and Echidnas

Rhonda Parker ............................ 4448 3414

[email protected]

Threatened Species

Jenny Packwood .................... 0418 497 345

[email protected]

Wombats

Shirley Lack ............................... 4443 4877

0438 434 877

[email protected]

2014 COMMITTEE

President

Position Vacant

Vice President

Gerry Hawkins ..................... 0414 931 452

[email protected]

Treasurer

Joy Weatherall .......................... 4443 3272

0417 677 917

[email protected]

Secretary

Debbie Colbert ......................... 4441 5948

0403 305 948

[email protected]

Committee Members

Kim Goodsell ............................ 4422 4453

0488 996 604

[email protected]

Dusty Jones .......................... 0423 958 059

[email protected]

Fiona Kelleher .......................... 4422 4567

0400 493 815

[email protected]

Bill Parker ................................ 4448 3414

[email protected]

Richard Woodman

(Woody) .................................... 4885 2008

0412 002 400

[email protected]

Co-ordinators (Regional)

Far South Coast

Ray Alcock ............................. 6493 0357

0427 688 850

[email protected]

Southern Highlands & Tablelands

Richard Woodman

(Woody) .................................... 4885 2008

0412 002 400

[email protected]


HelprescuewildlifeinNSW:DownloadourappHave you ever felt helpless not knowing what to do after coming across injured or orphaned native wildlife? All too often help comes too late, with numerous calls made to the wrong organisation, wasting many people’s time and endangering animals’ lives. Wildlife Rescue App, a free mobile phone application - the first of its kind in Australia - aims to empower people by putting them in direct contact with the nearest rescue organisation in NSW, at the touch of a button. Downloading and using this simple, yet effective App is an easy and direct way to help our native wildlife. You can type this URL directly on to your mobile phone’s browser: wildliferescue.ifaw.org

Congratulations to Wendy McFarlane and her photo of the Peron’s Tree frog taking third place in the 2015 calendar photo competition. Wendy’s photo appears on the cover of this month’s Newsletter plus the Peron’s frog features in ‘Did you know….?’ Well done to everyone who contributed photos in the competition and we look forward to seeing the other finalists in the 2015 calendar.

Emma Cleaver Roberston Mark Cole Kangaroo Valley John Creighton Bundanoon Rossana Creighton Bundanoon Sakkara Creighton Bundanoon James Gooden East Bowral Julie Higgins Fitzroy Falls Mia Karlsson Kalaru Cate Lundgren Steeple Flat Emily McGibbon Roberston Ray McGibbon Roberston Riley McGibbon Roberston Jo Mitchell Bermagui Lynette Nancekivell Worrigee

Gerry Peddle Sussex Inlet Betty Spilsted Berkeley Peter Spilsted Berkeley Emily Stefaniuk Canyonleigh Grace Stefaniuk Canyonleigh Kylie Stefaniuk Canyonleigh David Thompson Robertson Katrina Thompson Robertson Phoebe Thompson Robertson Anita Tonsic Bowral Marijan Tonsic Bowral Theressa Wood Fitzroy Falls

Number of current Members: 230 Number of Authorised Carers: 131


Did you know….? Peron's Tree Frog (Litoria peroni) is also known as the

Emerald-spotted Tree Frog, Laughing Tree Frog or Maniacal Cackle Frog http://frogs.org.au/frogs/species/Litoria/peroni/

A large and agile climber, widespread throughout the Murray-Darling basin, but only locally common.

Distribution and habitat Adults frequent wet and dry forest, woodlands, shrublands, and open areas; often long distances from the water where they spawn during breeding season. Eggs and tadpoles are found in still water in swamps, dams, streamside ponds, and lagoons.

Calling

The call is very long and drawn out, slowly pulsed and increasing in loudness - "cra-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahhk".

Distinguishing characteristics

The Peron's Tree Frog has the ability to quickly change colour. By day it is usually a pale green-grey colour that changes to a reddish brown with emerald green flecks at night. It also has bright black and yellow markings on its thighs. It has a cross-shaped pupil and a silver iris.

Adult length: 45-70mm.

The eggs are pigmented in jelly. The tadpoles are pale golden-yellow to iridescent green. Adults have bright yellow with black mottling on armpits, groin, and backs of thighs. They have a cross-shaped pupil and small (sometimes indistinct) emerald green flecks on the back.

Visible features

Size Up to between 30mm and 60mm

Eyes, hands, and feet Pupils: cross-shaped Toe pads: present Webbing on feet: half-webbing

Belly Texture: smooth Pattern: plain Colour: single colour

Back Texture: rough Pattern: plain or spotted Colour: single colour or multi-coloured

Glands and tubercles Parotoid gland: absent Tibial gland: absent Metatarsal tubercles: Non-keratinised glands present (fleshy or uncoloured) or absent

©

© WRSC

Field Guide to the Frogs of Australia Revised Edition Michael J Tyler Frank Knight

Colour illustrations 200 pages 230 x 148 mm Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING Throughout much of the world, frog populations are declining and some species are disappearing totally. In Australia, several species have become extinct in the past 25 years.

This revised and updated guide provides concise accounts of all the known frogs of Australia. There are 230 species within the five native frog families: Hylidae, Limnodynastidae, Microhylidae, Myobatrachidae and Ranidae. Also included are the introduced Cane Toad and nine ‘stowaway’ species that have arrived in Australia.

The text for each species includes details of size, status, distribution, habitat, behaviour and advertisement call. Each species is accompanied by a map of Australia showing its known distribution, and a full-colour painted illustration. Closely related frogs are shown in identical poses so that comparisons can be made readily. The introductory section of the book covers frog biology and habitats and includes notes on families and genera. http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6809.htm


Managing Coastal Wetlands South East LLS has Australian Government biodiversity funding available to support landholders in priority areas to undertake works on coastal wetlands including salt marsh, mangroves, riparian areas, coastal floodplains, swamps, lakes and estuarine areas.

Project works to be funded Funding can be used to manage and protect coastal wetlands including:

fencing to control stock and unauthorised recreational access off-stream stock watering points removal and control of weeds including blackberry, sharp rush, arrowhead, invasive vine species

such as madeira vine, and Japanese honey suckle feral animal control including fox, rabbit, deer, goat and pig removal of barriers to flow such as removal or modification of floodgates and/or crossings revegetation to maintain and connect vegetation buffers, address erosion or improve habitat.

To be eligible To be eligible your property must encompass or be adjacent to wetland areas within the following priority areas:

Bellambi Lake; Lake Illawarra; Elliot Lake; Minnamurra River; Coomonderry Swamp; Shoalhaven River; Wollumboola Lake

Callala Creek; Currambene Creek; Swan Lake; Berrara Creek; Conjola Lake; Burrill Lake; Tabourie Lake; Termeil Lake; Durras Lake; Runnyford/Buckenbowra; Clyde River; Tomaga River; Lower Donalds Creek/Moruya River; Congo Creek

Tuross Lake; Potato Point; Lake Brou; Lake Mummuga; Wallaga Lake; Wapengo Lagoon; Nelson Lagoon; Wallagoot Lake

Bega River; Pambula Lake; Towamba River; Wonboyn Lake

Contact For further information and to apply please contact:

Kirsti Sampson, South East LLS, Batemans Bay on 02 4475 1004 email [email protected]

© Lea Turner

TO RESCUE OR NOT TO RESCUE …. In this age of high technology, it is sometimes difficult to keep up with the latest methods of caring for injured animals. This is particularly true with the elusive Echidna, with the latest radio tracking and current x-ray technology it has been determined that methods of treating and handling of these animals by methods used 10-20 years ago were in fact, in some cases, detrimental to the health and chances of recovery. It is important that we as carers, of any species, keep up to date with the latest technology and information that is available. Our (Bill and I) mentor for Echidnas is Dr Peggy Rismiller who has spent many years of research and radio tracking technology to come up with what is the latest and the best way to house and treat injured Echidnas. We were fortunate to do a course about 5 years ago with Dr Peggy at Western Plains Zoo Dubbo, and proudly display our certificates on the wall of our converted bedroom / animal hospital. We have kept up to date with the latest methods by keeping in touch with her and I thank Dr Peggy for allowing us to use extracts from “Biology Rescue and Rehab of Short Beaked Echidnas” in this article.

TO RESCUE OR NOT TO RESCUE THAT IS THE QUESTION……... Echidna rescue often involves a road casualty or an Echidna that has encountered a dog or person. Before trying to move an Echidna ask yourself is it necessary. If there are no apparent signs of injury, it may not be necessary to remove it. If you are called out because there is an Echidna in someone’s backyard, it is best not to remove the animal but to let it move in its own time. If being pestered by dogs request that the owner lock up the dogs until the animal moves of its own accord. REMEMBER THAT ECHIDNAS ARE A PROTECTED SPECIES IN ALL STATES AND TERRITORIES. If the Echidna is in danger i.e. on a road or being threatened then move it away from the danger.


TO RESCUE OR NOT TO RESCUE (Cont’d)…. PICKING UP ECHIDNAS Never use a shovel or try to force an Echidna out of hiding with high pressure water or pointed implements. These could injure the animal. ON SOFT SURFACES approach the animal from behind then attempt to slip one or both hands under the shoulders and legs. RELAX. When the Echidna relaxes move decidedly and confidently pushing further under the soft underbelly. When you have a firm hold lift and place into a container with a firm lid and air holes, do not use a normal container with the plastic slats on the side as the animal is likely to force it beak through the holes and injure itself. ON HARD SURFACES (e.g. road) use a rubber mat from the car or an old coat. Wedge the mat as far under the echidna as possible. This usually moves the animal enough that it is possible to gently roll the echidna on to your portable surface and carry it off the road or if injured place the animal in your container. NEVER pull, lift or hold any Echidna by their hind feet or extract them with tools. We have learned a lot about Echidnas in the last decade so for the safety and welfare of ALL Echidnas, this technique needs to be eliminated. Handling in this manner can cause hip displacement plus abnormal strain on both the leg and stomach muscles. If a female has a pouch young it can fall out and be injured. Lifting by the hind legs shows more signs of behavioural stress than repeated handling of the animal.

Article by WRSC Rhonda Parker Small Mammals and Echidnas Co-ordinator

To Howard and Teresa Malyon for their generous donation to help WRSC continue their work looking after wombats. In March they stayed at Roo Corner B&B hosted by Paul and Lyn Obern in Kangaroo Valley and were so impressed with the work and the hours Paul and Lyn put into looking after wombats. The Malyons wanted their donation to go towards helping carers who look after wombats or any of our other great Australian animals and WRSC is happy to oblige. Sarah Cassimaty has also made a generous donation towards the wombats in Lyn’s and Paul’s care after witnessing their rescue work on Bendeela Road.

We thank Lyn and Paul for being great WRSC ambassadors.

Meeting Dates 2014 Wildlife Rescue South Coast

General Meetings start at 7pm

Library Annex, 10 Berry Street, Nowra Refreshments provided

5 June Committee Meeting 11 June General Meeting 3 July Committee Meeting 9 July General Meeting

A question on WRSC Facebook :

Dru (April 18) : How long can a baby survive in a pouch alone?

Do you know the answer? Go to page 13.


RESCUED…. Angel’s lucky day!

Pteropus poliocephalus — Grey-headed Flying-fox NSW: Listed as Vulnerable

(Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (New South Wales): December 2013) It was a dark and stormy night – well nearly. During the recent wet weather when it was sunny, then wet, then sunny again, I had a call in the early afternoon from an upset lady who had “found a baby bat” in North Nowra not far from the colony.

The usual questions followed:

have you touched it? No

is it black & brown? No its all brown (it must be a microbat then??). is it about mouse size? No it’s bigger than that, its head is about the size of my fingers (maybe it’s a ringtail

possum then??).

Its on the tree trunk and my dog has been barking at it or we would never have found it. We have just come home!

I rang around and as no other bat lyssavirus vaccinated member was available, and with black clouds moving up from the south, I took off from Huskisson at a fast pace with the rain catching up with me once or twice.

On arrival at the given address the lady and I ran around the back and it was not there!! With the ominous black clouds coming closer and the compulsory towel I searched around and found the baby bat had crawled onto the ground and then down between a railway sleeper and the paling fence. All I could see was a small pair of black feet so I abandoned the towel, reached down and picked up the feet and gently eased the body out. Was I seeing correctly - a very small and very cold little baby female Grey-headed Flying-fox who must have fallen off Mum the night before so she would have been there for hours. How lucky was she that the dog saw her!

Of course after such horrible weather all day, she was very cold but those little brown eyes look at you and are always so trusting and seem to know help has arrived. As it was a baby I quickly checked nothing was broken and conducted the “show and tell” to the very grateful and impressed household.

Then to warm it up – straight under the jumper between the boobs is always best isn’t it! It was just starting to rain so off to Shoalhaven Bat Clinic and Gerry, who said ‘just put it in with the other babies I have in there’.

My reply was ‘I think you might need a heat pad Gerry, she’s a lot smaller than those two in the cage.’

‘Really – let me see - oh she is small only about 5-6 weeks by the look of it and it will need heat. She would only have been born around mid March which is way, way out of baby bat season’.

So she was given the title ‘Angel’ and is now in warm hands, has some very small holes in her wing membranes which will heal themselves, and is eating well.

Nature never ceases to amaze us.

Jenny Packwood NB: ‘Angel’ came into WRSC care April 14 weighing 100 grams.

Angel © WRSC Janine Davies

The Wildlife Land Trust (WLT) is proudly sponsoring this year’s AWRC. Speakers from national wildlife care organisations, the veterinary community and universities will present on a range of matters pertaining to the rehabilitation of Australian wildlife.

WLT Program Manager Evan Quartermain will deliver the keynote address “New Directions: Accommodating Change” and presentation topics will include: environmental concerns; new ideas and technologies; rehabilitation standards; endangered and threatened species; development and its environmental impacts; and legal constraints.

Optional workshops and field excursions will complement these informative presentations.

Australian Wildlife Rehabilita on Conference Hobart, 27–30 May 2014

To see the agendas, registration details and accommodation information, visit: awrchobart2014.org


R E S C U E DPortraits of Australian wildlife

in the care of Wildlife Rescue South Coast

Photographer Warren Wilson

Jervis Bay Kiosk Café, Owen St Huskisson Opens: Sunday 25 May 4pm to 6pm

Monday 26 May to Friday 4 July 8am to 3pm daily

Australian native birds and animals given a second chance at life. Black and white photographic portraits, with one work at the opening to be auctioned to raise funds for Wildlife Rescue South Coast. All Welcome.

All profit from the sale of these images will be donated to Wildlife Rescue South Coast.

www.imageupphotography.com

Flying-Fox and Microbat Report

Thank you to the handful of members who have helped me over this season, October 2013 to April 2014. The Shoalhaven Bat Clinic has been extremely busy, processing in excess of 293 bats. These mainly consist of the Grey-headed Flying-fox but also include the little Red Flying-fox and various Microbats, these have come from as far away as South Australia. On top of the 293 new arrivals we had over 100 Grey-headed Flying-foxes spend last winter with us and the majority of these have been released this season. In fact we are down to approximately 30 at this time. Janine Davies is doing the daily run to the Bomaderry camp where support feeding is still being carried out, we expect this should end by the end of May (at least we hope so). Joy has been trying to collate the stats, sitting in the cold for hours at a time, thank you Joy.

At present we have several babies in care away from the clinic, Angel is just 146g so she still has a way to go till she comes into the crèche cage. Our latest barbed wire victim Barbie is just 290g and Rhonda and Bill (Parker) have her in care. At the end of June I will be having surgery on my foot, we desperately need members who would be able to commit to cutting fruit (approx. 15kg per day) but also members who could come to the clinic clean, feed, pick up bins of apples (180kg) late at night, shop for other fruits, milk powder etc. and do general work. I will be unable to walk for about 3 months and the doctor has said no ladders, or walking on uneven surfaces for 6 months. So unless we can get reliable members to take up the challenge we will have to close for the next season.

Cheers Gerry Hawkins Flying-fox and Microbat Coordinator

Footnote: The Shoalhaven Bat Clinic is the only one of its type in NSW. For new members of Wildlife Rescue South Coast who are interested in becoming involved with Flying-foxes and Microbats, and/or are in the process of being vaccinated and want to learn the tricks and tips regarding these amazing animals over the winter months it provides a great time to become involved and to learn under our 'buddy' system. More hands make light work so please if you are in the Nowra area, have an hour or two to spare, after work or on weekends, contact Gerry and learn a lot in time for next summer while also being able to help out now.

Angel © WRSC Janine Davies


Great ideas are great ideas

We want your great ideas for

our Publicity campaigns Join us and get involved in our future

[email protected]

Or ring Bill and Rhonda Parker 4448 3414

To Lynn Amesbury who always gets WRSC stats in to the Office of Environment andHeritage on time, all the time

To Fiona and Kim for putting their hands up without hesitation and joining us on thecommittee ~ Welcome

To Lindsay Francis for sharing the load and becoming the Minute Secretary

To Patrick Giumelli a new member for taking on the Grants Officer role

To Belinda for helping to advertise the ‘Rescued’ exhibition

The 2014 | 2015 Entertainment™ Memberships are available in two formats; Entertainment™ Book – offers are

redeemed via Entertainment™ Gold cards and vouchers

Entertainment™ Digital Membership –allows you to redeem offers directly from your iPhone or Android smartphone

Order from Wildlife Rescue South Coast you’ll also be helping our fund-raising. From every Entertainment™ Membership we sell, $11 goes towards our fund-raising! The more Entertainment™ Memberships we sell, the more we raise – so please tell your family and friends. Just remember to reference Wildlife Rescue South Coast when registering your 2014 | 2015 Entertainment™ Membership via this link:! https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/28010r3


Wildlife Rescue South Coast was seen in….

Festival takes a walk on the wild side May 2, 2014, 6 a.m.

THIS year’s Jervis Bay Art Group’s See Change winter arts festival will go wild. One of the many great exhibitions is Rescued, featuring Warren Wilson’s stunning wildlife photography. The exhibition has a slight twist. “I was looking for something to do for See Change and originally I was going to take portraits of kangaroos – faces in the mob – but this was harder than I thought,” the Woollamia resident said. “My partner Yolande Cozijn read a story in the South Coast Register about Wildlife Rescue South Coast holding a book sale and she said, ‘Why don’t you do something on rescued animals?’” he said. So he got to work and has taken some great photos for the ‘Rescued’ exhibition. http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2253590/festival-takes-a-walk-on-the-wild-side/?cs=203

& South Coast Register

TOO CUTE: Warren Wilson photographs Wildlife Rescue South Coast volunteer Belinda Gales with two orphaned joeys.

The Bay and Basin ‘About’ Magazine April’s Issue: REPTILE ROUND UP Contributed by Jane Mills

May’s Issue: BLOSSOM THE KOALA. Contributed by Belinda Gales Jane’s article appeared in March’s Newsletter and Belinda’s was a combination of 2 articles she wrote for the Newsletter in February and April. Visit the About website if you want to read the magazine versions http://aboutbayandbasin.org/about_1.html

h ps://www.facebook.com/savethefrogs

WRSC will be seen…. @ Triplarina Nature Reserve

Enjoy the Australian bush in Triplarina, just west of Jervis Bay and is part of the Shoalhaven state forest. Join Dusty and his snakes at the WRSC Display Stall on Sunday 8 June at National Parks and Wildlife Service Community Day in Triplarina Nature Reserve.

& ‘Angel’ the rescued Flying-fox will feature in June’s ‘About’ magazine

A new photo of Angel taken by Janine is on the cover and Jenny’s article about Angel’s rescue is inside.

Wombat Release Cage: Plans are being drawn up for a relocatable wombat release cage. Lyn Obern is working with other wombat carers to come up with the best design for a demountable cage which can be transported on a car trailer to selected locations as required.

Logging at Glenbog: Marie Wynan has been in regular contact with the various organisations involved and has been successful in identifying and labelling many wombat burrows in the target area. Agreement has been reached that various restrictions have been placed on the activities in an effort to minimise the impact to local animals.

http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2253590/festival-takes-a-walk-on-the-wild-side/?cs=203


Hunting in the Nature Reserves – a key threatening process Chris Lloyd

One of the most contentious issues for those involved in wildlife is the decision to allow so-called recreational hunting in National Parks and Nature Reserves by the NSW Government. This continues to be a significant threat to all potential users of the parks and reserves and is highly likely to lead to an increase in injured animals if the experience of Victoria and duck hunting is any indication. However like all threats this may also represent an opportunity. Management of feral animal populations is critical to both conservation and agriculture but it is a professional not an amateur business (Garnett, 2011). Superficially the idea of recreational hunters knocking off feral animals in National Parks and Nature Reserves appears appealing. The reality is an opportunistic political deal to privatise electricity by giving a certain constituency the ability use another public asset for a recreation and dressing this up as conservation. Land management is no different to any of aspect of life – there is no such thing as a free lunch. I spent a few weeks out in western NSW and northern Victoria and two anecdotes from visits are relevant to the issue. While looking around Nombinnie/Round Hill Nature Reserve I chanced upon a Malleefowl (an endangered species) crossing a road. I eased up to the birds crossing point and struggled through the mud following its tracks for a short distance. Its long low form and plumage blends well with the mallee and Spinifex and at a short range would make a tempting proxy for a medium size mammal in the sights of an amateur shooter. Nombinnie is one of the seventy nine parks and reserves scheduled for hunting. In a Murray River National Park I stopped to follow a few robins on the side of a dirt road - binoculars in hand. A 4x4 tray top cruised slowly by complete with hunting dogs in cage and armory. The passenger yelled "Ya alright, (it clearly wasn't a question) if ya lookin' for possums there's three back there with bullets in their heads (expletives deleted)". This was followed with the requisite spinning of wheels followed by a slow cruise off maintaining visual in the rearview/gun sights. Three o'clock in the afternoon is an unusual time to be possum spotting/shooting I thought but maybe things are different here. These anecdotes illustrate a number of points which are worth unpacking. Firstly the author’s experience as a land manager both here and in NZ is that the writ of law is only as effective as the resources put into education and enforcement. The people I saw were not a 1-10%, as people would have it, giving the 'responsible hunters’ a bad name. My experience professionally indicates that the much of the hunting fraternity (not to be confused with the shooting one) are opposed to the concept of conserving a national estate for biodiversity, water resources or other economic purpose. Fundamentally, feral animal control (eradication is rarely a practical proposition outside of islands though some interesting work has been done in the Waitakere in NZ) is a question of land management. This means planning and resources over a substantial period. The tools of choice are number 8 fencing wire and chainlink, extensive lethal and non lethal trap lines, surveillance equipment and nasty toxins (yes 1080, Pindone, Warfarin ad nausea). Firearms are part of the mix but often as not as euthanasia or to take the remnant populations that the former has not dealt with. The NZ experience is that shooting out these remnant populations is only effectively done by professionals; preferably those employed by the land manager or trusted contractors. There is no role for ill or unplanned amateur recreational activities in such strategies. A cursory examination of AWC or Birdlife Australia’s approaches is instructive (Cook, 2012).

It is, of course, in the hunter’s interest to have feral animals in National Parks and Nature Reserves in order to shoot them – the alternative is to let them shoot native animals in the same place which is what they are still seeking (Booth, 2009). One of the problems for all land managers is the surprising frequency with which a remnant population of feral animals is left behind after contract eradication. When the Government can show the budget for the other resources required, the detailed eradication plan showing how each grid square of park or reserve will cleared and secured, how the 'hunters' will be trained on what is and is not a target and how this will not interfere with other recreational users or damage conservation values then I am sure some of us will at least listen. Back in the real world we all know there will be no such as such but rather just another compromise to privatise two public assets (the power industry and the national estate).

Permission for use kindly granted by Adrian Raeside BC Cartoons © raesidecartoon.com


The other key component of control strategies is engaging all those it affects and most particularly surrounding landholders and their extended community networks. There is little point in taking out the pigs, dogs or cats if they find refuge in adjoining land no matter how good you think your fences or forward trap lines are (Booth, 2009). It is my experience that responsible landholders and particularly graziers have little time for recreational hunters on their land primarily because of the collateral damage (it is not just the Malleefowl but also stock that fall into this category). It worth looking at the rate at which western NSW landholders have closed their lands to hunters over the last decade (the Darling River is a good example) because of this and curious that it has paralleled a push by the Shooters Party (probably are largely peri-urban constituency) for the opening of State Forests and now National Parks. It remains important that for the community in general and its landholders and professional shooters to continue the discussion with the NPWS and local members of parliament to see if the issue of feral animals in the Reserves and agricultural land can be managed on a more systematic basis and only using resources which have a vested interest in eradication not recreation. References Beeton RJS, Buckley KI, Jones GJ, Morgan D, Reichelt RE, Trewin D, 2006, Australia State of the Environment, Independent report to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage, 2006 Australian State of the Environment Committee, Canberra. Booth, C., 2009. “Is hunting conservation” a critique by the Invasive Species Control Council of Australia. http://www.invasives.org.au/documents/file/reports/Critique_IsHuntingConservation.pdf Cook, B. 2012. http://theconversation.edu.au/political-dreaming-shooters-solving-pest-problems-8258 Brian Cook is the Adjunct Research Fellow in Wildlife Virology at University of Canberra Garnet, S. T., Szabo, J.K. and Dutson, G. 2011, The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010, CSIRO and Bird Australia, Canberra, ACT.

Vale ~ Kerie Sonnerdale Native Animal Network Association (NANA)/Wildlife Rescue South Coast

Life Member Kerie joined NANA in the early 1990 's when she was living in Mollymook with her companion Roma at the time. Kerie was looking for something to do with her spare time, she was a avid animal lover and thought becoming involved with wildlife might be something she could do, little did she realise how this decision would change her life.

NANA was in it's infancy and needed a dedicated committee so Kerie took on the role of secretary. Not long after becoming secretary she showed an interest in caring and it was only a short time later that Kerie had her first Eastern Grey Kangaroo to look after. Kerie was besotted with these tiny joeys, she gave up the role of secretary to concentrate on learning everything she could about Kangaroos. She attended the Macquarie University course on the care of Kangaroos in captivity and was well on her way to caring for Kangaroos for the next 25 years. Kerie also cared for other species including Flying-foxes but always returned to her beloved Eastern Greys.

Kerie made wildlife teats that were in high demand, she also helped out many carers by offering to housesit while they took holidays. Kerie was also a member of Ulladulla Lions, she loved the companionship and working for the community.

Kerie was a very private person who took some time to get to know but once you got to know her she was a friend for life. Kerie lost her short battle with cancer and passed away on Good Friday 2014. She will be greatly missed by all her friends and the kangaroo joeys (even the unborn) that would have benefitted from having Kerie as a human mother.

True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable, people who knew Kerie well were very comfortable with her quiet ways and this part of her personality also helped with the gentle way she cared for her charges.

Shirley Lack

Photos © WRSC Belinda Gales


WRSC Facebook Q & A: Dru (April 18) : How long can a baby survive in a pouch alone? A marsupial joey (eg: a kangaroo, possum, wombat, etc) can live up to five days in the pouch of its dead mother. So, if you see a dead adult on the side of the road, or if you accidentally hit one while driving, or if your domestic pet brings home a dead possum, then you should always check the pouch - there may be a joey alive inside! Then ring us as joeys need to be carefully removed from the pouch and need special food and care. Jane replied: Hi Dru if you go to our website and look at the April newsletter there is an article all about rescuing wombat joeys.

NB: April’s Newsletter is now in the Archives page under the Home tab of www.wildlife-rescue.org.au

A Website you may be interested in….

NSW Wildlife Council

The peak body representing Wildlife carers in NSW

Wildlife Rescue South Coast is a member of NWC and our website now reflects our affiliation with the Council

http://www.nwc.org.au/

ChocolatesEver body's favourites!

The FSC team are selling Cadbur chocolates –

please contact Marie or Sandra for more details.

Cadbur chocolates are also being sold to raise

f nds for a South Nowra Macropod enclosure. Please

contact Fiona if you can sell a box or t o:

0400 493 815 (leave a message if unanswered)

4422 4567 or fionakel@big ond.com


Aboriginal Culture - Dreamtime Stories - Dreamtime Legends http://www.rmwebed.com.au/hsie/y10/abc/dreamtime/dreamtime_illawarra.htm

Illawarra and the Five Islands The story starts off with three of our warriors that used to live way out from the mainland on a little island. They lived out there for quite a while and their food started to run out on the island and there was only one canoe between the three of them.

These three men we'll call Whale, Koala and Starfish. As the food started to die off, Koala and Starfish said to Whale (because he was the only one who had a canoe), 'Can we borrow your canoe and we'll paddle into the mainland and go and fill the canoe up with food and we'll bring it back and share it out with you.'

Whale thought to himself for a minute, 'If I give them my canoe, they're going to go in there and leave me here and I'll starve to death and they'll keep my canoe.' So he said to them 'No, you're not getting my canoe.'

So Koala and Starfish had a little meeting between themselves and they made up a plan to steal the canoe.

Koala said to Starfish, 'I know a way to get this canoe off this fella. He's got mullars in his head. Lice. He likes me to look in his head and kill those lice. When I do that, there's a big log over there. I'm going to take him down onto the beach and sit down. I'll put his head on my lap and while I'm looking in his head he'll doze off. Then you pinch his canoe and roll that big log over.'

Whale had a stick and when Koala was looking in his head, he'd start to doze off; he'd tap with his stick against the canoe. Koala had a big long stick, sharpened on the end to part Whale's hair and kill these lice in his head. And as he was parting his hair, Whale started to go off into a really deep sleep and started snoring.

So Starfish dragged the canoe away and rolled the log over. The plan was for Starfish to get in the canoe and start paddling out and Koala was going to dive in the water and swim out after him. Starfish got the canoe down into the water and hopped in and started paddling out. Koala lifted Whale's head off his lap and put it on the sand. By this time Whale was sound asleep, snoring.

Koala ran down to the edge of the water and he was just about to dive in when Whale woke up. Whale ran down to the edge of the water and caught Koala before he could dive in the water and they had big fight at the water's edge.

Whale started to get the better of Koala, punching him, and Koala reached around behind him and stabbed him in the back of the neck with this big sharp stick. Then Koala dived in the water and he swam out and got in the canoe with Starfish and they paddled away.

They had almost reached the land up near Wollongong and by this time Whale had reached around the back of his neck and pulled out the sharp stick. He dived in the water and he was a really strong swimmer, so he swam after the other two and caught them just before they reached Port Kembla.

Whale rose up out of the water and he came down on the canoe and smashed it into five pieces. Then he looked around and he spotted Koala swimming towards the shore. So he caught up with Koala and punched him in the face, flattened his face and stretched his ears out. Koala got away and swam into shore, ran up a big gum tree and sat shaking in the fork of the tree.

Then Whale looked around for Starfish and he caught him sneaking into a little rockpool in the corner of the beach. He caught Starfish and he pounded him flat and stretched him this way and that way and that way. Just about that time, they started to take the shapes they're in now.

Koala stayed as the little koala up in the tree. Starfish turned into the little starfish over in the rockpool and Whale turned into the big whale. That wound in the back of his neck is his breathing hole. So as he came up for air he was able to breathe that way. That's the story about Illawarra and five islands. Every year you see the whales going up the coast and coming back down and lots of people think they're going up there for a special reason, but that's Whale going up there looking for Koala and Starfish to give them another flogging.

Humpback blowhole_Flickr and NOAA Photo Library

© W

RSC


Science spies flowers' speech through the eyes of a bird - GreenCareer

Reproduced with Permission Source: GreenCareer 5 March 2014 http://www.greencareer.net.au/news/science-spies-flowers-speech-through-the-eyes-of-a-bird

N ew research has revealed the evolutionary links between some Australian birds and the flowers they pollinate, showing some plants change their colour to suit birds’ taste, and may even try to communicate directly to them. A recent study used mathematical models of bird vision to represent the colours of Australian

flowers, in the same way that the birds themselves perceive colours. A team of biologists from Monash and RMIT universities in Melbourne used statistical techniques to show that a small range of colours evolved among bird-pollinated flowers far more often than would occur by chance. The study measured the wavelengths of light reflected from the petals of 234 native Australian species of flowers, consisting of 80 bird-pollinated species and 154 insect-pollinated species.

The researchers translated the spectral reflectance patterns of flowers into single points in a ‘colour space’, representing the sensitivities of the four kinds of colour receptors in bird vision.

According to the research, about half the flowers that were bird-pollinated overlapped with the colour space occupied by insect-pollinated flowers.

“The other half of bird-pollinated species, however, were crowded in a narrow and separate stretch that occupied just one per cent of the total volume of the colour space,” said Professor Martin Burd, from Monash University. “These colours appear red to humans, and we named this cluster the ‘red arm’. Their reflectance profiles would also strongly stimulate the red receptors in bird eyes.”

Professor Burd says the study indicated many flowering species have evolved to ‘talk’ to birds using a very particular set of colour ‘words’. “In particular, the distinctiveness of the ‘red arm’ appeared only when the colour space was based on the visual system of honeyeaters,” he said. “Models of the other visual system in birds with ultraviolet receptors, common in parrots and songbirds, did not reveal a distinctive red arm of floral colours.”

Professor Burd said it was not surprising given honeyeaters are the main bird pollinators in Australia. The research team concluded that there has been significant evolutionary convergence in the colour of bird-pollinated flowers in Australia, and that there visual system of honeyeaters has been the driver of this convergence.

“The birds are talking honeyeater language because that’s where all the action is,” Dr Burd said.

Dr Burd says he believes in contrast, Asian and African flowers visited by songbirds which use ultraviolet-sensitive receptors, should not have significant convergence on the red arm.

“Is this the case? It’s a question we hope to answer next,” he said.http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/similarity_hs_08

Honeyeater © WRSC

Robyn

Y ou have probably noticed that dolphins and sharks both have a streamlined body shape with a triangular fin on the back and two side fins. However, the two animals also have many differences.

SHARKS DOLPHINS

skeleton made of cartilage use gills to get oxygen from the water

in which they swim don't nurse their young don't have hair

skeleton made of bone go to the surface and breathe atmospheric air

in through their blowholes do nurse their young do have hair — they are born with hair

around their "noses"

The tree left shows where sharks and dolphins are positioned on the tree of life. Is it likely that sharks and dolphins inherited their body shapes, fins and flippers from the same common ancestor?

They are not very closely related to one another. Sharks' and dolphins' similarities (body shape, fin and flippers) are analogies — traits that each lineage evolved independently.

Reproduced with permission © "Homology or Analogies?" Understanding Evolution. University of California Museum of Palaeontology. 25 April 2014. http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/similarity_hs_09

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/similarity_hs_08


For Our Members in the Shoalhaven Area

Wildlife Rescue South Coast Training Days

“Introduction to Rescuing Wildlife

& Introduction to Rescue Telephone”

Saturday 17 May Wednesday 21 May Wednesday 18 June Saturday 21 June

New revised manuals for both courses Registration: 9.00am Concludes: 4.00pm

To register please ring Course Trainer: Kim Goodsell-Muldoon 0488 996 604 or email

[email protected]

For more information please contact Jenny Packwood WRSC Education Co-ordinator Mobile: 0418 497 345 Email: [email protected]

Morning and afternoon tea provided BYO lunch

Deadline is 30 June 2014 for all members

Starting with our Home page which explains to visitors ‘Who we are’ and some tips if they ‘find injure wildlife’ on the road side. Our new look ‘Become a Volunteer’ page is located under the Home tab. The new membership application form (Word doc.) can now be submitted by email as a softcopy attachment or posted as a hardcopy. We still accept payment by cheque but now offer 2 other payment options, direct transfer or PayPal. All details are in the form which can be downloaded in the revised Volunteer page. 30 June sees the end of the financial year and also all 2014 membership renewals must be returned and paid for. WRSC is in the process of sending renewal forms out to members. This form has also been updated with electronic payment options (all details are in the form) and for those who wish to submit the form and receipt by email a Word softcopy is available to download from the members’ section in the ‘Welcome’ page.

www.wildlife-rescue.org.au Is constantly changing and being updated…...


This year’s festival is a month-long celebration of the arts in Jervis Bay and the local Shoalhaven Bay and Basin area. There is a vibrant and diverse programme of more than 55 events, spread over four weekends from 16 May to 9 June. There’s visual arts, photography, music, performance, literary and special community events, taking place in galleries, cafes, studios, parks, homes and gardens, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Jervis Bay.

The theme of this year’s festival is “connections and collaborations” – people coming together, creating together, and celebrating their creativity.

The Seechange Winter Arts Festival has been hosted by Jervis Bay and Basin Arts group bi-annually since 2000. This

year’s festival will be the 8th Seechange Festival.

http://www.seechangefestival.org.au

B owral Public School Market is one of the oldest and best attended markets in the Southern

Highlands. Conveniently located adjacent to the Bowral shopping precinct it operates from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Dozens of stalls offer an eclectic selection of quality foods, produce, plants, clothing, jewellery, gifts, and other items.

Please contact Woody if you can help on the WRSC stall.

Upcoming WRSC Training Courses The following courses are being organised with full details and costs to follow as soon as possible:

Kangaroo Valley 28 June

Wombats with Shirley Lack

Kangaroo Valley 3 August

Macropology with Lorraine Toohey

Bemboka 16 & 17 August 2014

2 day Birds and Raptors Course Chris Lloyd

Greenwell Point 27 & 28 August 2014

2 day Avian Course Necropsy, imping etc

Chris Lloyd

Early reservations can be made with Jenny Packwood [email protected]

Check out all courses on offer at http://www.wildlife-rescue.org.au/training.html


Corella in Camellia © WRSC Robyn

The mystery of the badly burnt birds…… Or should I call this story ‘Double Take’ or ‘Take Two’? I live in the rural sector of the Shoalhaven, Tuesday is ‘garbage nights’ and this particular Tuesday May’s draft Newsletter was due to the WRSC committee so I spent most of the morning corresponding with Jenny Packwood over the training courses and the afternoon gardening. Around 7pm I went to go out, started the car, put on the headlights and directly opposite sitting in the Camellia was a Corella. Jenny seemed the most logical person to ring which I did and her advice was to ring Erin and Lindsay Francis, the nearest bird rescuers and carers the next morning if the bird was still here, no point trying to catch a bird in darkness especially when there are acres of surrounding paddocks. The important tip Jenny passed on was a hurt bird will try to reach the highest point even of a shrub if they can’t fly or scale a tree using beak and feet. I took a lot of photos of the bird in the Camellia, sent 4 full size files to Jenny in case she could spot an obvious problem and then waited till the morning.

I wasn’t too surprised to discover the bird had vanished by 6.30am Wednesday morning, it had been a cold foggy start to the day and the bin was rather noisily collected at 5.30am! I walked around the yard even my neighbour’s front yard but couldn’t spot the white body anywhere. Hopefully this was a good sign that the bird just needed a rest and had joined the flock I had heard on waking.

Just after lunch I kept thinking I could hear a cockatoo nearby, the front door was open as usual so I went for a walk to discover the Corella sitting at ground level under the wattle tree which is across the front yard from the Camellia. Erin didn’t answer her mobile but thank goodness Lindsay answered his and it would take him about 20mins to get here. The bird started to head across my neighbour’s front lawn to the crepe myrtle, then turned towards a bottlebrush and the road. Oh No! I went in search of something I could throw over the bird, grabbed gardening gloves and plastic carry cage and rushed outside again in hot pursuit. Maybe I should explain at this point I’m a relatively new WRSC member, to date my only ‘rescues’ have been a turtle and a baby pee-wee which had fallen from its nest. Neither of those rescues involved a fast moving object with a big skin breaking beak or strong sharp claws, the bird had demonstrated its strength by snapping camellia branches off in front of me as a warning the night before.

I made it outside in time to see the bird cross the road, use some fallen branches to climb a tree in the good neighbours boundary of the farm opposite and then I lost sight of it. I stayed put to mark the spot and Lindsay arrived, armed with net we climbed through the barbed wire fencing and fortunately spotted the bird fairly quickly just overhead trying to go up higher. Lindsay was able to flick a branch which made the bird glide over my head to the ground, the bird took off squawking with Lindsay in hot pursuit. Took only 2 swoops with the net and Lindsay had it, so back to the car and the hard part ended up being getting the bird unattached from the net, Lindsay, gloves, into a blanket and finally the cage. Lindsay said he would ring to let me know what the examination revealed, which he did about an hour later and I was surprised to be asked if there had been anyone burning off recently, had to be nearby and in the last couple of days as the bird smelt strongly of smoke and all its feathers were burnt. I did remember smelling a fire, I couldn’t remember the day, could smell it for hours one afternoon but couldn’t see any smoke. I was surprised as my neighbour who owns the 54 acres around me is in hospital so knew it wasn’t him. The good news was the bird’s beak and feet were good, not diseased and Judy (Bird Co-ordinator (North)) was keeping it with her galahs while it rehabilitated over winter, we will have to wait till next moulting season to see if new feathers grow and the bird can fly. I was so happy to hear this outcome and returned to my backyard gardening endeavours.

Now this is where the story should end but no…..just prior to the sun setting and whilst I packing up my gardening tools I thought I could hear a squawking in distress cry, one that I had only heard quite recently ~ a few hours earlier to be precise. I walked down the driveway, checking all the shrubs as I went and as I neared the Camellia the squawking got louder but I couldn’t see a bird. I turned around to check the trees alongside the garage but nothing so I turned towards the camellia again and just caught a moving white object in my side vision. A Corella sitting in the smallest shrub across the other side of my neighbour’s paddock and while I watched using its beak it climbed down and bopped across the long grass to the next, taller tree in the good neighbours boundary between properties. I certainly had seen this behaviour before! I raced inside and rang Lindsay, thank goodness he believed me there was a second bird and was on his way. I took a torch with me as I headed down the road as the sun was setting, I kept my eyes firmly glued on the bird as it was getting darker every minute and waited till Lindsay arrived.

Unfortunately the bird had time to get to the thicker stiffer branched tree but Lindsay once he got through the barbed wire fence decided the only way to get the bird down was if he went up and up he went to shake the branches as hard as

he could. Success, the bird glided into the open paddock and started heading across the cow mowed paddock towards my place. Lindsay was down the tree, through the barbed wire fence running across the paddock to skilfully net the bird on the first attempt. Wrapped it straight into a blanket and into the cage before heading back to the car where he had a quick unwrapping and ‘sniffing’ examination. Same story as the first bird, smelt of smoke, not as strongly or with as damaged wings but definitely had been burnt. Judy had told Lindsay the chance of recovery was stronger if the first burnt bird ate and drank in the first couple of days so Lindsay was off to rehydrate and reunite the ‘burnt buddies’. Lindsay’s parting comment was it was lucky I had good eyesight!

Well I think luck had a lot to do with these two birds, lucky they survived the smoke and fire to start with, lucky that I was outside to see them and extremely lucky I knew who to ring so they could be rescued and reunited. When I updated Jenny later about the second burnt bird she commented ‘At least there are two to keep each other company so that will help a lot’.It will remain a mystery of where or how these birds were burnt, I’m hoping it isn’t a ‘who dunnit’ and I hope the birds stay lucky with their rescue story changing into a successful double rehabilitation and release story. Robyn.

The camellia where the 1st bird was found and across the paddock the trees/shrub where the

2nd bird was spotted and then rescued.

wildlife rescue south coast inc po box 666 nowra nsw 2541 ... · and proudly display our...

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