Mt Rogers Newsletter, September 2022

As Mt Rogers begins to emerge from a very wet and damp-cold winter the native wildflowers are beginning to bloom. The most obvious blooms are from at least four species of Wattle with the early wattle showing its creamy-yellow flowers in the middle of winter. By September the Cootamundra wattles have lost their glory but they still attract many insectivorous birds which come to feast on the invertebrates that prove that the invasive wattles are good habitat. The Wattles ‘take it in turn’ to flower as others will provide nectar and pollen as enticements to pollinators in November and later in the summer. Later again Cockatoos and Superb Parrots will come into the reserve to feed on the Acacias’ seedpods.

              Many native wildflowers are much smaller than people expect especially if they are more familiar with large daisies, camellias, roses and other species from overseas. The rainy seasons we have had have rehydrated the soils to such an extent that native shrubs are very showy with masses of blooms even though the individual flowers are intricate and small. Particularly at ground level wildflower species have evolved very specialist mechanisms and structures for attracting visitors and dusting them with pollen for transferring to other blooms.

              It may seem that there hasn't been much Landcare activity on Mt Rogers recently. Two or three working days were cancelled due to weather. Because so many Privets, Cotoneasters and Firethorns have been removed over 25 years, the group's land caring has increasingly focused on herbaceous and grassy invasive species. The woody weeds reached the reserve as berries eaten and carried in from gardens by hungry birds. The La Nina seasons we have had mean that woody weeds still in suburbia and gardens produce millions of berries to re-invade the ACT's reserves. We are already finding that Privet seedlings are present under branches and trees where birds have perched and pooed.

              At least three winter working bees were spent pulling out Euphorbia plants. These European, green-flowered species are popular with gardeners seeking novelty, have caustic sap and spread rapidly. We are monitoring infestations of berry-spread Honeysuckle, Ivy and Blackberry and are on the lookout for new incursions when going ‘cross-country’.                                               

             As last summer ended volunteers began to remove thousands of Fleabane seedheads to prevent the seeds blowing away in the wind. We also removed the seemingly dead stalks as buds around the roots seemed likely to reshoot in spring. Now we are also digging up the rosettes of new Fleabane leaves as we search through the reserve’s rank, introduced grasses in search of young Verbascum plants’ rosettes. Fleabane has its uses but is a major herbaceous invasive in Australia’s agricultural areas. Here’s a quote from The Weed Forager’s Handbook by Adam Grubb & Annie Raser-Rowland.  “We use Fleabane …to remove fleas from our dog.  Boil large bunches [of fleabane] in water and add the strained-off liquid to the bath when washing your canine. Many human medicinal qualities have been attributed to it too, most widely as a tea to treat diarrhoea.”

              There are two species of Verbascum that have invaded degraded land in the ACT region. Thousands of the soft, hairy-leaved species of Great Mullein, Verbascum thapsus are present on  Mt Rogers. The Landcare group has focused on removing the dried-off seedheads during several working bees as each contains thousands of tiny seeds smaller than two joined dots.. Verbascum detail, including the plants’ uses and the fact that the seeds remain in the soil for years, is in this Wiki entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbascum_thapsus

Sometimes Verbascum rosettes are growing amongst the kangaroos’ preferred fodder and native Weeping Grass, Microlaena stipoides.

              Scores of Thistles were removed to prevent further distribution of their ‘parachute’ seeds but we’re still finding ones we missed, particularly those that grew cryptically under or up through shrubs and trees. This effort and daubing – spraying the invasive grasses, CNG, ALG and ST, that come in on wheels feet and mowers is also an individual effort rather than happening in a working bee session. We try to reduce the amount of herbicides used or use them as a method of last resort. Similarly, and we are helped by the La Nina damp soil, we apply the no dig method or minimal digging whenever possible. Dormant seeds respond by germinating when shading plants are removed and the soil is aerated. Digging also damages the essential fungal and microbial networks that we are all finding out much more about.

              As the weather warms up we are already seeing more insects emerging with photos of several interesting species of butterflies and moths already being recorded near or on Mt Rogers. Sightings include Blue Tongue lizards which means that Brown Snakes will also be basking to warm up or on the move through the reserve. Be cautious with your off-leash dogs ………as the sign says:

Snakes live here.

They are not usually aggressive.

If you meet one stay calm and

back away slowly while

maintaining eye contact

 If a dog is bitten Pet Ambulance can

be called 0448 789 039 or 0417 485 788

Note: They are not permitted to administer antivenin.

The team at Canberra Snake Rescue

and Relocation will come to your property 0405 405 304

to assist if you have reptilian visitors.

 The reserve is shared habitat.

Native wildlife, plants & rocks

are protected from interference

or removal by ACT laws.

              And as for Mt Rogers’ birds, we saw Scarlet Robins during the winter months but they may have already moved out of the ACT. Seasonal migrants moving in as it warms up include Cuckoos that don’t call “cuckoo”, Orioles and Noisy Friarbirds. There have been many Grey Fantails around hawking on the wing for insects we might disturb. The GFT’s are often part of Mixed Feeding Flocks of smaller birds with each species seeking out preferred invertebrates or seeds in bushes, on the ground or amongst the trees’ foliage and canopies.

               If you’re caring for young people there’s many in-nature activity ideas and nature treasure hunts available on the Nature Play CBR website.

              And there’s the URBAN FIELD NATURALIST project site and companion book:  A Guide to the creatures in your Neighbourhood. Both are about, becoming and being naturalists; observant people who pause, ponder, record and share experiences whilst out and about in the nature around them.

              Will there be any fungi emerging as the soils and leaf litter layers warm up? An inspection mirror is good for looking under toadstools without knocking them over and magnifying glasses give intriguing views of leaves, flowers and mini-beasts. Enjoy Sprummer!!

 

Rosemary  

Convenor, Mt Rogers Landcare Group www.mtrogerslandcare.blogspot.com   62584724