News
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What’s happening to the lake?
Work is being undertaken to remove excess plant material from the main lake near Station Street and return it to full function.
Bats steal the night
Lesser long-eared bats featured on our night stalk of 12 January 2013. Also seen on the night were lots of spiders, three species of native cockroaches, beetles and moths – including a spider eating its dinner.
Early Learning Centre helps the bush to grow
The Friends of Queens Park Bushland received a donation from the East Cannington YMCA Early Learning Centre to help with revegetation activities. The staff and children at the centre handed the Friends a giant cheque that the children had decorated.
Let’s go cuckoo
First there were cuckoos of the bird variety to be watching. Now there are cuckoo bees and cockoo wasps too.
Night stalk captivates participants
Another successful night stalk on Friday, 23 November 2012, was held by the Friends of Queens Park Bushland. We saw a gecko, spiders, moths and much more.
Bushland grows tall without fire
The bushland doesn’t need fire to grow well. The fire history of one area is shown by a 150 year old Balga that hasn’t been burnt for more than 80 years.
A walk with the birds.
A bird watching walk was held through the Queens Park Regional Open Space for BirdLife Australia members. A very respectable 47 different species of bird was seen during the morning.
Happy 20th birthday Friends of Queens Park Bushland
The Friends of Queens Park Bushland celebrated their 20th birthday with members and invited guests. It was also time to formally launch the website.
Wildflowers in the bush
Wildflowers abound in the bushland during Spring. From the smallest to the largest flowers, they all have a role to play.
Birds start breeding
Many birds start breeding in August. Keep your eyes open and you may be able to see the signs.
Planting season for 2012 is finished.
More than 1,100 seedlings were propagated and planted by the group to help restore the bushland.
Millipedes are on the move
Now that the conditions are moist the millipedes have started coming out and are walking around. There are at least two species of millipede in the bush – one native and one introduced.
Stormy weather takes its toll.
The new habitat created by the storm of 10 June 2012 will help the whole ecosystem. Nesting hollows will be created and nutrients will be recycled, meaning more opportunities will be provided for every creature living in the bush.
Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos flock for a feed.
Carnaby’s Cockatoo is a rare species of bird and needs large numbers of Banksia flowers and seeds on which to feed. The flock photographed contained close to 200 birds.
Moths are in the air
The first new growth of the plants in Autumn signal moths to start the next generation of caterpillars.
Acacia stenoptera – a new plant species for the area
A new flora species was found on 21 April 2012 – Acacia stenoptera. This brings out total of identified natives for the area to 205 species.
Look out for Banksia menziesii
One of the most common trees in bushland across the Swan Coastal Plain is Banksia menziesii, Menzie’s Banksia. It is flowering now and will continue to do so until the end of winter. The flowers are usually red, but come in all shades from pure yellow to bronze. Both yellow and bronze forms can be found here, […]
Bats seen during nightstalk
The night stalk held on 23 March 2012 brought us sightings of bats, silhouetted against the last light of the day. The evening then got better with sightings of a Western Bearded Dragon, two Geckos and moths galore.
Sand Scorpions come out at night
Sand Scorpions, Urodacus novaehollandiae, are nocturnal and about 10cm long. They can be found in sandy soils in the Perth metropolitan area, and around the coast to Adelaide.
Trapdoor Spider
A Trapdoor Spider burrow was found in the bush. With the lid closed you can barely tell it is there.
Summer flowers
The bush is not dry and lifeless at the end of summer. With a bit of looking you’ll find that there are flowers everywhere.
Frogs make a splash on night stalk.
Frogs were the last animal we expected to see when we met for a night stalk on January 27, 2012. But we must have encountered more than a dozen of them. Many more critters were seen that evening, too. Take a look at the gallery.
A new species of bird is added to the list.
A very exciting discovery was made on 16 January 2012 – a male Splendid Fairy-wren was sighted in our bushland. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this bird has been seen in our bushland.
Insects galore
While walking in the bush on 30 December 2011, we came across a grove of flowering Astartea scoparia. The flowers were alive with insects including Jewel Beetles.
Night stalk on 26 November 2011
The FQPB held a night stalk on 26 November 2011. The light to attract moths and beetles was set up and left to do its work while we went searching for other critters.
Striated Pardalotes are nesting again
Striated Pardalotes, Pardalotus striatus, have started nesting again in the hole in the culvert near Welshpool Rd in Black Creek Reserve. On Saturday, 3 September 2011, two birds were seen taking dry grass into the hole.
Strange Fungi
Look at the strange object dug up from the bush while weeding. What could it be? An immature Hadrian’s Stinkhorn, Pallus hadrianii, of course. The mature fruit is covered by jelly and smells like dog poo.
Weeding & Rubbish
28 August 2011 saw 10 people get together for weeding and rubbish collecting in the piece of bushland at the corner of Gibbs and Elizabeth Street, East Cannington.
Planting at Black Creek Reserve
23 July 2011 saw 10 members and a further 12 visitors plant 1,600 trees in Black Creek Reserve.
Plaque to commemorate Gill Brennan
A plaque to commemorate Gill Brennan has been installed in Gill Brennan Reserve. Gill was the founder of the Friends of Queens Park Bushland and helped save the parcel of bushland nearest Wharf St, Queens Park, from development.
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