Red-bellied Black Snake (David Ong)
This page lists and describes some of the animals indigenous to northern Victoria and the southern Riverina.There are links to other sites which provide information about our local animals.
Whilst animals may be of general interest to most us, some develop an avid interest in animals generally or in some types of animals.
A field naturalist may wander about in the bush, reference books and notebook at hand, magnifying glass and binoculars at the ready.
Rather than running away from a snake, a field naturalist may try to examine it at closer quarters.
Ants, spiders and fungi may prove of particular interest
One local naturalist is particularly interested in locusts.
But their interest is rarely confined to animals. They are usually equally excited about trees, shrubs, vines, herbs, mosses and native grasses.
Many are members of a field naturalists club and/or other conservation organisations. Many are also keen birders or twitchers.
External Links
Australian Bats
Australian Frogs
Australian Museum
Australian Native Fish Society
Australian Platypus Conservancy Birding Guide 1: Barmah Forest
Birding Guide 2: Deniliquin (pdf brochure)
Birding Guide 9:Terrick Terrick National Park (pdf brochure)
David Kleinart Photography (local animals, birds, landscapes)
Echuca and District Branch of the Birdlife Australia
Entomological Society of Victoria
Frogs Australia
Frogs of Australia (Amphibian Research Centre)
Kyabram Fauna Park
List of birds observed in Echuca and District (pdf sheet)
Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary
NSW Fisheries
NSW Wildlife Atlas
Photo Gallery of the Birds of the Echuca District (by Dr David Ong)
Photo Gallery of the Birds of the Echuca District (Page 2)
Queensland Frog Society
Waterwatch
Wildlife Information and Rescue Service
Wildlife Preservation Society
Indigenous Animals
of
northern Victoria and the Southern Riverina
Above left: Lunchtime for a Lace Monitor by David Ong; above right: Echidna by Keith StockwellMammals, amphibians and reptiles
Some animals native to the Murray Valley
Introduction
Introduction : Kyabram Fauna Park
Many of the animals listed below can be observed at Kyabram Fauna Park. The not-for-profit park is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Originally, the park had a handful of kangaroos, an emu and some water birds. Most local mammals and many birds and reptiles are now on display. Modern enclosures, including walk-through aviaries and a nocturnal house, have been constructed in recent years. A feature of the park is a large wetland.
About 160 species of birds have been observed in the Echuca district over recent years. Some birds are very common, e.g. Magpie, Magpie Lark, Silvereye and Kookaburra. Others are locally uncommon.
The Bush Stone Curlew used to live in several spots at the edge of Echuca but, as the town has grown, its habitat has been lost and young have fallen victims to cats and dogs. Curlews roost and feed amidst logs , so it important to leave logs on the ground for them. Click here to enter the Bush Stone Curlew Page.
The Bush Stone Curlew: depends on logs (K Stockwell)
The Echuca and District Branch of Birdlife Australia (Bird Observation & Conservation Australia) has lots of information on its site:
All taken locally, Dr Ong's photo gallery features pictures of almost every bird which has been observed in our district. Because of the number of photographs, the gallery is in two parts. The birds are arranged in order of their Birds Australia atlas number: emu, water birds and waders are near the start of the first page; corvids and introduced birds are near the end of the second page.
David Kleinert's site has a terrific photographic gallery of local birds, landscapes and animals.
A number of native fish live in local rivers and lagoons. Numbers have fallen owing to habitat degradation, low river flows, lowered water quality, alien species (e.g. European Carp), barriers such as dam walls, diseases, over-fishing and inappropriate translocation of native fish. Some species which used to live in our region are now locally extinct.
Catchment Management Authorities are working to improve the health of rivers in our region. Environmental water flows have occurred ~a major boost occurred over the summer of 2005-06 when a large environmental water allocation was released into the nearby Barmah-Millewa wetlands ~ large woody debris is no longer removed from most streams, riverside revegetation is under way in a number of places, barriers are being removed with the construction of fish ladders, restocking of inappropriate native fish species is occurring and barriers erected in places to prevent trout from predating on small native species such as Galaxia. Fish breeding and bird nesting exceeded expectations. Carp numbers may be declining. There are indications that Murray Cod and Silver Perch numbers are recovering. Floods during the summer of 2010-11 may have resulted in increased native fish numbers.
The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority has produced an excellent booklet, Fishes of the Goulburn Broken Catchment. The publication includes photographs, so is more useful than the unillustrated list below.
Persons fishing in NSW waters, including the Murray River, are required by law to carry a receipt showing payment of the NSW recreational fishing fee. Persons fishing in Victorian waters are required to have a fishing licence. Certain persons are exempt from having to pay a license fee, including a person fishing in NSW in a private dam with a surface area of less than 2ha, NSW holders of a current Commonwealth pensioner concession card issued by Centrelink, aboriginal persons (conditions apply). licences valid in one State are not valid in other States.
For information about NSW angling licences, bag limits and size limits, call 1300 550 474 or visit the following web site: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
The funds raised in NSW from recreational fishing licences are placed into recreational fishing trusts and can only be spent on projects that improve recreational fishing.
Some funds from the NSW recreational fishing fee have been allocated to the Narrandera fishery centre to produce native fish for restocking local rivers.
For angling information about this region (online forum, photo gallery, water levels, etc), check out fishvictoria.com
Freshwater fish
Unfortunately we do not have original photographs to illustrate these fish.
Australian Smelt (Retyropinna semoni)
Australian Smelt is a very colourful small fish (commonly 40-60mm). It is a forage species for predatory fish, its diet comprising mainly insects and micro-crustaceans.Blackfish (Gadopsis spp)
River Blackfish and Two-spined Blackfish are small sedentary fish associated with instream cover, such as woody debris and/or boulders. Before laying adhesive eggs, females clean the site by clearing away any mud, using their fins. They require an increase in water temperature to about 16.5 degrees C to induce spawning. PVC piping has been used successfully as artificial spawning sites for Blackfish in areas where nesting sites are limited.Bony Herring (Bony Bream)
~ see Freshwater HerringCongoli (Tupong) (Pseudaphritis urvillii)
Light-coloured fodder fish. 15-20cm.Eel-tailed Catfish (Tandanus sp)
This fish is a bottom feeder, most active at night, which uses sensory barbells around the mouth to locate prey. It has sharp spines at the dorsal and pectoral fins. It has declined in number because of habitat degradation and competition form carp. May build a stone nest on the river bottom. Sometimes called Jewfish. Protected species.Flat-headed Gudgeon (Philypnodon grandiceps)
No longer as abundant as it once was. Typically about 80mm in length.Fly-specked Hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum)
A very small fish which is a food source for larger fish. 5-7cm.Freshwater Catfish (Tandanus tandanus)
Prefers slow-moving streams and lakes. Numbers have declined significantly, at least until recently. Length: commonly about 500mm.Freshwater Herring (Bony Bream) (Nematolosa erebi)
The freshwater herring may be Australia's most common fish. Flooding precipitates a population explosion, providing lots of food for many of the larger fish. Length is commonly 120 to 200mm.Golden Perch (Yellowbelly) (Macquaria ambigua)
A solitary species, golden perch prefer deep pools with snags (fallen timber debris). Upstream migration (up to 2,000km) and extensive upstream spawning occurs during flood times when the water temperature is above 23 degrees C. Females lay up to 650,000 eggs at a time. 25-45cm.Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)
Silver Perch prefer fast-flowing rivers, especially rapids. Like Golden Perch, they migrate upstream to breed(ins schools of around 60 individuals) in response to pre-flood rains. The eggs are semi-buoyant and non-adhesive. The population has fallen due to habitat degradation and changes to natural river flow regimes. Protected species. 30-45cm.Short-headed Lamprey (Mardacia mordax)
The Short-headed lamprey is a long, thin fish. 10-20cm.Southern Pygmy Perch (Nannoperca australis)
this is the most common of the Pygmy Perch and is associated with dense aquatic vegetation. lays several hundred adhesive eggs randomly over aquatic vegetation. 4-6cm.Murray Cod (Maccullachella peelii peelii)
Australia's largest freshwater fish, Murray Cod is the icon fish of district rivers. They prefer deep holes with shelter such as fallen trees (snags) or overhanging vegetation. They spawn in spring or summer when water temperature is about 20 degrees C, laying adhesive eggs in hollow logs or hard, clean substrate. Although this is a long-lived fish, numbers have crashed over recent years, necessitating a range of management strategies. Limited fishing season and strict bag limits commercial fishing for cod is banned. 45-65cm. Live specimens are on display at Kyabram Fauna Park and at the Narranderra Fish Centre. Numbers appear to be recovering.Trout Cod (Maccullochella macquariensis)
Once widespread in our region, Trout Cod are now an endangered species. A restocking programme is under way.
Trout Cod spawn in spring or summer at slightly lower temperatures than Murray Cod (about 17ºC), laying adhesive eggs on a hard surfaces such as hollow logs, fallen timber or rocks. 40-50cm.
Western Carp Gudgeon (Hypeleotris klunzingeri)
This small native fish is found in turbid, heavily weeded billabongs and anabranches throughout the region. The female lays between one and two thousand eggs in shallow water on aquatic plants in summer; the male fans the eggs to oxygenate them and remove sediment. 3-5cm.Other native fish of our region
Other native fish found in the area include other species of Gudgeon, Macquarie Perch (25-35cm), Crimson Spotted Rainbowfish (5-7cm), Olive Perlet (4-6cm) and four species of Galaxias (6-9cm).Crustacea
Crayfish, prawns and yabbies
Murray Crayfish (Euastacus armatus) numbers have crashed over recent decades. Strict size and bag limits apply. There are a few species of native prawns and shrimps in local waterways. Regarded by many as pleasant to eat, the Common Yabbie (Cherax destructor) is sometimes farmed in the region; some try to catch yabbies in farm dams.Introduced fish
A number of introduced fish have found their way into local rivers.European carp is a major pest, causing increased river turgidity and algal concentrations. It compete with native fish. Regarded as the rabbit of our waterways. Flushing rivers of sediment is said to reduce their numbers. Traps have been placed on some fish ladders to catch them: they swim higher in the water than most native species. Slower than native fish to respond to falling water levels in wetlands, many Carp are stranded and perish when wetlands dry out. Some regulators have grills which allow the passage of small (native) fish but exclude the passage of adult Carp.
Trout species are, for better or worse, still being bred and released into our waterways.
The introduction of Redfin (English Perch) is believed to have contributed to the decline in native fish numbers.
Other introduced fish include Goldfish, Tench, Oriental Weatherloach and Mosquitofish.
Unfortunately, this site is unable to obtain photographs of most of the named fish.
Freshwater Fish Strategy
Freshwater Fish Strategy
The Murray Darling Basin Commission has developed a native fish strategy, the overall goal of which is to rehabilitate native fish communities in the Murray Darling Basin back to at least 60 per cent of estimated pre-European settlement levels within 50 years.
Over the past 50 years, the population of native fish in the waterways of the Murray-darling Basin have fallen significantly in both distribution and abundance. Some native fish species have become locally extinct, endangered or vulnerable to extinction. Most commercial fisheries have collapsed. Alien fish such as European Carp have been introduced and are, in part, responsible for the demise of native species.
Native fish species are an indicator of the overall health of the Basin's waterways. Without intervention, native fish populations would continue to decline.
The strategy involves building fish ladders at obstructions such as dam walls between the Southern Ocean and the Hume Dam. Fish ladders are already in place on several weirs, e.g. at Torrumbarry Weir where a fish trap on the ladder is helping reduce the number of European Carp. Twelve locks along the Murray and the barrages at Goolwa are being modified to provide for a variety of fishways.
Several wetlands along the river are being rejuvenated, e.g. the Moira lake Scheme. Moira Lake used to be a significant fishery. Regulators have been put in place to allow flood waters to enter in winter and spring but prevent water from entering during times of high water flow in summer and autumn when the lake used to dry out. There has already been a significant improvement in the health of the lake. European Carp are being captured in a trap as the water drains out of the lake over summer. The captured carp are used to produce a garden fertiliser.
Desnagging has ceased along most of the river. Many native species, e.g. Murray Cod, depend upon snags (fallen trees, logs) for protection and breeding.
Attempts are being made to maintain a minimum channel flow, to keep blue-green algae outbreaks at bay, to revegetate river banks, to exclude cattle from riversides by erecting fences, and to maintain high water quality to reduce blackwater events (deoxygenated water due to high organic content which results in fish deaths).
Australian Native Fish Society
Animals : mammals
About 38 species of native mammals can be found in the area. Many are in the region's box-ironbark forests. About half are marsupials. Unfortunately, since the arrival of Europeans, an array of mammals have become locally extinct, including White-footed Rabbit-rat, Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby, Eastern Quoll and Dingo.
Insectivorous Bats
The largest group of placental mammals are insectivorous bats. With wings folded, most are very small, about the size of a large fingernail. At least 13 species have been observed over the region. Eating up to half their weight in insects during a single night, these creatures are very small, nocturnal and difficult to see. Some species roost in a different spot each day for several days before returning to a previously-used roosting hollow. They often roost in the cracks of fence posts on in tree cavities. More effective in controlling insects than the most effective insecticides, regional agriculture might not be possible without them.
Local bat species include White-striped Mastiff-bat, Little Mastiff-bat, Greater Long-eared Bat, Lesser Long-eared Bat, Gould's Wattled Bat, Chocolate Wattled Bat, Little Broad-nosed Bat and Little Forest Eptesicus. There are some good notes on bats in a book by Chris Tzaros, Wildlife of Box-Ironbark Country.
Introduced mammals
Several farm animals have been introduced to the region. In the bush, a few introduced mammals have become pests:
Rabbit (introduced)
Has been a major pest. Tends to live in colonies, burrowing into the soil.Brown Hare (introduced)
Widespread. Numbers are steady or increasing.Fox (introduced)
A widespread, common pest species, preying on birds and a variety of other native animals.Cat (introduced)
A widespread, common pest which preys upon a wide range of native animals, reducing species diversity.Pig (introduced)
A pest in some local wetland areas.Fortunately, there are relatively few feral goats in the region. They are, however, a problem further inland.
There are a few brumbies (wild horses) in Barmah-Millewa Forest. There are feral deer species to the east of the region.
Feral dogs are sometimes a problem.
Animals : marsupials
A transition zone between two kangaroo species, the region has populations of both Eastern and Western Grey Kangaroos. However, the Eastern Grey Kangaroo is by far the more common except in the St. Arnaud, Dalyenong and Wychitella areas. The fact that many private land-holders have built dams means that kangaroos are able to obtain water all year round, including drought times, and this had contributed to their proliferation.
Grey Kangaroo (K Stockwell)In addition, the Black Wallaby is common in the forests around Bendigo and is sometimes observed at other places throughout the region.
Black Wallaby (K Stockwell)There have apparently been some reports of Rufous Bettong in the area.
The Red Kangaroo and the Wallaroo are found to the north-west of the region.
Red Kangaroo (D Ong)Dunnarts are small mice-like creatures which are endangered in Victoria. The largest known Fat-tailed Dunnart colony in Victoria is found on the grasslands of Terrick Terrick National Park. Those carrying out Plain-wanderer surveys after dark often observe Fat-tailed Dunnarts. The Common Dunnart has apparently also been observed in the region.
The Yellow-footed Antechinus is sometimes observed in the region, especially climbing the trunks of mature trees in late winter or spring. Agile and Dusky Antechinus have also been sighted in the region.
Although the Tuan (Brush-tailed Phascogale) is locally extinct throughout most of the region, it is sometimes observed in some areas of box-ironbark forest (e.g. in Heathcote-Graytown National Park).
Koalas are only occasionally observed in the area, e.g. at Morgans Beach. Sightings around Echuca are so uncommon that they are sometimes reported in the local newspaper. They are more common in the forests to the east of the region, e.g. Black Spring in the Warby Range; Murrindindi Scenic Reserve; Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park.
Animals : Monotremes
Platypus are sometimes observed in the region's rivers. Platypus prefer sheltered waters, with overhanging branches. Some are occasionally sighted in the lagoon at Island Sanctuary, Deniliquin, and in the Campaspe River near Echuca's Beechworth Bakery.
Sometimes observers confuse the native Water Rat for a platypus.
The Short-beaked Echidna is rarely observed close to Echuca. However, it is widespread but uncommon in the region's box-ironbark forests and in Terrick Terrick National Park.
Short-beaked Echidna (K Stockwell)
Animals : possums
There are several species of possum in the region. They are a common, and often unwelcome, visitors to properties, especially to those close to the rivers.
Common Brushtail Possum
Found across much of eastern and south-western Australia, the Common Brushtail inhabits bushland and urban areas alike. It is particularly common in those areas of towns close to riverside trees. A nocturnal animal, it may spend daylight hours in a tree hollow or other dark recess.Common Ringtail Possum
This common possum has a distinctive loop at the end of its tail. It is common in bushland and urban areas alike.Eastern Pygmy Possum
Not common and absent from around Echuca and from the southern Riverina. Most likely to be observed to the south-east o the region.Feathertail Glider
Smallest of the local gliders. Sometimes observed locally in riverside and box-ironbark forests. Uncommon and rarely recorded in the areas around Bendigo and Echuca.Squirrel Glider
About twice the size (210mm) of the Sugar Glider but otherwise similar in appearance. Uncommon throughout the region, but numbers are greatest to the east.Sugar Glider
Intermediate in size (170mm) between the Feathertail and the Squirrel Glider. Numbers have not suffered as much from the loss of bushland as those of other possums.
Animals : rodents
There are a number of native rodents in our area, plus some introduced rodent pests.
Water Rat
Widespread, native water rats live in the vicinity of permanent water bodies and tunnel into banks. They are only partly nocturnal. They are often mistaken for a platypus. Amongst other food sources, they prey on burrowing freshwater crayfish.Mitchell's Hopping Mouse
Native. Found only to the west of the region.House Mouse (introduced)
Abundant.Brown Rat (introduced)
Common in a few spots along the Murray River.
Animals : reptiles
Over 40 reptile species are found in the region. Habitat loss, particularly the removal of the ground cover (e.g. by cattle grazing), has resulted in a fall in the population of most of these species. Red-bellied Black Snake
The Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) is common in wetlands and along rivers. When spotted on land, it may 'freeze', pretending to be a stick. In water, it may pretend to be a floating stick. Sometimes, a Black Snake may be friendly, slithering up to seated observers and curling up between them. It sometimes slithers alongside bush walkers much as a dog may follow walkers. Although not normally aggressive, it is very venomous and a bite has been known to kill a horse (which kept standing on the snake) within minutes. It is capable of biting without injecting venom, more or less as a warning. It is rarely sighted in towns but may be common along watercourses and in wetlands. It is prolific between Moira Lake and Moira Channel.
Red-bellied Black Snake (D Ong)Brown Snake
The Brown Snake (Pseudonaja spp) is sometimes observed in bushland and on farm land. Although it usually slithers away from approaching walkers, it can be aggressive. In one case, a Brown Snake is reported to have entered a baby's cot and killed the baby. Sometimes people are bitten without realising that they have been bitten by a snake. Cats and dogs sometimes die from Brown Snake bites.Tiger Snake
Another common snake of the region is the Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus). Tiger Snakes are sometimes very aggressive and can hiss at and chase those who intrude into its territory. They are sometimes found in wetlands but are not as common as Red-bellied Blacks in such environments.Carpet Python
Non-venomous, Carpet Pythons (Moreia spilota metcalfei) once lived throughout the region. Owing to shooting, habitat fragmentation and habitat loss, however, they are locally endangered and rarely seen. A few conservation-minded land-holders (e.g. operators of Venn's Creek Nursery, Yando, near Boort) allow them to remain on their property.Yellow-faced Whip Snake
The Yellow-faced Whip Snake hit the news in April 2007 when a person was bitten by one on Mt Alexander (south of Bendigo) and passed away shortly thereafter. Not common.Other snakes
Other snakes of the region, few of which are commonly sighted, include Peters Blind Snake, Gray's Blind Snake, Woodland Blind Snake, Common Death Adder, Coral Snake, Curl Snake, Dwyers Snake, Bandy Bandy and Mitchell's Short-tailed Snake.Eastern Bearded Dragon
The Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata) is is one of several dragons (lizards) commonly found throughout the region.
Eastern Bearded Dragon (D Ong)Goannas (Monitors) ~ large lizards
Although goannas are sometimes observed in bushland areas, they are no where near as common locally as they were pre-irrigation. They are most commonly observed on the ground early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Some lay their eggs in termite nests and the young may feed upon termites for their early days. Carnivorous, these large reptile can grow up to about two metres long and can climb trees in order to raid eggs from bird nests.The Lace Monitor can sometimes be observed in places such as Terrick Terrick National Park where the photo below was taken.
Lace Monitor climbing a tree (Marlene Lyell)Skinks ~ small lizards
About half the reptiles found in the region are skinks. They range from the very small Grey's Skink to the larger Stumpy-tailed Lizard and Common Blue-tongued Lizard. Most are ground-dwelling, sheltering under fallen timber at times.
Stumpy-tailed Lizard (K Stockwell)Other reptiles
Reptiles of the area not mentioned above include three species of Tortoise (Broad-shelled, Common Long-necked and Murray River), Woodland Blind Snake, Marbled Gecko, Bandy Bandy, Pink-tailed Worm-lizard, Curl Snake, Death Adder, Burton's Snake-lizard and the Common Scaly-foot.
Death Adder (K Stockwell)The Tortoises (Broad-shelled, Common Long-necked and Murray River) are aquatic reptiles found near watercourses, dams and adjacent areas.
There are photographs of many of our local reptiles in a book by Chris Tzaros, Wildlife of the Box-Ironbark Country.
Animals : amphibians
At least 15 toadlet (frog) species occur in the region. They range in size, Plains Froglet (about 25mm) being one of the smallest and the Growling Grass Frog (about 85mm) one of the largest. An intensive study has been made of the toadlets (frogs) of Barmah Forest. Frogs may be observed hopping across some roads following rain. Please do not remove frogs or tadpoles from their natural habitat. Nor should rocks or logs be removed from their habitat.
Some interesting trivia:
Frog Trivia
- The Rocket Frog, Australia's only true frog, is not found in our region
- Most of Australia's 'frogs' are actually toadlets
- Toadlets must close their eyes to swallow food
- Toadlets have two eyelids
- Toadlets are are a good indicator of environmental health
- The best time to listen for toadlet calls is probably late afternoon
- The Common Spadefoot Toad can live in a burrow as deep as three metres for up to seven years, but coming out occasionally during wet weather to feed; it calls mainly during the day and, despite being able to withstand dry conditions for years, it needs deep water for breeding
- Perons Tree Frog is able to change colour (e.g. from black to white) within a couple of minutes; they may have bright green dots
- The introduced Cane Toad, a major pest in north-eastern Australia, is the only true wild toad found in Australia
- Bilbrons Toadlet can turn belly up and pretend to be dead when frightened
- The Southern Brown Tree Frog appears to be green and its repetitive call is like those of a Tree-creeper; the Eastern Dwarf Green Tree Frog lives in north-eastern Australia and is not native to our region (occasionally, specimens are transported in with tropical produce)
- Chytrid, a fungal disease, is killing frogs in many areas of the world; washing an infected frog in salt water usually kills the fungus
- Never handle frogs if your hands are dry or soapy lest you kill them; if you handle a frog, run your hands through muddy stream water immediately beforehand. It is best not to handle frogs as this may help spread the deadly Chytridiomycosis fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) or cause injury to the frog.
The following have been observed in our region:
Plains Froglet (Crinia parinsignifera)
Common Froglet (Crinia significa)
Sloane's Froglet (Crinia sloanei)
Victorian Smooth Froglet (Geocrinia victoriana)
Southern Bullfrog (Limnodynastes dumerilii)
Barking Marsh Frog (Llimnodynastes fletcheri)
Spotted Marsh Frog (Llimnodynastes tasmaniensis)
Plains Brown Tree Frog (Litoria paraewingi)
Perons Treefrog (Litoria peronii)
Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis)
Mallee Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus pictus)
Common Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus sudelli)
Bibron's (Brown) Toadlet (Pseudophryne bibroni)
This site does not have photographs of frogs. To see photos of many local species, visit Frogs of Australia
Help wanted to find Growling Grass Frogs
North Central Waterwatch has developed a frog education and monitoring program to increase public awareness of frogs, their biology, conservation status, and threats, while increasing knowledge of species distribution in our region.
The programme realises these objectives by engaging the community in frog identification and distribution mapping activities. If you are interesting in participating, please contact the secretary or President of Echuca Landcare Group.
How do we survey frogs? Well, it's actually pretty easy. All you do is listen to them.
You can identify the species present at a site through their characteristic calls (it's a little harder to survey for numbers, as only males call and it's pretty hard to distinguish between individual calls in many cases). Through our frog monitoring program, community members can learn to identify all species of frog present in the region through call recognition.
Most of the species in the North Central region of Victoria have calls that are quite different, making them pretty easy to identify; however, a few are pretty similar. To ensure that species are properly identified, monitors record calls on digital voice recorders (supplied by NC Waterwatch) which are then verified by Waterwatch staff. Data collected stored on a database and will be forwarded to DSE to be included in the Victorian Wildlife Atlas.
Community members can conduct surveys at any time of the year, but guidance is given as to 'where and when' is the most appropriate. January is the time you are most likely to hear the Growling Grass Frog calling.
The Growling Grass Frog is a threatened species and has very few know populations in the North Central region. This makes it even more important that we get out there and try to find remnant populations!
NC Waterwatch will be conducting surveys for the GGF with community members over the next month in an effort to locate populations and raise awareness of this amazing, but highly threatened species. If any staff (or friends and family) are interested in participating in these surveys or think they may have heard a Growling Grass Frog (they really growl, so you would know if you had heard one), please let one of the Waterwatch team know and well sort you out with a voice recorder and some instructions on how best to find the frogs.
All of you who are interested in frogs might want to have a look at the frog identification materials NC Waterwatch has developed. Click here to find how to obtain a copy or visit http://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/inform.php?a=7&b=625&c=626
Animals : invertebrates
Thousands of species of invertebrates are found throughout the region. Those in rivers and streams provide food for many species of fish. some only survive in stretches of water where the water quality is high and free of pollution. Determining what species of invertebrates are present in a sample of river water gives a good indication of water quality.
No attempt has been made to cover insects (apart from in the locust section below) and butterflies as they are so numerous.
Animals : grasshoppers and locusts
A local farmer has developed a very interesting site about grasshoppers and locusts. He argues that 'locusts' play a crucial role in the ecosystem and that there are ways to divert them from crops. He writes:
Locust migration or "plagues" as they are commonly called have been a part of the natural world for millennia. As they naturally occur in grassy landscapes, their presence has often created difficulties for agriculture. However locusts are also important wildlife species and should not be viewed only as pests. The question has always been, "how do we most efficiently get rid of these pests?" rather than stepping back and considering their place in the ecosystem.
Locust migrations are a natural ecological event; they have a profound influence on the function of ecosystems, not dissimilar to climatic events in their effects over a large area. This is especially true in endangered grassland ecosystems in Australia where cycles of drought, flood, fire and locusts would have shaped the evolution of the environment as we see it. More.
References : further reading
Wildlife of the Box-Ironbark Country
"Wildlife of the Box-Ironbark Country" is a guide by former Bendigo resident Dr Chris Tzaros to the forests and woodlands of Victoria's Box-Ironbark forests, which support a diversity of books and other animals. Chris has long been involved in the protection of endangered birds and habitats.
The book features detailed descriptions of 249 species (including photographs in many cases) and a guide to 16 key parks and reserves. The text lists the significant plants and animals which are found in each of the 16 reserves
A CD featuring bird calls comes with the book.
Unfortunately the book does not have a detailed index and one of the maps wrongly numbers reserves (a correction is on the CSIRO Publishing web site). Some of the information above has been sourced from this reference.
Available through CSIRO Publishing 1300 788 000
Other references
The NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide 2006-7 (DPI NSW)
Goulburn-Broken CMA, Fishes of the Goulburn Broken Catchment (2010)
R Strahan (ed) Complete Book of Australian Mammals (Australian Museum 1991)
S Wilson and G Swan Complete Guide of Reptiles of Australia (New Holland)
Gunther Schmida, The Cold-blooded Australians (Doubleday 1985)
Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, River Red Forests Investigative Report
Environment Assessment Council of NSW, Red Gum Forests Investigation Report (2010)
Native Fish of the Murray-Darling Basin (Murray Darling Basin Commission) (leaflet, not dated)
Fish of the Campaspe River System (North Central CMA) (unpublished notes)
Click here to go to Echuca Landcare Group's Home Page
Click here for the main index of the Northern Victoria and southern Riverina
Conservation and Environment Site.
