The elusive Arboreal Wallaby : rediscovered?

Our mailbox is located some 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) from our home. We often walk to the box to collect our mail - the journey takes us along the gully and due to the topography, we can peruse and view the other side of the gully as we walk along the roadside. During these walks, we often witness unique and unusual events.

A while back, maybe a year or two ago, Janet and I spotted a Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) standing on a tree that had fallen across the gully. Unusual in itself, to see a wallaby perched on a log, but more so when we noted that the wallaby was some 3 to 4 metres (9 to 12 feet) above the gully floor. We are unsure whether the wallaby was using the tree to get across the gully, or for other means, and at that time, we didn't have a camera with us so were unable to record the event.

Yesterday, on one such walk to collect mail, we once again observed a wallaby perched on a fallen tree. We were heading out, so checked to see if the wallaby was still there on the return trip and sure enough, it was. By the time we got home and grabbed the camera at least an hour had passed since our first sighting.

Fortunately, we were able to get the following shots.

The day was overcast with scattered showers throughout the day. The wind strength was 5~10 kph (3~6 mph) in exposed areas, although the wind was negligible this deep in the gully.

We went to the spot to assess the actual height and observed that the wallaby was about 1.2 metres (4 feet) above the ground, and wallaby scats were found along 4 metres (12 feet) of the tree trunk.

No, they aren't really called Arboreal Wallabies, but it does give some insight into the evolutionary link Wallabies have to the real Tree Kangaroo's found in Northern Queensland and Papua-New Guinea.

More info on the Tree Kangaroo can be found here :

http://www.tree-kangaroo.net/tkInfo.html

or here;

http://www.ozanimals.com/wildlife/Mammal/Kangaroos,Wallabies.html

Frog Rains

Every so often, and for no explicable reason apart from raining at the time, frogs in the pond begin to move...........en mass. After a day or two of rain, thousands of little frogs and froglets start their migration.

We have not been able to observe a pattern or particular weather condition in which the episode occurs, ie. whether after a dry spell, a particular air pressure or whether rising or falling, whether the same time of year, or some other pattern or circumstance. The only consistent aspect is that is needs to be raining over a number of days, maybe 4 to 5 days, and the movement starts on the 1st or 2nd day of rain.

One of our dams is to the south of the home, so the frogs present themselves as they climb the bathroom and bedroom windows. During the migration, there can be up to 20 or 30 frogs on each window pane.

On the move..................

After a while, the frogs begin to emerge at the front door (to the north) - we're not sure whether they climb up and over the roof, or travel around the walls. Either way, the do reach the front door and when this occurs, we exercise extreme care so as not to squash them as we leave or return to the home.

Climbing the bathroom window

We expect they continue with their journey to find new wetlands, ponds or soaks, as part of maintaining variation in the gene pool.....................ain't life grand?!?!?

Wallaby Flat : a week in the life : Part 2

As mentioned in our previous blog, in the 1-1/2 hours of footage recorded recently we observed two (2) females, both with joeys in the pouch.

This footage (Part 2) includes a larger female, with an older and recently out-of-the-pouch joey. The joey has fur which gives the dark colouring - when compared to the "pinky" in the previous footage.

The mother is easily recognisable by the damage to her left ear - so we've named her "Cauliflower".

Enjoy!!

Wallaby Flat - a week in the life : Part 1

We purchased a motion sensitive camera a while back and have been developing our skills and techniques. All too often, we seem to set the camera too high and we currently secure the camera to  existing trees and fallen branches which limits our positioning, so it might be time to buy a tripod.

The attached movie was stitched together from over 1-1/2 hours of footage recorded over a one week period. The camera was set to record a 60 second bite (maximum period) whenever the camera sensed movement or heat, resetting to record again once 30 seconds had elapsed.

Much of the footage we recorded over the period included two (2) females, both with joeys. The spot we chose seems to be a favorite for the wallabies. There was no footage of kangaroos, nor foxes, which is a surprise based on other recording sessions we have undertaken.

The footage below includes the younger female (of the two mothers we filmed), with a young joey (pinky) which had yet to emerge from the pouch. 

We have set the camera at the same location to try and get more footage, especially of the joeys as they develop. We are still working on the 2nd clip and will post once it's finished (in a week or two). 

Enjoy the 1st movie!

Wallaby (Greek-style) Wrestling

One afternoon, Janet and I were poncing about the property, checking out the plants, when Janet noticed a couple of wallabies fighting.

We've witnessed kangaroos boxing...........a lot. In fact, it's obvious that the prime objective of a male kangaroo is to become the Alpha male. From a very early age, the males like to fight anything and everything - other joeys, mum, branches and twigs, even the fresh air. Often using their tail for support and lashing out with their hind legs, kicking out at the opponents underbelly. They continually challenge each other to develop skills, and to assess the strength and abilities of other males within the mob. Consequently, a day doesn't go past without witnessing some boxing activities. On the other hand, the females appear sensible, measured and in most instances, are extremely attentive mothers - watching the males to identify those with the strongest and most dominant genes.

Wallabies are essentially solitary. Going about their day alone. From time to time, we see a couple grazing in the same area, usually in the gully, but it appears to be either a male and female courting or a catch-up between neighbours, rather than a family unit or mob.

On this particular occasion, two (2) wallabies were wrestling each other. Trying to roll the opponent to the ground and pin the other down. There was no kicking out with their hind legs and they were totally focused on each other, and totally ignorant of our presence. Initially, they were about 20 metres (60ft) away, so we sat down to witness the event and as time passed and the two continued to wrestle, they moved closer and closer until Janet and I felt uncomfortably close. Like I mean about 3 or 4 metres (9~12ft). So we yelled to let them know we were there. They stopped for a moment, looked at us and then resumed wrestling. They continued to edge closer so we yelled again. This time they stopped briefly before one of the wallabies ambled away, with the other chasing him down. Not in a hurry, but in a controlled manner - much like a human would walk tall and fluffed up with adrenalin pumping through the veins after a fight or conflict. We expect their issue was regarding territory, and we're not sure what happened after they disappeared into the scrub, but it was an amazing and very different experience.

The attached images are of a local Black Wallaby (Wallabia bicolour) and may be one of the wrestling wallabies, but we can't be sure. The Black Wallaby is also known as the Swamp Wallaby, Black-tail Wallaby or Fern Wallaby.

A worthwhile site for gleaning more knowledge is :

http://www.mtrothwell.com.au/index.php/BlackSwampWallaby/

Enjoy!!

New Camera

Recent photographs especially in poor light (eg. early morning or late afternoon) highlighted the inadequacies of our Digital Camera, so we've lashed out and purchased a Lumix FZ200 Digital Bridge Camera.

We're still getting used to it but here's a bit of a preview of some images we've taken recently whilst having a play. More to come..............

Wedge-Tail Soaring

....and again

......and once again

Lil' lady lookin' back at me

Her largish boyfriend grazing

Magpie foraging

Black Duck

Chestnut Teal

An adolescent boy lookin' a little flighty

A small congregation at dusk

Little Critters

We had observed Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii) in our tractor shed. You could hear them communicating with each other (it sort of sounds like a long kiss....well sort of), their scats (which smell really, really bad!!) and nests (built by lining a dark recess, draw or a hollow, with lots and lots of leaves). You're often surprised to find such a nest when you open a drawer or scrounge through a box at the back of the shed. We've found up to six (6) individuals sharing a nest.

One of the other signs we'd witnessed, were moth wings on the floor of the shed. Antechinus are carnivorous, and extremely agile. They catch and eat the moths, discarding the moth wings to the floor.

We set up a motion sensitive camera and left it there for a week and waited to see what we'd find. The resolution of the movie may be a little low but you should get a bit of an idea of what an Antechinus looks like........suggest you click on full screen.

Enjoy.

Snapshot.........the arrival of a pair of Eurasian Coots and the landing of an Australian Kestrel

We awoke today to a beautiful sunny morning. A number of roos, were milling around the home, grazing. Some of the young adolescent males seemed bored, bouncing around for a bit, whacking something with their paws, before looking for something else to do, annoy, or muck about with.....typical boys we thinks.

To our surprise, a pair of Eurasian Coots (Fulica atra) were paddling on the dam. This is our first sighting of this species on the property so it was a very special start to the day.

Eurasion Coot

A little later in the morning, an Australian Kestrel (Falco chenchroides) landed on the driveway. A behaviour it has repeated almost daily over the last week or so. We don't understand why, but will continue to monitor.

Australian Kestrel - on the ground

.......still on the ground.

Fire mitigation and other benefits

Due to our proximity to the Mornington Peninsula National Park, and the Park being both to the North, and to the West, our fire plan deems "ember attack" as the most significant threat.

In the event of a wildfire, using galvanised buckets and cotton mops with long handles, our plan is to extinguish any embers or cinders which land on or around the house ahead of the flame front. We have a 1000 litre galvanised water tank at the southern side of the home to facilitate the recharging of our buckets. We considered the water storage close to the home in the planning phase of the house' construction - noting, our normal water storage is 14 meters below the level of the home, so water is pumped up to the house using 240v mains power. As we anticipate that all power will be cut should a wildfire occur, the 1000 litre tank will be our only source of water.

Keeping the grass very short around the house minimises the impact of the flame front, once it arrives.
Considering this, we conduct two (2) cuts per year, one in late spring, and another just prior to the fire season - for the rest of the year, the kangaroos keep the grasses sufficiently low.

By cutting in late spring, we benefit by the significant reduction of pasture grass seeds. We estimate that the biomass of seed-stock is reduced by up to 70% using this method. Timing is critical. Last year we were spot-on. The year before, we peaked a little early, and due to an extended Spring attributed to ongoing rains and milder weather, we needed to cut an extra couple of times..........but the plan is once.

Similarly, determining the fire season is just as difficult. Last year, we cut in mid' February, whilst this year, we mowed around the home in early January. One of the benefits of fire season cut, is the dispersal of native grass seeds. Ripening later than the introduced pasture grasses, the native grasses are ready just prior to the fire season.

So the mowing regime performs three (3) functions : 1) reduces introduced pasture grass seed stocks, 2) disperses native seeds, and 3) contributes to fire mitigation.

We've included some images to show that the vegetation around the home is minimal, lessening the impact of wildfires to ember attack, and minimising impact from direct flame and radiant heat.

Looking towards the North-West - the direction from which the fire is likely occur.

Looking South-East - again, negligable vegetation around the home

Looking West-ish - likely direction following an Sou'-west wind change
- down side of the hill might slow the wildfire somewhat.

........again, little or no vegetation that might contribute and/or impact on the home.

Yet another flashback...............birdlife

Seventy-three (73) bird species have been recorded :

Note : members of Birdlife Australia - Mornington Peninsula branch
(nee PENBOC) confirmed sixty-two (62) bird species during two (2) field days held in May 2010 and December 2011.

• Australasian Grebe
• Australian (Nankeen) Kestrel
• Australian Magpie-lark
• Australian Raven
• Australian Shell Duck
• Australian White Ibis
• Barking Owl
• Black Shouldered Kite
• Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike
• Brown Falcon
• Brown Goshawk
• Brown Thornbill
• Buff Banded Rail
• Cattle Egret
• Chestnut Teal
• Collared Sparrowhawk
• Crescent Honeyeater
• Crested Pigeon
• Crimson Rosella
• Eastern Rosella
• Eastern Spinebill
• Eastern Yellow Robin
• Flame Robin
• Galah
• Golden Whistler
• Great Egret
• Grey Butcherbird
• Grey Currawong
• Grey Fantail
• Grey Shrike Thrush
• Hardhead (White-Eyed) Duck
• Hoary Headed Grebe
• Japanese Snipe
• King Parrot
• Laughing Kookaburra
• Little Black Cormorant
• Little Grass Bird
• Little Pied Cormorant
• Magpie
• Maned (Wood) Duck
• Masked Lapwing (Plover)
• Masked Woodswallow
• Mistletoebird
• New Holland Honeyeater
• Noisy Miner
• Pacific Black Duck
• Pacific Heron
• Painted Button Quail
• Peregrine Falcon
• Red Wattlebird
• Rufous Fantail
• Silvereye
• Southern Boobook
• Spotted Pardalote
• Straited Thornbill
• Straw Necked Ibis
• Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
• Superb Fairy Wren
• Tawny Frogmouth
• Varied Sittella
• Wedge Tailed Eagle
• Welcome Swallow
• Whistling Kite
• White Faced Heron
• White Fronted Chat
• White-browed Scrubwren
• White-eared Honeyeater
• White-naped Honeyeater
• White-throated Treecreeper
• Willie Wagtail
• Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo

..............and some images to whet the appetite :

Great Egret

Buff-banded Rail  (Photo : Ben Cullen)

Laughing Kookaburra (looking serious)

Pacific (or White-necked) Heron

White-faced Heron, Australasian Grebe,
Little-pied Cormorant and Pacific Heron 

Australasian Grebe

Australasian Grebe - nesting

Grey Shrike Thrush

Bronze-wing Pigeon

Australian Raven - with an eye on an egg

Australian Raven - making off with the egg

Another flashback..........snakes

Over the past two (2) years, we've had Lowland Copper-Head Snakes living under our deck. Sometimes there are two (2) snakes which use the same access point.

The snakes appear to follow a strict routine each day - emerging around 8am, they sun themselves for an hour or so before heading down to the dam to hunt. At around 5 ~ 6pm, they return, sunning themselves again before retiring under the deck.

Hibernation commences in May-ish; well that's when they seem to disappear, re-emerging in September ~ October. Each year, just before they disappear, they usually "get-it-on". On one such occasion, there was a 3rd snake "waiting in the wings" and at times joined in on the fray - not sure whether the "3rd" was male or female.

The following images shows two (2) snakes "getting it on" (the two entwined), with a third (3rd) "waiting in the wings" (grass).

After the event, this one seemed to be showing it's strength / size to encourage the "3rd" snake to move on.

We don't often see them feeding, due to them hunting at the dam, however, on a couple of occasions, we've observed a snake with it's head down a hole (maybe 30cm of it's body length), with the rest of the body, writhing above the ground. Eventually, the snake will emerge with a Pobble-Bonk (Banjo) Frog.

We believe most of the  holes around the house are initially dug by Field Mice. Other critters take over the burrow, especially once a snake has been down for a feed. In some instances, the snakes take up residence in the burrow, or use the hole to access under pavers or decking..........but this behaviour is still under investigation.

Snapshot.........another nest

Hand weeding in the gully today, we came across another nest.

We found it laying on the ground firmly attached to a dead tree-fern frond - the frond had obviously fallen to the ground, as they eventually do once they have died.

The outside diameter of the cup shaped nest was around 8cm, increasing to 9cm at the base. The outside was constructed from thin fibres and strips of bark (1 ~ 3mm wide and 15mm to 40mm long) wrapped in a circular direction. The outside material looked to be predominantly Messmate (Stringy-bark [Euc. obliqua]).

The inside diameter of the nest was around 5cm. There were stems and branches left from Coral Fern - we suspect the nest was originally lined with the freshly picked soft fronds, leaving the stems and branches over time (?).   The inside was also lined with very small leaves that appear to be Manna [Euc. viminalis pyoriana].

The outside of the nest was adorned with Lichen and expect it was placed on the sides as decoration - we thinks it's been too dry to grow.

Not sure how it was held together but presume it was spittle.

Don't know who belongs to the nest - any ideas?................maybe a Yellow Robin

Inside of Nest

Showing outside and Lichen adornments

Also came across this Hyacinth Orchid [Dipodium roseaum] - this is only the 2nd one we've sighted, 'king yeehaa!!

Hyacinth Orchid [Dipodium roseaum] - deep in gully

Alpha males

Much like humans, in the world of the kangaroo, it's the ladies who get to pick which of the males are permitted to serve.

In the following images, a female has backed up to a corner of the house to prevent the lesser males from getting behind her.

Female backed up to house

Males looking on - waiting for an opportnuity

One of the males trying to intimidate the others by looking large.

He most likely - making his way towards the female

Him and her

The boxing that people often find so amusing, is the method that kangaroo males determine who is the strongest. Watching on, the females can then decide who they will allow to serve them.

As the house essentially acts as a hide, when mobs of roos surround the house, we become immersed into their activities and behaviour. For example, we've learnt that as show of respect, and to submit from a fight, male roos cower and cough. In most instances, this action will immediately stop a fight. And we can identify whether a joey is a girl (relaxed, sensible, attentive) or a boy (impatient, naughty, cheeky, always wanting to box - whether another joey, or mum's ears)

It should also help us humans understand, when people have been "attacked" by a roo, it is the roo interpreting that the human wants to box, "GAME ON" as they say. Especially when you consider our natural reaction is to stand up (look bigger) if confronted, whereas, cowering to a roo is the best way to prevent an "attack".