Field Trips
2009 Field Trip to Yumbarra and Yellabinna
The 2009 Field Trip took place in the Yumbarra and Yellabinna parks (the Goog's Track area). 20 members gathered in Ceduna for a briefing and dinner on Sunday 2 August and travelled to the work area on the following day. Biological survey and environmental rehabilitation work was completed around the Goog's Lakes and Mt Finke areas and the trip "officially" ended at Kingoonya on Friday 14th August. Some members then travelled in convoy south through the Gawler Ranges. The biological surveys included vegetation quadrats, animal and malleefowl tracking plots, photo points, and bird recording. Six formal vegetation surveys of one hectare quadrats were completed.
As the area had received good winter rains, the flower displays in and around the quadrats were magnificent. We recorded around 170 plant species (compared with about 70 in 2008). Following comprehensive animal tracking training from Rick Southgate and Matt Ward, many 30 minute track surveys were completed and mallefowl signs investigated. We were also joined by James Tomlinson, the mining liaison ranger from Ceduna, and Julia Bignall. All field trip participants were highly appreciative of the support and advice we gained from these DEH staff members and associates.
Full details may be found in the 2009 Field Trip Report and the photos below will give you an idea of what went on. More images can be found at Friends of the GVD on Picasa Web Albums.
Click on an image to enlarge it.
Childara Rockhole. The group inspects Childara Rockhole on the way in to Goog's Track. This was a significant water source for Aboriginal people. The water is retained by the hard granite outcrops. Photo: Bill Dowling
Tracking Training 1. Rick Southgate runs the initial tracking training session at Googs Lakes. Everybody on this trip learnt how to identify and record animal tracks. Photo: Bill Dowling
Tracking Training 2. An animal track is identified and recorded. Photo: Bill Dowling
Bicycle Lizard. Some reptiles showed themselves, allowing the Friends to check that their track identifications were accurate. This one is a Bicycle Lizard. It can run on its hind legs, giving a bicycle-pedalling appearance. Photo: Bill Dowling
Malleefowl Training. We were also trained in malleefowl detection by Matthew Ward (big hat in the centre). Matthew is explaining how the malleefowl build and maintain the large mounds in which the eggs are incubated. This is an old mound which the birds no longer use. Photo: Bill Dowling
Photopoint Marker. Each vegetation survey plot is located by GPS, given a unique identification and marked with a star dropper. A photograph of the identification is then taken at a specified photopoint. Here we see the ever-smiling Ian holding the identification board prior to the "official" photograph being taken at plot JET 001 01. Photo: Bill Dowling
Around the Campfire. An evening campfire is part of the field trip experience. Our fires are usually smaller than this, but a big mallee root was available at Goog's Lakes. Photo: Bill Dowling
Magnificent Native Dasies. Following good winter rains (for the first time in several years), there was an abundance of flowers for the amateur botanists to ogle. The yellow one is Senecio gregorii and the other is Lawrencella davenportii. Both were present in their thousands. Photo: Bill Dowling
Googs Track. Most of the field work took place along Googs Track which runs due north. As the sand dunes run east-west, the driving can be difficult and tyres need to be significantly deflated. This is one of the easier dunes - not too steep and not too sandy. Photo: Bill Dowling
Mt Finke Sunset. Desert sunsets can be magnificent. This was one of several we enjoyed during our evenings at Mt Finke in the northern Googs Track area. Photo: Bill Dowling
Mt Finke Cairn. This cairn was assembled by the explorer Ernest Giles on the top of Mt Finke in 1875. See the next photo for more details. Photo: Bill Dowling
Mt Finke Cairn Plaque. The plaque on the Mt Finke cairn. The Jess Young mentioned on the plaque is the Jess Young of Eucalyptus youngiana (Ooldea mallee) fame - see our Plants of the Great Victoria Desert page. Photo: Bill Dowling
Wildflowers at the Mt Finke Camp. Each tent had its own garden at Mt Finke. Here we see the white pom-pom daisies of the next photo, blue saltbush and yellow Senna. The trees are mulgas. Photo: Bill Dowling
Pom-pom Daisy, Cephalipterum drummondii. This was probably the most abundant of all the wildflowers along Googs Track. Some areas were so thick with flowers that they looked like snow. Mt Finke is in the background. Photo: Bill Dowling
The Gumboot Toss. All work and no play makes for a dull field trip. Phil won the Mt Finke Olympics Gumboot Toss by aiming at his campervan. Photo: Bill Dowling
The Backhand Golf Swing. Peter shows fellow right-handers how to miss the ball with a left-handed golf club. Photo: Bill Dowling
A Rare Plant - Grevillea treureana. The beautiful and very rare Grevillea treureana is found only on Mt Finke and one other site. We were lucky to find it flowering profusely. Photo: Bill Dowling
Journey's End at the Kingoonya Pub. The Friends assembled for a memorable last meal together at the dusty but hospitable Kingoonya Pub. Some spent a few more days together in the nearby Gawler Ranges before heading for home. Photo: Bill Dowling