Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc.

THE RINGWOOD FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB Inc. NEWSLETTER

Issue No.18 - April, 2004

EDITORIAL: Some of the questions raised during the 8th Mullum Mullum Festival held in March, 2004 went directly to the big picture of the relationship between human beings and the natural world. Glen Jameson,in his remarks at the opening ceremony expressed the view that the Australian psyche needed to develop a more indigenous attitude so that we understood and utilized our precious natural resources in a more appropriate and sustainable way. He also explained how the Timelines Project had recognised six seasons in the Australian year, in comparison with the four season year imported from the northern hemisphere. They are characterised by identifiable triggers and responses in natural systems, which are hydrologically driven. However, these were masked or disrupted by the influence of El Nino and several years of drought. Trevor Blake also suggested the need for a change in the culture to one where the bush is appreciated and valued for its own intrinsic worth. Naturalists are well qualified to play a key role in these discussions.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

17-19 October, 2003 - Campout to Anglesea
Members traveled westward down the Great Ocean Road to Anglesea for the Club's annual camp-out, staying at the Family Caravan Park or with fellow members with holiday homes in the area.
The official programme commenced on Saturday morning and, under the expert leadership of Flora Anderson, we set off from the caravan park to explore some of the local reserves in search of orchids and other flowering plants. Our first stop was the nearby Edna Beauman Reserve, where two colour forms of Diuris orientis were flowering in abundance. We moved on to the Elizabeth St. Reserve and located leaves of the Fringed Hare Orchid. Next we travelled in convoy to O’Donohue’s, where we had a picnic lunch before exploring the reserve. We were rewarded by the discovery of a number of interesting orchids, the highlight being the huge flowering stems on Thelymitra ixioides. Our final walk for the day was along Ted’s Track, before enjoying a very welcome afternoon tea at the Fernandes’ home. After the evening meal, we reconvened at the hall in the caravan park to hear a talk by Margaret Macdonald, co-author of the book “Orchids of the Anglesea District”, a fitting conclusion to a very interesting and successful day.
Overnight the fine weather broke and we woke to overcast skies and steady rain. After a consultation at the meeting place, we slightly modified the scheduled programme and drove to Urquhart’s Bluff to explore the beach, marine life and coastal vegetation. Avid bird watchers set off to catch a sighting of the elusive Rufous Bristle-bird. Joan Broadberry, our leader for the day, had previously collected several corpses of unusual species of sea-birds that had been blown onto the beach during recent storms and explained the distinguishing features of each. Several pieces of driftwood covered in goose barnacles were a reminder of our previous visit, when we were fortunate to observe the Nothofagus log which had drifted in the ocean currents from South America to wash up on the beach at Anglesea. After a picnic lunch, members separated to follow their own inclinations, to bird-watch, hunt down one more orchid, or explore the coastline farther afield.

Anglesea Orchids seen at the Camp-out
Acianthus caudatus Mayfly Orchid
Caladenia Greencomb ssp
Caladenia cardiochila Thick-lip Caladenia
Caladenia carnea Pink Fingers
Caladenia maritima White Fingers
Caladenia parva Small Spider Orchid
Caladenia tentaculata Mantis Orchid
Caladenia venusta Large White Spider Orchid
Diuris orientis Donkey/Wallflower Orchid
Diuris orientis Donkey/Wallflower Orchid (Yellow)
Glossodia major Waxlip Orchid
Leptorella fimbriatum Fringed Hare Orchid (leaves)
Pterostylis sp Greenhood (Edna Beauman Res.)
Pterostylis longifolia Tall Greenhood
Pterostylis nana Dwarf Greenhood
Pterostylis nutans Nodding Greenhood
Pterostylis plumosa (aff) Bearded Greenhood
Thelymitra antennifera Rabbit’s Ears Sun Orchid
Thelymitra flexuosa Twisted Sun Orchid
Thelymitra ixioides Spotted Sun Orchid
Thelymitra matthewsii Spiral Sun Orchid(leaf)
Thelymitra rubra Salmon Sun Orchid

15 November, 2003 - Excursion to Beenak Leader - Peter Rogers
A forecast maximum temperature of 35 degrees discouraged some members, but those who braved the conditions spent an enjoyable day in the Beenak area. We met in the car park at Ship Rock Falls and explored the surrounding bush. Several different orchids were found in the vicinity of the car park, including Caladenia iridescens and Thelymitra ixioides, as well as quite a few other plants in flower. After taking the track downhill for a view of the falls, we returned to the cars for morning tea. We all then drove in convoy to Tomahawk Gap for lunch and another walk. Masses of unfurling fronds on the coral fern were an unusual sight. A strong gale was now blowing but it was not too hot in the shade. We drove the remainder of the circuit route, finishing at Kurth Kiln where we had afternoon tea, watched very closely by two resident Kookaburras. Ray Wall suddenly announced that a snake was making its way across the picnic area. We all had a good view of the Red-bellied Black Snake, and photographs were taken as evidence of the encounter, before we ushered it carefully off the open ground and into the undergrowth. Later we set off on another walk along the creek where patches of club-moss were found before returning to the picnic area for another drink and going our separate ways. Smoke from a small bushfire at nearby Hoddle’s Creek was clearly visible from Lusatia Park road.

17 January, 2004 - Excursion to Donna Buang Leader - Judith Cooke
The weather forecast for our mid-summer excursion was hardly typical as we headed for the high country beyond Warburton, arriving at the Cement Creek turntable in time for morning tea. Steady light rain set in so,dressed in several layers and carrying umbrellas, 25 members and visitors familiarised themselves with the variety of ferns in the area, stepped out onto the recently constructed rainforest gallery high above the forest floor to marvel at the canopy vegetation dominated by Eucalyptus regnans, and then followed the board-walk down along the creek. Judith Wright’s poem, Rainforest, reproduced on one of the signs along the way was most appropriate:

The forest drips and glows with green
The tree-frog croaks his far-off song
His voice is stillness, moss and rain
Drunk from the forest ages long.
We cannot understand that call
Unless we move into his dream
Where all is one and one is all
And frog and python are the same.
We with our quick dividing eyes
Measure, distinguish and are gone
The forest burns, the tree-frog dies
Yet one is all and all is one.

We learned to appreciate the complexity and sustainability of this unique, fragile and ancient environment, some species dating back to the age of the Dinosaurs, prior to the break-up of the southern super-continent, Gondwana.
We then drove in convoy to the summit of Donna Buang, where low cloud obscured the view and made it hardly worthwhile climbing the lookout tower. Vehicles with thermometers registered an outside temperature of 8 degrees! We ate our lunch in swirling mist, huddled together. A quick look round failed to discover the Flame Robins that had been there the previous week. The convoy reformed for the scenic drive westward to Don’s Gap, with everyone reminded to keep the vehicle behind them in view. This was not easy as by now the fog was so thick head-lights were required. Nevertheless, we all arrived safely at the Gap, after a memorable trip. Another short walk gave us our only floweringorchid for the day, Gastrodia sesamoides, and an imposing rock face gave us the opportunity to discuss the geological history of the Acheron Cauldron. A final hot cuppa, highlights of the day exchanged, and everyone departed to make the journey home.

Donna Buang Excursion sightings-
Ferns
Asplenium bulbiferum Mother Spleenwort
Athyrium australe Austral Lady Fern
Blechnum fluviatile Ray Water Fern
Blechnum nudum Fishbone Water Fern
Blechnum wattsii Hard Water Fern
Cyathea australis Rough Tree Fern
Dicksonia Antarctica Smooth Tree Fern
Grammitis billardieri Finger Fern
Histiopteris incise Batswing Fern
Hymenophyllum cupressiforme Common Filmy Fern
Hypolepis rugosula Ruddy Ground Fern
Lastreopsis acuminate Shiny Shield Fern
Tmesipteris billardieri Long Fork Fern
Microsorium diversifolium Kangaroo Fern
Polyphlebium venosum Veined Bristle Fern
Polystichum proliferum Mother Shield Fern
Pteridium esculentum Austral Bracken
Rumohra adiantiformis Shield Hare's-foot

Mosses
Dawsonia superba Giant Moss
Weymouthia mollis

Orchids
Gastrodia sesamoides Cinnamon Bells

In complete contrast to January, our February excursion to Birdsland was cancelled because a Total Fire Ban was declared.

14 March 2004 - Excursion to Lilydale    Leader – Neil Archbold
Members arrived at the meeting place in Victoria Rd, Lilydale to discover that the small cutting we had all driven through on many occasions was actually a registered fossil site. Our leader for the day, Professor Neil Archbold explained the geological setting, a sedimentary sequence of mudstones of Silurian-Devonian age (400 million years, give or take a few million). Enormous quantities of sediment had been eroded from the adjacent land masses forming the early Australian continent and washed into an oceanic embayment,where they had accumulated on the sea floor, building up to thousands of feet in thickness. Marine life forms present at the time had been buried in the sediment and preserved for us to discover. Compressive forces within the Earth’s crust had later crumpled and uplifted the sediments so that they now outcrop on the surface across central Victoria.
After Neil's introduction, we all spread out along the cutting with a variety of implements and, ably assisted by Neil's offsider Gabriela, a visiting student, proceeded to demolish the rock face. This activity was immediately rewarded as fossil remains were revealed. There were several different species of brachiopod, fragments of crinoids, corals, and even a partial trilobite.   Neil made himself comfortable on the outcrop and supervised our efforts, providing identifications for everyone’s finds. As the morning wore on members found themselves increasingly drawn into the excitement of palaeontology.
We adjourned to Lilydale Lake for lunch under the trees in the picnic area, and later those who had not had enough in the morning returned to the cutting for another session in the afternoon. Overall, a fascinating and different kind of excursion. We eagerly accepted Neil’s offer to run an identification session at our May general meeting.

Sheila E W Cooke (17 February 1915 - 27 October 2003)
Sheila joined the Club in 1971 and regularly attended meetings and excursions, as well as some of the camp-outs, until her declining mobility made this impossible. She enjoyed making new discoveries about the natural environment and derived pleasure from the company of fellow members.
Their continuing enquiries during her last years and their presence at her funeral was much appreciated by members of her family.

NATURE NOTES

HELP OUR FRIENDS    by Emily Rogers
Have you ever walked past a lake or river and seen either a duck or marine animal with a plastic ring around their neck? I have and I’m sure you have, it’s not a pretty sight. Many coloured plastic rings end up in lakes or rivers, then, who knows, maybe it will find its way onto the neck of our animal and bird friends, choking them and eventually causing death.
Recently on a Burke's Backyard show, Don encouraged viewers to write to Product Manufacturers asking them not to use blue or white caps and rings on their products. This was so Bowerbirds who collect these colours would not get them caught around their necks.
Although this was well intentioned, I really feel we should all concentrate on making sure we cut the rings of all coloured products so that the chance of birds and animals getting caught will never happen.
Manufacturers will never stop using these tamper proof rings, so it’s up to us to promote the destruction of the rings. With all rings from milk bottle caps or juice bottle caps, we must cut the rings attached to them before we put them into the bin. If each of us encouraged one other person to do this, imagine how many birds and animals we might save. Anything you do to prevent this disaster would be greatly appreciated by our bird and animal friends.

8th Annual Mullum Mullum Festival - 21, 27, 28th March, 2004
Several Club members took the opportunity to participate in the diverse programme organised for this year's festival. A wide range of walks from Yarran Dheran Reserve and along different stretches of the Mullum Mullum Creek offered insights into the various aspects of the natural history of the area.
Glen Jameson opened the festival. Glen will be a guest speaker at one of our general meetings later in the year when we will have the benefit of his substantial knowledge and experience. Everyone marvelled at Rosemary Price’s breath-taking photographic collages of nature in the Mullum Mullum valley exhibited in the Information Centre.
Two of our members were leaders for the walks. Jean Galliot led a walk to look at wildflowers and found them in rather short supply in the very dry conditions. Nevertheless she managed to keep her audience entertained with stories about the sex life of plants! Cecily Falkingham had the daunting task of leading a walk for children “of all ages”. A long line of people followed her along the creek and the children were very adept at finding all sorts of interesting insects to examine, eagerly clamouring for Gould League stickers as a reward for their efforts.

St Andrew’s Cross Spider    by Judith Cooke
After replacing my side fence at home, I trained a Hardenbergia up it on a length of trellis,and placed several plants in pots in front. During the summer of 2002-3 a spider took up residence there. The web had a distinctive diagonal cross at the centre and a consultation of a reference book on spiders confirmed that the spider was a female St Andrew’s Cross spider (Argiope keyserlingii), the appearance of the web reminiscent of the design of the Scottish flag. It was stated that this spider likes to build its web against walls or amongst shrubs,so I had inadvertently created an ideal habitat for it and was able to observe it on a daily basis from my kitchen window.
The adult female St Andrew’s Cross spider is approximately 20mm in length, with horizontal yellow and brownish bars across the top of the abdomen. There is a different pattern underneath. She habitually arranges herself in the centre of the web, with two legs along each of the four arms of the cross. It is thought that the silken cross may assist in strengthening the web, or providing camouflage and enhancing prey catches. Apparently the cross reflects ultra-violet light, which is attractive to insects. It may also help in preventing the spider from becoming prey herself, as the effect is to make her appear much larger than she actually is. When an insect blunders into the web, it is quickly immobilised by being wrapped in a cocoon of silk and hung up to be disposed of later.
The male spider, being only 4 mm is rarely seen, but several may hover around the perimeter of the web, awaiting the opportunity to mate with the female. This may be a perilous exercise, as female spiders of some species are known to eat their potential mates if they are unwary. Mating evidently took place, probably not once but several times, because over the next few weeks, the female spider repeatedly left her web overnight, and the next morning a fresh egg sac was hanging suspended in a network of threads a short distance from the web. She eventually produced a total of five. In the literature the egg sacs are described as green and pear-shaped, but from my observations they were a pale yellow and shaped more like a flattened spindle as they were clearly tapered at both ends.
After an interval of several more weeks, the egg sacs hatched one by one, releasing a close-knit group of tiny spiderlings. These remained in close proximity for protection over several days, slowly getting a little larger. It was difficult to see what they were using for food, maybe even each other! They gradually worked their way upward until they were finally carried off by the wind to colonise new niches around the garden. At least three females built webs in the garden the following year, and another generation of spiders was produced.

Ref: ‘Spiders commonly found in Melbourne and surrounding Regions’
    by Ken L. Walker and Graham A. Milledge

Dates for your Diary

Ringwood FNC Field Care Days
June, 2004 Jumping Creek, Warrandyte SP
Friday, 20th August, 2004 Hochkins Ridge Reserve

Ringwood FNC Annual Camp-out
September, 2004 - details in program

SEANA Weekends 2004-05 (refer to website http://home.vicnet.net.au/~seana):
Spring Get-Together - details in program
Labor Day Weekend Camp-out - details to follow