Geelong Naturalist : monthly magazine of the Geelong Field Naturalists Club

GEELONG NATURALIST

MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE GEELONG FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB INC

Vol 35 No. 6
ISSN 0726-7363

OCTOBER 1999

OCTOBER

19
23-24
29,30,31

NOVEMBE
3

GEELONG NATURALIST

October 1999

Excursion Notice — Anglesea Heathlands
Campout Notice — Bambra Bush

“Out and About”

President's Report
Bird Group Report
Biodiversity Notes

“A Brief Look at Plant Vascular Systems” Dave King
“Backyard Birds in Bacchus Marsh” Marilyn Hewish

Vol 35 No6
ISSN 0726-7363

CONTENTS

DAWN

‘Unusual Cuttlebone Beach-caste at Ocean Grove”

R

Chris Gray and Lachlan Sinnott 11

Library Notes 12

Plant Group Report 12

“Lymantriidae” Ade Foster 13

Meeting Report — August 3 14

_ COMING EVENTS
General Meeting Patrick O'Callaghan “The Ecology of Port Phillip Bay”
Biodiversity Group Excursion * Dereel, Linton, Cape Clear
Plant Group Excursion + Brisbane Ranges Leader: Dick Southcombe
Plant Group Plants of the Brisbane Ranges
Biodiversity Group Workshop Meeting
WVFNCA Campout ©
Excursion Angahook — Quoll Territory Leaders: Donna Wood
Friends of Angahook

Bird Group lan Morgan “Birds of the Wimmera”
Boneseed Pull * You Yangs Leader: Rob Beardsley
Campout * Bambra Bush Leader: Graeme Tribe
General Meeting Noel Schleiger “Geelong’s Geology & Landforms”
Biodiversity Group Excursion i
Plant Group Plant Dissection
Biodiversity Group Workshop Meeting
Bird Group Gordon McCarthy “Birds of the Bannockburn Bush”
Excursion Geelong Geology- Leader: Noel Schleiger

Bluestone, Sandstone & Limestone

* CHANGES TO PROGRAM
+ ADDITIONS TO PROGRAM

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6 October 1999

CAMPOUT NOTICE

-.. Graeme Tribe

Spring Campout, Bambra Bush.
October 28,30,31 Fri, Sat, Sun.

Leader: Graeme Tribe 5255 2302
NOTE: The dates of this campout
have been changed from those
shown on the club program.

How to getthere:

The Oberon school camp is on the
eastern side of the Deans Marsh
Road, 5.6 km south of the Deans
Marsh Road — Cape Otway Road
intersection. Look for GFNC signs.

The camp is set in an ideal bush

setting opposite the Bambra
Education Area bushland and
adjoins the Scrubby Creek

Coalmine Dam wetlands. Our club
has enjoyed several great
campouts in this easy-to-get-to
location.

Facilities:

There are -eight bunkrooms
(internal W.C. and showers) and a
large meeting room with an open
fire. The kitchen has everything
provided eg. plates, etc, gas stove,
power, fridge and cooking utensils.

Outside, there is a gas barbecue
and campfire facilities.

What to bring:

Linen and blankets, small pots (it is
a school camp), binoculars (there
are plenty of birds), pond life
equipment and field guides.

Cost:
$10 per night, payable at the camp.

o

New members...

We are pleased to welcome

Mr Micah Kawalek
Ms Katrina Turner

who joined the club in August.

REEDY LAKE SURVEY
... Trevor Pescott

The next bird and invertebrate
survey at reedy Lake will be held
on: 2

Thursday, October 14.

Meet at the end of Fitzgeralds
Road, right off Melaluka Road at
9.00 am.

Oo

SNIPEFEST 99
... Valda Dedman

This was a great success. The
weather and the snipe co-operated
most wonderfully and the kids and
helpers had a great time. We sang
the snipe song and turned children
into ‘stripey’ snipe with face paint and
masks, found lots of snipe food in the
water and were rewarded with 17
snipe on view, one of which flew right
over the watchers’ heads.

My sincere thanks to all of you who
came along to help. You made my
task of organisation so easy. Thanks
to the golf club too for making their
clubhouse available for the mask
activity.

Next year | would like to apply for a
grant to provide buses to help less
fortunate schools to attend, as well
as extending an invitation to those
who have already experienced
Snipefest to come back for more.

m

bee

EXCURSION NOTICE

... Donna Wood

Anglesea Heathlands and Mogg's
Creek.

Date: Sunday October 17".

Leaders: Barry Lingham and
Margaret MacDonald.

Margaret will be our guide on this
day as we visit the heathlands at
Anglesea and other areas to view
wildflowers. After lunch we will
probably walk along the ridge at
Mogg's Creek.

A bus has been booked and names
will be taken at the meeting. We
will be leaving from Karingal at
9.00a.m. and should return mid
afternoon.

As many of you know, Margaret
has a great interest and love of this
area, and works on a wide variety
of environmental issues. Margaret
has also co-authored a field guide
to orchids of the Anglesea district,
which is available from the library.
Order forms are also available for
anyone who would like to purchase
a copy.

o

OUT AND ABOUT WITH VALDA

-.. Valda Dedman

Biodiversity and Belmont Common
(again!), morning magpie, slugs
and snails, new babies, the
strangest bird | ever did see, orchid
hunting with the new book,
woodswallows and...

National Biodiversity Month has
just finished. We didn't have time
to celebrate it, because all our
efforts were directed towards trying
to save the biodiversity of Belmont
Common. One of the main points
of the GFNC submission to
Amendment R243 of the Greater
Geelong Planning Scheme was
that a watersports complex across
the Barwon River floodplain in
Belmont would result in a loss of
ecological values and regional
biodiversity. We have been fighting
this battle for nearly four years and
“we do hope that the end is in sight.

There have been some amazing
submissions from objectors.
Thousands of Geelong people
have poured their hearts out on
paper. Now we just have to hope
that Council will heed their cry, will
not be influenced by mere
numbers, or think their concerns
can be accommodated.

The matter comes up before
Council on 13th October. at 7.30
pm at the Council Chambers. Join
me there in a show of solidarity.
But be early if you want a seat!

So | haven't been out and about as
much as | would have liked. There
is still lots of interest in the home
garden though. For months great
flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets have
been noisily feeding in the
flowering eucalypts across the
road. At long last the magpie has
given up calling over and over and
over for at least half an hour before
the dawn chorus. To my pre-dawn
brain it seemed to be saying,
“That's incredible. No it is not!”

The rain brought out the snails,
those voracious European imports.
My garden snail population has
changed over the years. When we
first came to Highton, there were
also some ‘stripey’ dune snails and

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6 October 1999

tiny conical ones, smaller than my
little finger nail. My favourite snails
are the Black Otway Snails, shiny
black and found in the forest litter.

Strangely, | have never seen a
European snail in my vegetable
garden at Pollocksford. There are
lots of fat juicy slugs (they love my
compost bin too) and bright yellow
flatworms. In winter when the soil is
moist earthworms as thick as a
pencil and up to 15 cm long are
common. | think they retreat further
down in the soil in summer,
because | never see them then.
We turned over a plank that had
been outin the weather for months.
Lurking underneath were lots of
lovely centipedes.

Lily Sherwood has another lot of
babies in her Westringea. The
Masked Lapwing that lives opposite
the caravan parks in Barrabool
Road was out feeding with a chick
the other day. Another successful
breeding.

The strangest bit of biodiversity for
the month was the Black-tailed
Yellow Cockatoo (no that is NOT a
misprint) | saw in Clarke's Road
Anakie. And | was perfectly sober
at the time. And | had witnesses -
my U3A students. Practically the
whole of the upper half of the bird
was bright yellow. It was perched in
a eucalypt with 22 normal Yellow-
tailed Black-Cockatoos. They had
been feeding on pine cones.

We had stopped to admire a
beautiful creamy froth of flowers on
a stand of Hazel Pomaderris. The

Fairy Waxflower was looking
beautiful too, just round the corner
in De Motts Road. Clarke's Road is
a good spot for Waxlip orchids

Orchids are flowering very early
this year but don't let that deter you
from setting off to Anglesea, new
field guide in hand, to see what's
still about. The new book is, of
course, Orchids -of the Anglesea
District, by Everett Foster and
Margaret Macdonald ($25 and
available from Angair). It's fully
illustrated, spiral bound for ease of
use in the field AND It has all the
new botanical names, with
reference to the old ones, as well
as a name derivation, which | find a
great aid to memory and a help in
identification. Flowering time, local
habitat and local conservation
status are added bonuses.

I've just had a few days in the
Sunset Country (again). The honey
flow was strong in the White
Mallees and flocks of White-
browed Woodswallows were
systematically dipping into each
nectar filled flower cup, just like
honeyeaters.

And... it’s Ibis time again. Look up
for those lovely vee-formations.
Look up, too, if you hear an
enormous twittering. It could be
that the woodswallows are in town.
Charles Belcher said they arrived
“on the wings of the north wind”
about the end of October. Most will
be White-browed, but the odd one
or two with the white underbelly
will be Masked Woodswallows,
really dark ones will be Dusky.
Look around you for butterflies.
Cabbage Whites have been out
and about for months, and it will
soon be time for Common Browns
and Wanderers, Imperial Whites,
Grass Blues and others. Will
anyone see the Club emblem, the
Small Ant Blue? It's rare and
protected under the Flora 8 Fauna
Guarantee Act. Is it really locally
extinct, only occurring now in
Victoria at Mt Piper near
Broadford? Is there a hilltop near
you with wattles and coconut ants,
where males might congregate
prior to mating in late spring or
early summer? What should the
Club be doing about its loss from
Geelong?

o

mmm

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

. Barry Lingham

October 1999

The future of the Belmont Common
is looking more promising, thanks
„to the efforts of the thousands of
Geelong people who took the time
to make a submission opposing
changes to the Planning Scheme
that would have allowed the
construction of a Water Sports
Complex.

Valda Dedman and Trevor Pescott
submitted a comprehensive report
on behalf of the GFNC and Valda
has been kept busy checking the
submissions as they were received
at the Planning Department. The
recent election results have also
added extra pressure to the issue.
Coupled with this is the damning
submission from the Corangamite
Catchment Authority noting the
problems of blue-green algae
growth that would occur in a rowing
course.

It will be interesting to see how the
City of Greater Geelong councillors
react to all this; hopefully they will
respond to the overwhelming
evidence against the proposal and
vote against the Water Sports
Complex.

Simon Birrell from the Otway
Ranges Environment Network
warned us of the many problems
caused by logging in the Otway
State Forests at our September
meeting. Graeme Tribe and | will
be making a submission on behalf
of the GFNC concerning the
Regional Forest Agreements
related to the Otways. We have
purchased several copies of the
Research Report published by
OREN and it is hoped that
members familiarise themselves
with these issues.

Many of our members enjoyed a
morning with local Primary school
children involved in the Snipefest
on the 14" of September. From
the letters of thanks sent by the
children, they all had a great time
as well as learning about the
importance of wetlands and the

October 1999

wildlife that inhabits them.
thank you to Valda and all her
helpers for making this occasion a
great success.

Next March, the Geelong Field
Naturalists Club will be hosting the

Victorian Field Naturalists Club
Campout on the Bellarine
Peninsular. This will involve a

range of excursions, activities and
workshops. We will be looking for
assistance with a range of tasks
that will be necessary if this long
weekend is to be a success.
Please note the dates of March 11-
13 on your diary so you can
become involved.

| have been given several
suggestions for possible speakers
or excursion sites for next year’s
program. These suggestions are
much appreciated - if you have
some ideas please let me know or
pass on a message to a committee
member. |

A big ©

3

A list of current GFNC Office and
Duty Holders has been prepared. |
will attempt to confirm all positions
with those concerned before it is
published - if you perform a duty on
behalf of the Club could you please
check with me to see that you have
been included on the list.

The annual Publications Review
Meeting will be held on Thu 28"
October. We are very proud of our
publication which has been praised
by many other Field Naturalists
Clubs, and we are keen to maintain
a relevant and interesting
publication for our members.
Please pass on any items that
could be discussed to Alban Lloyd-
Jones or Barry Lingham. We are
also keen to hear from anyone who
could assist in the compiling and
editing of the Naturalist.

al af af af af af af af a Ar af af af a af Or Ar Ar 40 40 40 a?

THANKS TO VALDA

AND HER HELPERS

Dear Field Naiuraüisis.

Thanh you jer everything you prenared pr
us when we came w the Snipe Fost 99.

We guess it toon a long me to set up .
We thought the best Snipe mask coniest was

a quad KA
We also thank you fer geni us with each

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pu nii ng.

We kad a great time lookeng f for Snipe ford.
We hone Sali and Sam liked u. We saw
about 10 Shi: en our nature walk, lt war

a great suht ie sce them fly un quickiy and
then go bach down inio ihe reeds.
We had a famastc tume and it was a

glorious dat 5

Yours sincerely.

4 fi

Grade 3s from Theron Primary School
;

Our Aim Our Best

BIRD GROUP REPORT

-.. Barry Lingham

September 21° 1999

Trevor Pescott is well known to
members of the GFNC and the
Geelong public, being an
acknowledged expert on many
aspects of local natural history.
Trevor is a resident of Belmont, but
he also has a second home near
Forrest where he can indulge in his
love of the Otway Ranges.

Trevors Otway home lies at
Yaugher, a small hamlet that is
about 2 kilometres north of Forrest
on the road to Barwon Downs. The
river flats of the West Barwon
River form the main habitat of the
site, but heathy woodlands border
the one acre property and the wet
sclerophyll forests surrounding
Forrest lie a short distance away.

Low lying wetlands fed from the
East Barwon River occur past the
Seven Bridges Road intersection
on the road to Barwon Downs.
This range of habitats gives rise to
a wide variety of species visiting
Trevor's property.

When first observing the birds of
Yaugher, Trevor made a decision
to rely on visual observation and to
avoid any banding program. Two
watering places were established to
allow closer observation and
photographing of the birds. The
sandy soils made this a difficult
task and eventually concrete was
required to prevent seepage of
water in the main water hole.

Swans frequent a large paddock
nearby where potatoes are grown
in summer. Australian Shelduck
also use this paddock. Other
paddocks nearby appear to offer a
similar habitat type but are not
used - the reason for this remains a
mystery.

Other ducks seen include Pacific
Black Duck, Chestnut Teal and
Wood Duck. Australian and Hoary-
headed Grebes frequent the
wetlands along with Little Pied
Cormorants and White-faced
Heron. Cattle Egrets arrive around
March to April each year.

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No.6 October 1999

Raptors included Black-shouldered
Kite, Swamp Harrier, Wedge-tailed
Eagle and the magnificent white
phased Grey Goshawk.

Although rarely seen, Trevor
believes the Painted Button-guail is
probably reasonably common in
the heathland. Common and Brush
Bronzewings are both observed in
the area.

Many parrot species can be seen.
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo are
present in summer. Other parrots
include the Gang-gang and
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Long-
billed Corella and Crimson Rosella.
Blue-winged Parrots nest in the
Peppermint/Stringybark forest.
King Parrots are rarely seen
although they are common only
two kilometres away at Forrest.

Similarly, Forrest residents often
note Satin Bowerbirds, Pied

Currawong and House Sparrow, yet
they are rarely noted at Yaugher.

Boobook Owl are reasonably
common and hunt insects attracted
to lights at the house. A Barn Owl
was noted from a road kill. Trevor's
photo of a Tawny Frogmouth
perched on a white roadside
guidepost in the middle of the day
was most unusual.

Some of the “bush birds” include
Kookaburra, White-throated
Treecreeper, Superb Fairy Wren,
Striated Pardalote (occasional),
and White-browed Scrubwren.
Thornbill species were Brown,
Yellow-rumped and Striated.

The Noisy Miner is common at
Barwon Downs and is slowly
extending its territory northwards.
Other honeyeaters are Yellow-
faced (resident breeder), White-
naped, White-eared, Brown-
headed (which makes a fur nest
shaped like a tennis ball),
Crescent, New Holland and
Eastern Spinebill.

Jacky Winters prefer the open
farmland, Flame Robins nest in the
wet forest and Yellow Robins are
very approachable. A juvenile
Olive-Whistler ate bird seed from a
feeder from December till August.
Golden Whistlers and Grey Shrike-
thrush are commonly seen.

Grey Fantails in summer have
slightly different markings to the

winter birds. Other species seen

were Dusky Woodswallow, Grey
Butcherbird (in open forest),
Australian Magpie, Grey
Currawong, Forest Raven (with a
massive beak) and Little Raven
(from Jan. to March)

Red-browed Firetail are fairly
common, but the Beautiful Firetail
is rarely seen. Welcome Swallow,
and Tree Martin are seen chasing
insects. Silvereyes are present for
most of the year.

Bassian Thrush nest in the wetter
months whilst a single pair of
Blackbirds is established at the
site. Starlings favour one particular
spot on the property. Emu Wrens
and Bristlebirds are restricted to the
wet heathlands.

The observations showed a
contrast between the species found
at Yaugher and those found a short
distance away at Forrest, due to
changes in habitat type.

Trevor has had his photographs
included in many publications and
he showed us some superb
examples of his skill during his
interesting talk. Thank you Trevor.

Next Month's Speaker

lan Morgan is a farmer from
Rupanyup in the Wimmera. He
has been observing and
photographing birds for more that
forty years and he will speak to us
on the “Birds of the Wimmera”

o

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6

BIODIVERSITY NOTES

... Dennis Greenwell

Our excursion on 12th September
had an unusual start to say the
least. As it turned out in the end, we
all had the benefit of a good laugh,
whereas, we may just as a easily
have ended up being
detained by the local
constabulary on an
extremely serious charge.
But let me explain.

The handful of ‘regulars’
turned up as arranged,
outside the Green Grub at
Waurn Ponds Shopping
Centre, prior to our
departure to the Iron Bark

October 1999

We hurriedly established that Helen;
from the Geelong Bushwalkers’ Club
had arranged to meet them at either
the Green Grub or later at either
Point Addis or Iron Bark Basin, so
rather than turn back, we drove on
to the Point. When we arrived,
there was nobody there, so Mary
tried to ring Helen on the mobile, but
there was no reply so we invited
them to join us exploring Ironbark

Orchids from the Anglesea area.

Found by Biodiversity Group of GFNC - 12/9/99.
... Compiled by Dennis Greenwell

All were in flower at the time. Listed only for the first
place we saw them.

lronbark Basin
Pterostylis nutans

Nodding Greenhood

5

Apart from that interesting incident,
we had a very rewarding day, first at
Ironbark Gorge as previously
mentioned and then at the Anglesea
Heathland bordering Forest Road.

The most outstanding feature was
the 21 species of orchid in flower at
the two places, which surely must be
some kind of record. We were also
rewarded with the appearance of an
Echidna which was spotted
by our youngest group
member Gabriel Scheeling
and the first Australian
Admiral Butterfly this Spring.

A list of orchids is included..
The identification should be
accurate thanks to the help
we received from a chance
encounter with Margaret
MacDonald, President of

Gorge and Anglesea melagramma Tall Greenhood Angair, in Forest Road.
Heathlands. We were just sanguinia Banded Greenhood
about to depart, when two oncinna Trim Greenhood Biodiversity Meeting
ladies that we hadn't met pedunculata Maroon Hood Report 15" September
before, arrived dressed in plumosa Plumed / Bearded At our monthly meeting,
similar fashion to Caladenia tentaculata Green-comb Spider Ade Foster gave us a talk on
ourselves. We asked if ` clavigera Plain Lip Spider the unusual life history of the
they were coming on the menziesii Rabbit Orchid Tussock Moths
Club excursion and they carnea Pink Fingers (Lymantridae) and brought in
said that they were. We | Acjanthus caudatus Mayfly a number of different
suggested that as Ade had pusillus Mosquito species to illustrate their
plenty of room in his van | tostyiis reniformis Gnat diversity and the interesting
Aaa ke 19) JR Thelmytra antennifera Rabbit Ears SHEN STABAT 197 STE
Ea Je hate Sina species, where the female is
packs stowed away in the Forrest Road Tae Det EA
back with ours, we set off. Diuris pardina Leopard examining a variety of
i orientis Wallflower caterpillars, spiders and a
We were soon engaged in Caladenia cardiochila Thick lip spider really rich ‘brew’ of aquatic
lively conversation about deformis Bluebeard invertebrates that Ade and
how it was so nice to see venusta Common Spider Claire had collected at the

new faces at one of our
excursions and Mary said
that she was a new
member and hadn't been
to many meetings and
that's why none of us
recognised one another
and how her daughter, the
other young woman, had
just returned from a
working holiday in the Canadian
Rockies and so on.

It was just as we were approaching
Freshwater Creek, that Mary
mentioned that she had arranged
with Helen about this particular
excursion. Helen who? The only
Helen in the Club that any of us
knew was Helen Whiteside and she
would most definitely not have
arranged a Biodiversity excursion
and then the penny dropped. We
had inadvertently kidnapped these
two ladies!!

Gum Flat Turnoff
Glossodia
Caladenia

major
australis

Purple Waxlip

Basin. They declined and when we
returned to the vehicles, we found a
note on the window saying that they
had hitched a lift back to Geelong
with campers.

Did | hear someone say... “The
lengths that some people will go, in
order to get new members for their
group!”

Southern Spider

With special thanks to Winston Huggins —Ed.

Snipefest at Jerringot the
previous day.

Next Biodiversity
Excursion Sunday 10"
October.

Judy Rowe has invited us
to her bush block for our
next trip. This is situated in
the middle of a triangle formed by
Dereel, Linton and Cape Clear. The
Misery Creek flows through the
property and a gold pan and gum
boots would be useful additions to
the usual equipment that you would
normally bring on an excursion.

Meet at the Fyansford Hotel at 8.45
a.m. for car pooling and leave at
9.00 a.m. Any late-comers can
reach us on Mobile 0409 723022.

o

6 GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6 October 1999

A BRIEF LOOK AT PLANT VASCULAR SYSTEMS

by Dave King

nk
DRR

Unit 216/86 Church Street, Grovedale, 3216.
Introduction

As a result of conducting an illustrated talk at the August meeting of the Plant Group the writer was requested to
produce an article on the subject. Of necessity it is to be brief, - the subject being a wide one, would involve
something approaching a book. To fully appreciate the extent of a plant's vascular system it is vital to view the

` tissues under a microscope, which was the basis of the talk by the writer. It is a very revealing activity, even when
using the simplest equipment.

General Description

The plant vascular system is the means by which water, that contains nutrients from the soil, is conducted from
the roots to all parts of the plant. By the same means food, produced by photosynthesis in the leaves, is
distributed throughout the plant. Two principle tissues are involved. Xylem is the principal water conducting
tissue, phloem the principal food conducting tissue. Spatial relationship between these tissues varies according to
whether a dicot or monocot, and in this context only angiosperms are considered. Gymnosperms are not here
considered.

In all cases, between the xylem and phloem tissues, a meristematic tissue is present. This tissue is referred to as
the vascular cambium. Its function is the production of new cells by repeated division. They are small closely
packed cells with large nuclei and thin walls.

Differentiation of the cambium cells produces the xylem cells toward the stem centre, and phloem cells toward the
stem periphery, Fig. 1. The difference is shown between the dicot and monocot vascular systems. In the
monocot, the system consists of discrete vascular bundles. With the dicot they form bundles closely connected in
the form of a cylinder, the continued growth forming the familiar growth-rings of arboreous or woody plants. In
many arboreous plants an additional tissue is initiated in the cambium, this tissue is observed as rays radiating
from the centre of the stem. Ray tissue is instrumental in the lateral distribution of water and food products.

The xylem and phloem as they mature become elongated vertically to become vessel cells. Xylem cell walls
progressively become lignified with spiral and annular thickening as they extend in length. Eventually with
dissolution of the end walls they become continuous vertical tubes. At maturity these cells are dead, thus forming
the woody interior of the stem, Fig. 2. By contrast phloem cells, as they mature, form sieve tubes. The end walls
become perforated, known as sieve plates, thus forming a continuous vertical tube interspersed with sieve plates.
Phloem at maturity forms the circular bark tissue, remaining basically a living tissue, Fig. 2.

Interpretation

To interpret the vascular system it is necessary to produce transverse and longitudinally cut sections, i.e. sections
cut at right angles and cut parallel to the long axis of the stem respectively. These sections need to be as thin as
possible in order to observe the cellular tissues clearly. In order to master the process it is advisable to choose a
specimen that is relatively soft and not too woody. A number of sections should be cut, then choose those that
appear most satisfactory, before proceeding further. Cutting should be done with a razor blade having a single
edge (Gem or similar), a "cut-throat" razor or a scalpel.

The cutting instrument and plant sample must be kept moist with water in order to make a clean cut. Transfer the
cut sections to a water bath with a fine paint brush. Sort sections for the most suitable, and using the brush,
transfer the section to a microscope slide. Remove excess water from the section with a tissue. To enhance the
difference between types of tissue it is necessary to stain the section. In this particular exercise the stain used was
toluidine blue. The stain is applied to the section on the slide using a brush and allowed to remain for one to two
minutes. Apply a drop of water to dilute the stain and soak up with a tissue. Apply a drop of clean water and
carefully cover the section with a glass cover slip, avoiding air bubbles being trapped.

The section is now viewed under a compound microscope, using medium power, say 80x to 100x. If the section
has been carefully prepared the various tissues will be easily distinguished. Toluidine blue reacts with the various
chemical compositions of tissue to produce a variety of colour. Pectic substances, found in the ground tissue stain
pinkish blue. Lignin and tannin stain greenish blue to bright blue. Cellulose and starch are not stained, the latter
often found in tissue of the bark region. What this means is the vascular bundles will stand-out from the ground
tissue, xylem with thick cell walls stains blue, cambium cells a band of greeny-blue, and phloem cells with a
mixture of pink and blue.

Many other stains, such as eosine (red ink) can be used to obtain specific differentiation affects. For further
information on their use the literature should be consulted.

(Continued on page 7)

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6 October 1999

(Continued from page 6)

References
Bidwell, R.G.S. (1974), Plant Physiology, Macmillan, N.Y.

Culling, C.F.A. (1974), Modern Microscopy, Buttworths, London.
Curry, A. et.al. (1982), Under the Microscope, Van Nostrand Reinhold, N.Y.
Esau, K. (1977), Anatomy of Seed Plants, John Wiley, N.Y.

Ford, B.J. (1973), The Optical Microscope, Reed, Sydney.

Cambium

=,

xylem

| Vascular 4
bundle >

ile]
Part transverse sections of a monocot & dicot.

Fig. 2. Longitudinal section of a dicot.

8 GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6 October 1999

BACKYARD BIRDS IN BACCHUS MARSH, AUGUST 1999

by Marilyn Hewish

97 Grey St., Bacchus Marsh, 3340

| have been too busy lately to spend much time in the bush, but have still had some rewarding bird-watching
experiences. The records in the Geelong Bird Report attest to the many native bird species which are just as
at home in towns as in the bush. Some of our most valuable collections of records come from the
conscientious people who keep detailed records of birds in their back gardens and suburbs in Geelong. We all
know who they are!

Following their example, | present here a list of some interesting birds which | have noticed in or over our
garden on the outskirts of Bacchus Marsh in August.

White-necked Heron
A single bird was seen flying over the garden on 12/8 and 21/8. This species is rather uncommon here as in
most parts of the Geelong region, and | haven't seen any locally in the past few years.

Galah

In 1998 we played host to 2 Galahs from July to December. They spent each day in the garden digging out
bulbs of Thread Iris with their bills, leaving large bare pits in the grass and chewed bulbs over the surface.
Occasionally they were joined by friends, and a flock of 13 was present on 7/11. It was fascinating to watch
them digging vigorously and with great determination, covering their bills and faces with dirt. Over the months
their excavations destroyed the ground cover at the end of the garden. They left early this year, probably
because the ground was bone-dry and as impenetrable as concrete. We were delighted to see that 7 birds had
re-appeared on 15/8, working over ground that had been softened by rain. We don't object to their activities;
its a small price to pay to have such endearing visitors.

Purple-crowned Lorikeet

Small flocks are feeding in flowering eucalypts in the carpark of one of our local supermarkets at present. On
the morning of 7/8 | could hear flocks flying past our house just after sunrise, probably moving out from their
night-time roosts. They are usually more common here in spring and summer; for instance, up to 25 birds
were feeding in flowering eucalypts nearby in November-December 1998.

Eastern Rosella . |
A record of a bird during a dawn watch on 7/8 was the first for several months. A pair has been seen regularly
in the garden for two weeks since then, feeding in our grass.

Striated Pardalote
These birds occur occasionally here, usually as single birds passing through or staying for a few days in our
trees. One bird was heard calling persistently on the morning of 7/8.

Superb Fairy-wren

A small family group has lived here year-round since November 1993, dividing their time between 3 adjacent
gardens. The gardens are large with stands of dense shrubs and expanses of short grass, and are separated
by wire fences so that the Wrens can move freely between them. This area was developed for housing in
1988, previously consisting of open fields. It seems the shrubs and trees planted by the new home-owners
took 5 years to develop enough to support the wrens.

Yellow-rumped Thornbill

These occur in small numbers here, and can turn up at any time of year. They feed on our ‘lawn’ in small
flocks, busily fossicking and hopping about with their soft trilling calls. | love to see the flash of their bright
yellow rumps in the brown grass. During most of August there have been 2-3 birds hanging around,
occasionally we get flocks of up to 15.

Grey Shrike-thrush

Shrike-thrushes occur regularly in our garden during autumn-winter, generally April-August. They are often
heard calling (in 1999 on 3/4-5/4, 20/4, 5/6, 3/7, 1/8, 7/8, 15/8) and single birds or pairs occasionally feed in
the grass under our trees. Most of my records are on weekends because on weekdays in winter | leave the
house in the dark and arrive home in the dark.

(Continued on page 9)

‘mm

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6 October 1999 9

(Continued from page 8)

Zebra Finch

Our house is on the edge of town close to extensive dry grasslands. Small flocks of Zebra Finches can be
recorded here at any time of year. They are probably resident in the general area, moving around to feed on
seeding grasses. The grassland began on the other side of our street when we moved here in 1992, and flocks
of 10-20 Finches fed on our ‘lawn’ (which is not real lawn but mown dry grassland). This area has since been
covered with high-density housing with smooth green lawns, and the Finches now occur in smaller numbers
(e.g. 1-2 birds on 15/8), usually flying over.

Common Myna `

It seems a pity to lower the tone, but Mynas are impossible to ignore in our garden at the moment. They have a
roost nearby so we hear their raucous calling every morning and evening. | first noticed them on 1/3/99, when
about 100 birds went into a roost in a eucalypt next door. They made a huge racket and the gathering and
calling took an hour before the birds disappeared into the roost tree. It must have been a new roost - | would
have noticed them before. At first they gathered in a line of tall poplar trees, but they were continually disturbed
by 4 Australian Magpies. The Magpies were not directly harassing the Mynas, but simply flying over. The
Mynas seemed nervous, perhaps because they were trying out a new roost in unfamiliar territory. They soon
gained access to the poplars however. By 7/3, the flock was divided between the eucalypt and the poplars and
by 20/3 most were using the poplars. But then the poplars began to lose their leaves for winter. The flock
decreased to 55-60 birds by 3/4, with the roost moving away from the poplars and circulating between various
eucalypts. At present, | can still hear the birds each morning and evening but the roost is out of sight from our
garden.

Common Starling

There is also unfortunately a roost of Starlings near our house. | counted 210 birds gathered on the telegraph
wires by our house on the evening of 5/4, and they eventually roosted in the Myna eucalypt and a nearby
Hakea bush. They shared both roosts with Mynas, apparently peacefully. By 18/4 they had taken over the Myna
tree. Whether the Mynas were forced out or moved voluntarily | don’t know. At present about 100 Starlings fly
through our garden each morning before sunrise as they leave the roost; but the roost location is not known.

This is an interesting tally of native birds for a suburban garden. There are other species which | haven't
mentioned, such as the ubiquitous Red Wattlebirds, White-plumed and New Holland Honeyeaters, Australian
Magpies, Magpie-larks and Willie Wagtails, and other rarer visitors.

We have a good and varied garden bird list. We have the advantage that all the houses on our side of the road
are on large blocks. The owners have planted many native trees and shrubs but not replaced the grassland with
lawns. Now that the taller vegetation has developed we attract birds which are foliage-feeders (honeyeaters,
pardalotes, lorikeets), but retain enough open unrestricted space for ground-feeders (Eastern Rosellas, Grey
Shrike-thrushes, Yellow-rumped Thornbills), seed-eaters (Zebra Finches) and birds which prefer a mosaic of
shrubs and open areas (Superb Fairy-wrens). Across the road, the houses on smaller blocks with tall fences,
exotic plants, and fertilised, watered and mown lawns attract fewer native birds. Unfortunately the growing trees
also attract Starlings and Mynas.

There are some distinct differences in the bird populations seen by Geelong bird-watchers and Bacchus Marsh
observers. Zebra Finches are regularly recorded in Bacchus Marsh. They are largely confined to the Werribee
Plains and surrounding towns, not reaching as far south as Geelong. It would also be unusual in Geelong to
have Superb Fairy-wrens resident in a suburban garden, and Yellow-rumped Thornbills and Grey Shrike-
thrushes which are regular and probably always in the general area (Shrike-thrushes in autumn-winter only).
We also often get bush birds visiting the garden, probably from nearby forests and woodlands (e.g. Brown
Thornbills, Scarlet Robins, Restless Flycatchers, Brown-headed Honeyeaters, Rufous Whistlers) and birds from
grasslands which surround the town (raptors including Black Falcons, Black Kites and Spotted Harriers, Barn
Owls, Richard's Pipits, Golden-headed Cisticolas, Flame Robins). Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters spend the winter
here.

Geelong bird-watchers can see several species which we don’t have, such as Rainbow Lorikeets, Grey
Butcherbirds, Crested Shrike-tits, Pink Robins and Pied Currawongs, and others which are rare or in low
numbers here, such as Grey Fantails, Gang-gang Cockatoos and Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos. | wonder why
the Pied Currawongs which live in the Wombat Forest north of Bacchus Marsh have not yet discovered the
town. In their daily dispersal in winter they come within 1-2 km of the town fringes. City living agrees with them,
as they have invaded Geelong and now breed there. | enjoy them in the forests but would rather they didn’t
come into the town to drive away our other native birds.

In both Bacchus Marsh and Geelong, the bird-watchers and the native birds unfortunately have to endure the
ever-present Starlings and Mynas. í

0

10

EXCURSION REPORT

... Roy Whiteside

Report of excursion to Brisbane
Ranges on 15 Aug 1999

This excursion was attended by

about 20 persons and was led by
Dick Southcombe and Roy
Whiteside.

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6 October 1999

The object of the excursion was to
explore the circuit to be known as
the Ted Errey Circuit in order to
identify the main features
(particularly plants) at various points
so that appropriate details can be
included on signs to be displayed at
strategic points along the track.

This circuit combines existing
walking tracks and includes parts of
Aqueduct Track, Nelson's Track,
Anakie Gorge Walk, Outlook Walk

Due to the length of the circuit the
members divided, with each group
covering parts of the whole circuit.

The weather was fine and views of
Mt. Anakie, Corio Bay and the You
Yangs were quite clear. Lunch was
taken at the Stony Creek Picnic
Area with the accompaniment of a
colony. of nine White-winged
Choughs, some Brown
Treecreepers and Crimson Rosellas.
The excursion concluded at 4.15pm.

and Redbeak Track.

PLANT LIST (compiled by Christopher Lindorf)
DICOTYLEDONEAE (In flower)

DILLENIACEAE
Hibbertia riparia

EPACRIDACEAE

Leucopogan virgatus
FABACEAE

Dillwynia ramosissima

Hovea heterophilla

Pultenaea scabra
MYRTACEAE

Eucalyptus leucoxylon

subsp. pruinosa

Eucalyptus tricarpa
PITTOSPORACEAE

Rytidosporum procumbens
PROTEACEAE

Grevillea chrysophaea Golden Grevillea

Grevillea Rosmarinifolia Smooth Grevillea

Grevillea Sp. Small-leaf Grevillea

Upright Guinea-flower
Common Beard-heath
Bushy Parrot-pea
Common Hovea
Rough Bush-pea
Yellow Gum

Red Ironbark

White Marianth

Hakea decurrens
subspec. decurrens
RUTACEAE

Correa reflexa

Bushy Hakea

Common Correa
MONOCOTYLEDEAE (In flower)

CYPERACEAE
Carex appressa

ORCHIDACEAE
Caladenia caerulea
Corybas diemenicus
Cyrtostylis reniformis Mosquito Orchid
Pterostylis concinna Trim Greenhood
Pterostylis melagramma Tall Greenhood
Pterostylis nana „Dwarf Greenhood
Pterostylis nutans Nodding Greenhood
Pterostylis pedunculata Maroon-hood (bud only)

Tall Sedge

Blue Caladenia
Veined Helmet Orchid

PTERIDOPHYTA

ADIANTACEAE

Adianyum aethiopicum Common Maidenhair

ASPLENIACEAE

Aspleninium flabellifolium Necklace Fern

BLECHNACEAE

Blechnum nudum
Blechnum wattsii

Fishbone Water-fern
Hard Water-fern

DENNSTAEDTIACEAE

Pteridium esculentum Austral Bracken

DICKSONIACEAE

Dicksonia antarctica Soft Tree-fern

DRYOPTERIDACEAE

Polystichum proliferum Mother Shield-fern

GLEICHENIACEAE

Gleichenia microphylla Scrambling Coral-fern

BIRD LIST (compiled by Barry Lingham)

Wedge-tailed Eagle
Musk Lorikeet
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Galah

Crimson Rosella
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Welcome Swallow
Scarlet Robin

Eastern Yellow Robin
Golden Whistler
Grey Shrike-thrush
Crested Shrike-tit
Striated Thornbill
Yellow Thornbill
Brown Thornbill
Buff-rumped Thornbill
White-browed Scrubwren

Brown Treecreeper
White-throated Treecreeper
Spotted Pardalote

Striated Pardalote
Silvereye

White-naped Honeyeater
Brown-headed Honeyeater
Eastern Spinebill
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
White-eared Honeyeater
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
White-plumed Honeyeater
New Holland Honeyeater
Red Wattlebird ©
Australian Raven
White-winged Chough 5+9
Grey Currawong

XANTHORRHOEACEAE , | Superb Fairy-Wren Australian Magpie
Xanthorrhoea Austral Grass-tree Varied Sitella
Special thanks are given to Christopher Lindorf VAMAL LIS;
for his botanical expertise and for providing a Ein vy ra angers
recent update of the plant list for the Brisbane ae s

Ranges National Park. —RW.

Echidnas (evidence only)
oO

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6 October 1999 11

UNUSUAL CUTTLEBONE BEACH-CASTE AT OCEAN GROVE

by Chris Gray and Lachlan Sinnott

Chris Gray, Unit 2 87 Ocean Throughway Ocean Grove. Vic. 3226
Lachlan Sinnott, 7 Constellation Court, Taylors Lakes. Vic. 3038

Two specimens of the cuttlefish Sepia whitley and (Iredale 1926) Sepions found beach-caste on 2/1/99 at Ocean
Grove Victoria probably drifted from their known habit range waters in Eastern Australia — from the Gulf of
Carpentaria to northern New South Wales. It is usually caught as a ‘bycatch’ in the prawn and mixed species
trawl fisheries at water depths of 23 — 160 metres. (Carpenter and Niem 1998)

Both specimens had a cartilaginous shield posteriorly on the dorsal side. The reduced spine on the larger
specimen suggested that the spine grows with the outer cone as it becomes prolonged similar to that reported
for Sepia Apama. Bell 1979.

The unusual number of easterly wind systems that occurred over the summer period was probably the reason
for the drift of the two specimens so far south into Bass Strait waters.

Special thanks to Dr. Amanda Reid Melbourne Museum for identification of the cuttlebone.

References.

Bell. K. N. 1979. Variation in the sepions of Victorian Cuttles. (Mollusca : Cephalopoda). J. Malac. Soc.Aust.4(3). 30th June.

Carpenter. K. E. And Niem. V. H. 1998. The living Marine resources of the western central Pacific. Vol. 2. Food and Agriculture.
Org. Ofthe United Nations. Rome.

“VENTRAL VIEW \ LATERAL VIEW DORSAL VIEW

r
SPINE

BOTH SPECIMS WITH
A CARTILAGINOUS
SHIELD Ns

INNER CONE LIMBS `
BROADENING POSTERIORLY
FORMING ROUNDED ẸDGES

COLOUR
PALE PINKISH =
PURPLE

UNIFORMLY
PUSTULOSE

SULCUS DEEP & WIDE

STRIATE'ZONE |:
DEEPLY CONCAVE

LAST LOCULUS
SLIGHTLY CONVEX

12

LIBRARY NOTES

... Betty Moore

Clearfell logging in the Otway State
Forest and its effect on water
resources in the region = a
Research Report by the Otway
Ranges Environment Network
(OREN).

The report contains four sections:

1 Overview of Hardwood Logging
and Sawmilling in the Otways.

2 The Effect of Clearfell Logging on
Water Yields in Otway Water
Catchments.

3lmpact of Clearfell Logging on
Soil Erosion and Water Quality in
the Otways.

4Overall Conclusions and
Recommendations.

Think of this — Only four of the
proposed 38 coupes for the
1999/2000 logging season are not
in a water catchment area or:not in
a highly graded threatened land
degradation area!

The Bird Observer No 800,

Sep ‘99

“Wildlife Art, A personal view”.
Krystii Melaine tells how, at the age
of four, she announced that she
was going to be an artist and has
been painting and drawing ever
since. She explains her interests
and emotions about wildlife and its
conservation. “Wildlife art is a
contemporary fine art movement
based on subject rather than a
particular medium, style or school
of thought”. The article is illustrated
with reproductions of her painting.

Krystii is the Exhibition Secretary
of the Wildlife Art Society of
Australasia Inc. The Society's
annual exhibition opens on
Saturday 16th October and runs
until Wednesday 29th October, at
the Victorian Artist's Society
Galleries, 230 Albert St, East
Melbourne.

Bird Week 1999 “Threats to
Birds” (October 23-31) - BOCA
branches will be actively promoting
the conservation and enjoyment of
birds. This edition of Bird Observer
has articles on — “Decline of birds
in the northern savanna” - “The
granivorous bird assemblages of

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6 October 1999

Northern Australian savannas have
changed substantially since
European settlement of the area”
more than 30% of the indigenous
species have changed in
abundance or range.

Coxen's Fig-Parrot — a bird listed
as endangered in the two states
(Queensland and NSW) in which it
occurs. The bird is so poorly known
that it has never been
photographed and its nest has not
been described.

“Birding in Sunset Country” by Piet
van Haeff describes birds seen on
a trip along the Murray — places
mentioned — many wetlands,
Barmah Forest, Kerang, Hattah-
Kulkyne, Murray-Sunset national
Park and Lake Bonney. The article
is illustrated with beautiful colour
photographs.

Habitat Vol 27 August 1999
“Getting on the Track — the
biodiversity challenge” presented
by Andreas Glanznig and Margi
Prideaux, is about Australia’s
biggest environmental problem —
the continuing loss of biodiversity.
Many aspects of the situation are
covered and suggestions as to how
we can all help to at least slow
down the decline.

“Oil and Whales Don't Mix” by
Margi Prideaux — The Great
Australian Bight Marine Protected
Area is one of the largest parks in
Australian waters and is a regular
visiting spot for the Southern Right
Whale at calving time. In April this
year Resources Minister Senator
Minchin released the new
petroleum acreage for 1999 (the
area in which exploration permits
can be granted). It eclipses at least
two thirds of the Commonwealth
Benthic Protection Area.

o

PLANT GROUP REPORT
. . . Dick Southcombe

Everett Foster, who has been very
involved in the search for and
understanding of orchids for some
years, gave an enlightening,
illustrated talk on the anatomy, life
cycle and other intriguing aspects
of this highly evolved and favourite
plant family.

Orchidaceae is the largest plant
family on earth with about 32,000
species in about 800 genera
making up 10% of the world's
flowering plants.

In Australia, the proportion is only
about 4% BUT 70% of our orchids
are not found anywhere else in the
worlds.

Everett and fellow ANGAIR
member Margaret MacDonald have
produced a field guide “Orchids of
the Anglesea District” which is a
‘must’ for orchid enthusiasts. It is
for sale at $25, plus $2.25 postage
from Everett at 1 Elizabeth St.
Belmont, 3216.

Next Meeting — Special excursion.
A special excursion, to which all
members are welcome, to
Wildflower Track, Butcher's Road
and Aeroplane Road in the
Brisbane Ranges on Sunday 10th
October (depart Karingal 10.00 am)
will prepare us for our meeting on
Tuesday 12th at Karingal.

o

SEAVIEW PARK BELMONT.
... Dick Southcombe

The newly formed Friends Group
invites GFNC members to a
WORKING BEE from 9am to 12
noon on Saturday 9th October.
Please come to see what has been
done, what is yet to be done, the
wildflowers and generally help with
the clean-up and preparation for
planting.

O

GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No. 6 October 1999 13

LYMANTRIIDAE

THE TUSSOCK MOTHS
by Ade Foster

8 Hazel Street, Belmont, 3216
ade
The specimen table at the last meeting held an interesting wingless female moth, a Tussock moth,
Lymantriidae. The family Lymantriidae contains 2500 species worldwide in about 200 genera. Although they
are found on all continents except Antarctica, their strongest representation is in the tropical regions of Africa
and Asia. Australia has 70 species in 16 genera, mostly across the north and down the east coast.

They are robustly built moths with broad wings and wingspans from 16 - 100 mm, although the wings are
sometimes reduced or entirely absent in females. Many have prominent labial palpi giving a characteristic- `
‘peaked’ appearance. Adults are usually densely hairy.

Eggs are usually laid in batches and often covered by a tuft of a furry substance, in fact special deciduous"
scales from the base of the female's abdomen. These are a camouflage mechanism and protect the eggs
from discovery by predators. Sm
The young larvae spin long strands of silk, which are picked up by air currents, and carry the little caterpillars
sometimes surprising distances. This method of dispersal is extremely important for those species with
wingless females.

The caterpillars have dense and long secondary setae, or hairs, often arranged in four tufts on the back, like
toothbrushes. Hence the common name - tussock moths. These hairs are often urticareous and can cause
severe reactions in humans. In some cases larval hairs are incorporated in the cocoons and even carried on
the bodies of adults causing severe rashes and eye and throat irritations. In some susceptible people, even
wind-blown hairs can cause severe reactions.

The larvae feed on a variety of native and introduced plants including Acacia, Eucalyptus, and Exocarpus as
well as introduced fruit trees such as apple, pear, cherry, apricot, and other agricultural crops - passionfruit,
broad bean, lupins and dahlias. They are also known to feed on Pinus radiata and various Cupressus and
many others. Pupation takes place in a loosely spun silken cocoon, usually placed in the foliage of the food
plant, or under loose bark.

Wingless females do not leave the cocoon but attract males with pheromones. The males of these species are
active day flyers. Wingless females have no gut and barely functional legs, they are basically big sacs of
genitalia and eggs. Males of the winged female species come readily to lights at night.

The specimen on our table was the female of a common local species, Teia anartoides, the males of which
are quite small, orange and brown day fliers. The larvae of T. anartoides feed primarily on Acacia.

O

BONESEED ERADICATION

You Yangs, 23rd & 24th October.
... Rob Beardsley —

OK, if you could not make it to our August event the good news is that you still have a
chance to ‘serve penance’ on the above date. The work area will be above the Great West
Walk. Light pulling assured. Hope you can make it.

Contact: Rob Beardsley 5241 1951.

Time: Sat 23rd 9.30 am
Sun 24th 10.00 am.
Where: The Saddle. Follow the Great Circle Drive clockwise and watch for signs (GFNC).
The gate to the work area will be closed but unlocked, please close after entry.
Work area will be signed.

Bring: Hat, warm/wet gear, eye protection (glasses), gloves and a ‘cuppa’.
If you can make it on either day, can you please contact me beforehand. Thank you.

oO

eet tne ene nn er anne meet ne ne en et are TTT em i AT ad |

14 GEELONG NATURALIST Vol 35 No.6 October 1999
NATO IS AV OLOSAINOSORUICLODE III ISS

Report of talk given by Dave King at members night on 3 August 1999
on the subject of the Rail Trail on the Bellarine Peninsula.
-.. Roy Whiteside

The overall trail is a State initiated project to put a trail completely around Port Philip Bay, starting at Queenscliff

and ending at Portsea. The only gap in the trail would be across the sea between Queenscliff and Portsea which is
serviced by ferries. :

The Council of the City of Greater Geelong and National Parks, Victoria have put some money into the project
which will cover from the border of the Queenscliff Shire through the Bellarine Peninsula and Geelong to Little
River. The route through the Bellarine Peninsula is via the old railway track between Queenscliff and South
Geelong. After 1972 the Steam Preservation Society took over the section of the railway between Queenscliff and

Drysdale. The rails have been removed from the remaining sections of the old railway track between Curlewis and
South Geelong.

STAGE 1. Drysdale to Moolap Station Road.

It is intended that the present railway route be extended from Drysdale to Curlewis when funding becomes
available. This would reguire flashing lights and boom gates at crossings near Drysdale (ie. at Portarlington and
Jetty Roads). The proceeds from the sale of removed rails has been ploughed back into the rail trail. There. are
sections of the trail from Drysdale to South Geelong that need to be developed. The section between Drysdale and
Moolap Station Road is fully developed for the use of walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. There is a proviso that
horse-riders keep off the walking track. Road crossings have been completed with the highest safety incorporated
and notices have been placed to suit the habitat. At Moolap Station Road there will be a node point where a
simulated railway platform will be built with interpretation boards, car parking , picnicking area, tree planting (which
has already started) and toilets. It will be a place where all cycling and walking events are planned to take place.
Further tree planting will occur between there and Drysdale. It is proposed that "friends of the trail" groups be
responsible for various sections of the trail. Schools' groups from Drysdale are already involved. The old Bellarine
Shire Nursery in Drysdale is a good base for developing seedlings for tree planting.

STAGE 2 Moolap Station Road to South Geelong.

Part of this section has been surfaced and tree planting has taken place. Hepner's Funeral Services have become a
sponsor and they are doing planting along the Bellarine Highway where the trail crosses. These trees are a
memorial to deceased persons whose funerals have been conducted by Hepners and other funeral services.
Beyond Coppards Road and as far as Breakwater Road the old rail is suitable for walking but reguires grading for
cycling.

STAGE 3. Drysdale to Queenscliff.

Tenders have been let for the walking track development and the result will be known shortly. At "the narrows" near
the former Queenscliff High Schoot they will pick up the existing track. In the region between Portarlington Road
and Queenscliff Roads there is a fair amount of work to be done. This is probably the best area for natural history
as there is more natural vegetation of the Bellarine Peninsula (eg. the native raspberry). Itis also a very scenic
area with a spectacular view across the bay to the You Yangs. Interpretation boards will be erected where major
drainage channels enter the creek and also at Suma Park.

In the Geelong urban area, existing roads will have to be used and designated to pick up Eastern Park and then
follow the bay via Steampacket Gardens, Rippleside, St Helens, Cowies Creek, Hovell's Creek to Lara (details of
this latter area still have to be worked out).

Much further work needs to be done on the overall project and it is hoped that further sponsors can be found from
major fifms. If this is achieved then the trail should be of "world class" standard.

Barry Lingham gave a' vote of thanks to Dave for all the work he has put into the scheme.
o

Observations

_ The editor regrets to advise that no observations were received this month.

GENC OFFICE BEARERS (1999-2000)

President Barry Lingham 5255 4291 lingham.barry.k@edumailvic.gov.au
Vice-President Vacant
Secretary Vacant x
Treasurer Ray Baverstock 5243 7025
Minute Secretary Donna Wood 5221 2956
Immediate Past President Dick Southcombe 5243 3916
Committee Member Ade Foster 5243 9478 adenpeny@netlink.com.au
E A Bernie Franke 017 982 072
Ja 4 Diana Primrose 5250 1811
y peas Graeme Tribe 5255 2302 |
i; a Alison Watson 5229 3488 pwatson@ne.com.au
‘ Vacant
7 d Vacant
Honorary Librarian Betty Moore 5288 7220
Editor Alban Lloyd-Jones 5243 3704

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP CONVENERS and GEELONG BIRD REPORT EDITOR

Bio-diversity Group Dennis Greenwell 5243 7047
Bird Group Barry Lingham 5255 4291
Plant Group Dick Southcombe 5243 3916
Geelong Bird Report Marilyn Hewish (Pri) 03 5367 3196 (Bus) 03 9344 5715

DISCLAIMER

Responsibility for the accuracy of information and opinions expressed in this magazine
rests with the author of the article. ‘Geelong Naturalist may be quoted without
permission provided that acknowledgment of the club and the author is made.

Geelong Field Naturalists Club Inc.

ROSTERS
LIBRARY SUPPER MAILING

Judy Rowe Wilma Tribe Claire Greenwell
Shirley Southcombe

Lorraine Preston Roma Connors Beverley Morwood
Bev McNay

Meetings start at 8.00 pm at:
Karingal Community Centre, Corner McKillop and Humble Streets, East Geelong.
Use the Humble Street entrance.

Printed by Ken Jenkin.

GEELONG FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB Inc.
A0013708R
PO Box 1047
Geelong Vic 3220
GFNC web page: http://member.austasia.net/~gfnc.

Email address: gfnc@mail.austasia.net

EN ed

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