The Barking Owl and the Southern Boobook are of the ‘hawk-owl’ species. Although very similar in colouring and looks, the Barking Owl is much larger, with measurements of 35 to 45cms compared with the Southern Boobook of 25 to 35cms. Even though it is more common in the Pilbara area, the Barking Owl has been heard very, very occasionally within our Shire.
Members recently explored Wattening Nature Reserve, an area in the Phillips Sandplain Catchment of Toodyay Shire, notable for its freshwater springs. Despite its small size, the reserve boasts significant biodiversity and historical importance, having been utilised by Noongar people for thousands of years and documented by early European explorers and naturalists.
The Masked Owl is not a common species around our Shire, however, it has been observed in open farmland with large trees, woodlands and timbered watercourses with paperbark woodland being a preferred habitat.
The “Members Night” format of the May meeting did not disappoint as we enjoyed surprising and interesting presentations.
With our earlier rains the frogs are now calling and what a great sound it is following a long, hot summer. One such frog is the Moaning Frog which has a call that can cause sleep-less nights with its long and rising low moan if residing too close to the house. It is found in swampy and sandy areas from as far north of the state as Geraldton, east to Cape Arid and Rottnest Island – a vast area.
Residents recently received a letter from DBCA informing them that a burn was planned for Rugged Hills Reserve and “ensure your insurance cover is current and will provide you with adequate coverage in order to protect you from property losses”.
Easily recognised by its distinctive heart-shaped facial disc and pale, often ghostly, plumage, the Barn Owl is not often seen except as a white flash at night when caught in a vehicle’s headlights on country roads.
Finding a ‘snake’ in the home is a frightening experience but could it be a Legless Lizard?
The Boobook is the smallest of the Australian owls found in a variety of habitats and landforms from rainforest to arid areas, woodlands of the Wheatbelt, heath, Jarrah, Karri and Tingle forests.
The decline and disappearance of some frogs species may be partly due to a chytrid fungus.
The club sadly announces the passing of our Co-Patron John Dell who has been an untiring supporter of the Toodyay Naturalists’ Club since the mid 1980s
With it’s distinctive black, fine, long, down-curved bill and striking bands of browns and red on the male, the gorgeous Western Spinebill is found in the lower southwest mainland of the State from Jurien Bay to Israelite Bay.
Over the weekend of the 5th September this year, we will be conducting a BioBlitz in Julimar State Forest. A BioBlitz is a snapshot in time, looking at the biodiversity of an area, recording what is seen and found during a specified, short period of time, usually over a weekend.
If you are an expert keen to offer your skills as a leader, or maybe you are a nature enthusiast, a citizen scientist or just interested in how a BioBlitz works – we would love to hear from you.
You can register your interest here:
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Toodyay Naturalists’ Club is a member of the Julimar Conservation and Forest Alliance
This guide is the work of the members of the Toodyay Naturalists’ Club Inc. It is a commemorative publication with member contributions celebrating fifty years from foundation (1968 to 2018).
The Club’s previous publication on this subject ‘The Avon Valley: a Naturalists’ View’’, published in 1986, provided a comprehensive list of one Toodyay reserve; it also covered other reserves in the Avon Valley. This publication is confined to the Shire of Toodyay.
In compiling this guide, members of the Toodyay Naturalists’ Club Inc. acknowledge the first inhabitants, the Ballardong People, as carers of a unique and biological diverse landscape. Additionally, they reference many of the contemporary works available that cover the Shire of Toodyay. The guide also provides links to further reading about the flora and fauna of the region. a brief description appears on the rear cover.
Please submit the form below and our secretary will provide details on how to order.
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