A solitary, large, graceful white bird of 80 to 90cms, the Yellow-billed Spoonbill, can be observed in shallow water on the edges of the Avon River.
Bird of the month: The graceful Yellow-billed Spoonbill
read more
All
Oh what a handsome golden brown skink you are
True to its name, the Broad-banded Sand-swimmer skink’s most striking feature is its pattern of rich brown to purplish bands. These markings flow from the back of its neck to the tip of its tail, a tapestry of branched and broken lines.
Bird of the month: An owl that makes ‘dog-like’ calls
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.
Freshwater crayfish reside in the waters…
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.
Bird of the month: Unmasking the elusive masked owl
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.
‘Members night’ surprising & interesting
The “Members Night” format of the May meeting did not disappoint as we enjoyed surprising and interesting presentations.
Moaning for sleep
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.
Ensure your insurance is current
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”.
Bird of the month: A hunter that swoops down from the sky
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.
A snake is a snake, unless, of course, it’s a legless lizard
Finding a ‘snake’ in the home is a frightening experience but could it be a Legless Lizard?
Bird of the month: The Southern Boobook Owl
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.
What is a Chytrid fungus infection?
The decline and disappearance of some frogs species may be partly due to a chytrid fungus.
