LANDSCOPE Winter 2021 - PREVIEW

WA’S PARKS, WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION MAGAZINE

Volume 36 Number 4 Winter 2021 $7.95

WARMING SANDS

Flatbacks and rising temperatures

Mega geology

WA’s giant landforms

Adventure trails

Firing up Dwellingup

Rocking Karijini

Exploring ancient formations

d an er r a ff nd on o e al ti r c crip o f s 33 sub e g E pa COP e Se NDS LA

PRESENTED BY

MAGAZINE

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2022 CALENDAR

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Western Australia 2022 Calendar Featuring: • 12 stunning photos • large date squares • spiral binding

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Today is World Every spring, Migratory Bird Day. hundreds of of waterbird thousands s return to rivers, lakes wetlands in and WA.

BACK TO SCHOOL

THURSDAY

The wildflowe rs in WA’s south-we ecologically st are significant, with 8000 species blooming in more than between August the region and Novembe per cent of r, 80 which cannot anywhere else be found in the world.

The Arklow Adaptive Trail opened in was 2019.

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Now is the time to make are Bushfire sure you Ready. Visit dfes.wa.gov.au to find out how.

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Join the action in Dwellingu enjoy some p and of adventure trailsthe new and expanded the Dwellingu and facilities as part of p Adventur e Trails project

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Foreword

S

ON THE COVER Front cover A female flatback turtle returns to the same shores where she hatched—Eighty Mile Beach near Broome.

Photo – Tom Le Lievre

Contributing

Back cover Courageous flatback turtle hatchlings make their way to the ocean.

Photo – Andrea Whiting

Aline Gibson Vega is an ecologist with a passion for conservation. She has assisted with and worked on projects with small macropods and mammals, which led to her gaining an interest in birds. Currently, her PhD project explores the population genetics, breeding and behavioural ecology of the western grasswren. She took on the project because she was eager to work on something with tangible conservation applications and outcomes. Aline also assists the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions on the Return to 1616 Dirk Hartog Island National Park Ecological Restoration Project.

cience has been critically important in identifying and valuing our conservation assets so that we know and appreciate the diversity we have, and it continues to be important in identifying appropriate management strategies to facilitate persistence in the face of current and future pressures.

Early understanding and documentation of the unique flora of the State was enhanced by the fastidious work of botanist Dr William Blackall, and his illustrated key to identify Western Australian wildflowers produced with the collaboration of Professor Brian Grieve continues to be a foundational text for students of plant science and keen enthusiasts (see ‘William Edward Blackall: Doctor and Botanist’ on page 24).

DBCA scientists continue to work collaboratively with our colleagues in academia and welcome the opportunity to work with aspiring young scientists as they undertake their PhD studies (see ‘The secret life of grasswrens’ on page 28 and ‘The heat is on: flatbacks and a changing climate’ on page 40).

Science is fundamental to effectively managing our parks and reserves. The challenges in biodiversity conservation are becoming more complex and thus our management responses are more complex and require significant input from multidisciplinary science and integrated biodiversity knowledge (see ‘Top marks for Kings Parks’ on page 46).

Our scientific endeavours continue to provide the evidence base for effective conservation and management of our biodiversity, enable appreciation and enjoyment of WA’s natural places, and inform decision-making for environmental sustainability and economic development. I hope the articles in this issue encourage you to think about the wealth of knowledge science provides us as you are out and about enjoying WA’s biodiversity this winter.

Dr Margaret Byrne, Executive Director, Biodiversity and Conservation Science Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Michael Freeman is a geologist with a wealth of experience, from gold and phosphate rock to coal and heavy mineral sands, and to applying geology to landuse planning. He once spent a period as a forensic geologist, however from a personal interest viewpoint his love is sharing his knowledge of geology in the land around us for all to appreciate the world we live upon. Michael plans to focus on this by contributing more to the growing field of geotourism, particularly after his impending retirement from his professional career.

Malindi Gammon is a PhD student at the University of Western Australia where her research explores how a changing climate will impact flatback sea turtles. Malindi moved to Perth in 2018 from New Zealand where her passion for conservation was sparked by her masters research on the impacts of a changing climate on deep sea corals, before joining the Fisheries Department of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries as a graduate.

LANDSCOPE 3

Contents Volume 36 Number 4 Winter 2021 Editor Lauren Cabrera.

Editorial assistance Kaylee Martin.

Scientific/technical advice Margaret Byrne, Steve Crawford, Rob Davis, Lesley Gibson, John Huisman, Lachie McCaw. Special thanks to Andrew and Merilyn Burbidge.

Design and production coordinator Tiffany Taylor.

Design Mandy Nielsen, Gooitzen van der Meer.

Illustration Gooitzen van der Meer.

Cartography Promaco Geodraft.

Prepress and printing Advance Press, Western Australia.

All material copyright. No part of the contents of the publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publishers.

Maps should be used as a guide only and not for navigational purposes.

ISSN 0815-4465 Please do not send unsolicited material, but feel free to contact the editors by email (landscope@dbca.wa.gov.au).

Published by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, Western Australia. © State of Western Australia, June 2021.

Subscription information Annual subscriptions to LANDSCOPE are available for $33* (four issues plus free postage within Australia). *Overseas subscriptions add $22.

For more information contact us: On the web shop.dbca.wa.gov.au By email landscope@dbca.wa.gov.au By phone (08) 9219 9000 By free post Reply Paid 25, Locked Bag 29, Bentley DC, Western Australia 6983 To purchase LANDSCOPE online, visit shop.dbca.wa.gov.au/landscope @waparkswildlife LANDSCOPE is printed on recycled paper which is certified carbon neutral, contains 55 per cent recycled fibre and is made from pulp, which is derived from well-managed forests, controlled and recycled sources.

This page Mount Augustus.

Photo – David Bettini

4 LANDSCOPE

Features 8

Parks for People: Yawuru Conservation Estate Culture-rich jointly managed parks near Broome

12 Trails firing up Dwellingup

Adventure awaits in WA’s latest trail town 18 Mega geology: Western Australia’s giant landforms

Delve into the landscapes, landforms and rocks of WA 24 Touched by nature: William Edward Blackall

Respected doctor with a passion for botany 28 The secret life of grasswrens

Encountering the charismatic and elusive birds 36 Adventure out: Rocking the patterns

Exploring the beauty of Karijini’s ancient rock formations 40 The heat is on: Flatbacks and a changing climate

Warming sands affecting the sex of hatchlings 46 Top marks for Kings Park

Caring for Perth’s beloved urban bushland 50 National parks in your pocket

A breakthrough app by the WA Parks Foundation

Regulars 3

From the desk of Dr Margaret Byrne A foreword from Executive Director, Biodiversity and Conservation Science.

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Bush Telegraph Short stories from around the State, reader’s pic and a guest word.

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In Review A collection of books and applications.

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Discovered Freshwater mussels (Westralunio carteri).

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Kaleidescope Connecting kids with nature.

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Nature’s pin-ups Flatback turtle (Natator depressus).

LANDSCOPE 5

Bush telegraph by Lauren Cabrera

READER’S PIC Rainbow bee-eater (Merops ornatus) Photo and words by Jacqui McGhie “I have been trying to get a photo of the rainbow bee-eater for quite a while up in the Kimberley but they were always too quick for me, darting about chasing their insects, but I found out they nest right here in Perth! I took this at Lake Gwelup in the Perth suburb of Karrinyup, a known breeding area for rainbow bee-eaters.”

Have you got a fantastic nature photograph you would like to see published in LANDSCOPE? Send it, along with a 100-word description of the species or how and where you took the shot, to landscope@dbca.wa.gov.au.

‘Reflections’ mural at Wellington Dam

Penguin pergolas The little penguins of Penguin Island are in real estate heaven after 22 new nesting boxes were specially built for them, as well as receiving new and upgraded lids to existing boxes.

The construction of the nesting boxes was a joint initiative between DBCA’s Parks and Wildlife Service and the Rotary Club of Palm Beach.

To date, a total of 43 nesting boxes have been built, 30 sunshades have been made and fitted, 11 new lids purchased for old boxes, and 22 lids of old boxes painted.

Palm Beach Rotary Club also played a big part in building artificial hollows for black cockatoos. You can watch the short video below on both nesting box projects on the club’s Facebook page.

Below Discover more about the nesting box project.

Video – Palm Beach Rotary Club

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The colossal mural on the Wellington Dam wall is thought to likely be the largest of its type in the world. It has been inspired by local stories and photographs and, unsurprisingly, it is already proving to be a major tourist drawcard.

Internationally-renowned Australian artist Guido van Helten created the 8000-squaremetre mega-mural, which was officially unveiled by WA Premier Hon Mark McGowan MLA on 19 February 2021.

The mural is titled ‘Reflections’. It demonstrates how the waterways are culturally significant to all people, locals and visitors, both in the past and present, and symbolises the future of the Collie River region as a place of natural beauty, recreation and solidarity.

The painting of the wall has been a monumental task, with people abseiling to clean the wall, building a specially designed scaffolding platform to paint it, and the design drawn and mapped onto a grid to help the artist translate his design from concept to a scaled mega mural.

Right Wellington Dam mural.

Photo – Stuart Harrison/DBCA Above left Penguin nesting boxes.

Photo – Rick Dawson

Frog foraging with Nearer to Nature As the rain begins and the creeks and wetlands start to fill this winter, many native frog species start to emerge. You may not realise just how many frogs there are living in your local area.

During the July school holidays, DBCA’s Nearer to Nature program runs family ‘Frog Forages’ at different wetlands and swamps around Perth. On these night-time walks, participants learn the signs to spot frogs, discover how important frogs are to the environment, explore the array of species and understand how to identify them using their unique calls.

Keep a lookout on the Nearer to Nature Facebook page (@nearertonatureWA) to see when a ‘Frog Forage’ is happening near you.

Bush telegraph

Celebrating Noongar culture at Kings Park

Guest column Dr Alan Briggs President, Geoparks WA

G

Above Noongar presenter Ash Penfold leads students in a dance workshop.

Photo – Ellen Davies/DBCA

Primary school students flocked to Kaarta Koomba (Kings Park) this year for a series of mini festivals to celebrate Aboriginal culture and learn about the six Noongar seasons.

Noongar Boodja Six Seasons is an exciting educational program delivered by the Kings Park Education and Learning team and proudly supported by Fugro.

During the seasonally-themed festivals, students learn about Noongar country—the land, plants, animals and people, and traditional ways of living on and caring for country. Local Noongar presenters lead cultural activities traditionally associated with each season, such as plants used for food and medicine, hunting, language, art, dance, and traditional games.

Find out more at bgpa.wa.gov.au/kings-park/events/kings-parkeducation/programs/noongar-boodja

New adaptive mountain bike in the Perth Hills After months of fundraising, not-for-profit adaptive mountain bike and hiking organisation Break the Boundary were able to purchase a full suspension all-terrain adaptive mountain bike, Lasher Sport.

The Lasher Sport is specifically designed for off-road adventures with a patented front fork shock design that provides a smooth ride even in the most demanding terrain.

The handcycle was purchased by Break the Boundary with help from generous community fundraisers and donors, with shipping sponsored by disability equipment provider Push Mobility, based in Victoria.

“We talk about social, mental and physical wellbeing to promote our charity but honestly... this is far better!” a Break the Boundary spokeperson said.

Right Lasher Sport adaptive handcycle.

Photo – Break the Boundary

eoparks are defined

by UNESCO as single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development. Hence, geoparks are much more than just the protection of sites of geological heritage.

National parks are government reserves, traditionally focused on conserving flora and fauna, whereas geoparks are more about the earth, landscapes, and geology. Interestingly, national parks may be included within geopark boundaries.

Geoparks WA is a not-for-profit organisation comprised of members keen to promote and support the establishment of geoparks in WA. Its members are active across Australia through a range of other organisations including the Geological Society of Australia.

Geoparks are managed from the ground up by local communities, a requirement for geoparks. Local management brings about local ownership. Geoparks focus on geology, the flora and fauna evolving from that geology and then human interaction with these elements. There are unique and exciting stories to be told, especially about 65,000 years of Aboriginal custodianship of ancient lands and then early explorer and settler development leading to contemporary land use today.

Geotourism is a relatively new form of tourism and is attracting international attention. Geoparks have evolved from the original concept of protecting geosites. However, protection of geoheritage is still promoted through conservation and education, which is a central theme in establishing geoparks. With one of the oldest land platforms in the world forming the Yilgarn Craton, there is significant geological heritage to be shared.

Already several local government authorities have shown interest in establishing geoparks, including the Murchison Region, Wheatbelt, Margaret River and the cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo.

Geoparks WA has become a vehicle for promoting and supporting geoparks in WA. It is an exciting journey. Watch this space.

LANDSCOPE 7

Parks for people by Sharon ???

Ferguson and Luke Puertollano

Yawuru Conservation Estate From turquoise waters and sandy beaches, across pindan plains to biodiverse mudflats and mangroves, you can explore the rich cultural and environmental values on offer across the Yawuru Conservation Estate. Surrounding the picturesque town of Broome, there is truly something for everyone.

I

n Australia’s tropical Kimberley region, on Yawuru country, lies a unique and diverse set of jointly managed parks, the Yawuru Conservation Estate. The area boasts dynamic lightning storms and warm tropical rains in Man-gala (the wet season, November to February), and pictureperfect days through Barrgana (the dry season, June to August).

Covering aproximately 100,000 hectares of land and waters on Yawuru country, the Yawuru Conservation Estate

Above Bird life on the shores of Yawuru Nagulagun / Roebuck Bay. Photo – Tourism WA

8 LANDSCOPE

comprises four jointly managed parks.

These parks share cultural, environmental and recreational values and are managed holistically across the landscape.

LIVING CULTURAL LANDSCAPE For thousands of years Yawuru people have lived along the foreshore of Roebuck Bay, across the pindan plains and along the fringes of the Great Sandy Desert.

Yawuru people have continued their strong connection to country for generations and champion the protection and future of conservation areas in and around Broome.

The Yawuru Conservation Estate parks were created following the Yawuru Native Title Determination in 2006 and subsequent

Indigenous Land Use Agreements in 2010. The parks provide for the longheld aspirations of Yawuru people to continue looking after their lands and waters sustainably for future generations. These aspirations are shared by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Parks and Wildlife Service and the Shire of Broome. The parks also sit within the Yawuru Indigenous Protected Area.

WET YOUR FEET The Yawuru Nagulagun / Roebuck Bay Marine Park contains some of the most productive tropical interidal flats in the world, making it very important for Yawuru fishing, hunting and gathering seafood.

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BUSH BOOKS

Frogs of WA

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ANIMALS

of North-Western Australia

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BUSH BOOKS

of Western Australia

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FROGS

TREE FROG

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SPLENDID

(Litoria spl endida) The magni fice frog that occ nt or splendid tree frog is a str urs in the iking-look Kimberley to the gre ing tree en tree fro and has a superficia g (Litoria is the larges l similarity caerulea). t The splend cane toad). Western Australian id tre frog (exclu ding the int e frog DESCRIPTION roduced Males grow females are to around 10.6 centim larger, up to 11.8 cen etres in len or green, timetres lon spotted wit gth and h usually g. spots. Som Th e bod circul y is olive etimes the se spots are ar sulphur-yellow enormous or white protrudin ringed wit g par h black. Th top of the head. These otid glands behind ere are the eyes and glands are antibiotic over the qualities. known to secrete pep tides with DISTRIBUTION It is found and east of across mo st Derby and south to the of the Kimberley to found in a the north Bungle Bu sm ngle east Kimber all area of the North ley. ern Territo Range. It is also ry adjacent PREFERRED to the HABITAT It is most fre caves or on rocks quently obs and trees erved in san occasiona alo lly encoun dstone tered in hou ng rocky watercou rses. It is ses and am LIFE HISTOR enities blo Y Following cks. heavy wet calling fro m rocks sev season rai ns, males eral metre or beneath commence s from a cre the surfac ekine. Eggs e of the wa Up to 6400 are laid on ter. eggs have been laid by The tadpoles hatch in water.

CALL The cal a female in l is captivity. not form lar a slow, deep bark risi ng slightly ge chorus es in like pit ch the and it does RELATED SPE green tree CIES The cav frog. north-west e frog (L. cavernico Kimberley la) only occ in caves or boulders— urs in the trees among a habitat it sha massive san uniform gre dstone en to reddis res with the splend id tre h-brown and grows up to e frog. It is a six centim etres.

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Photos – Dav

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BUSH BOOKS

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WA NATURALLY

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