A couple of weeks ago, we were gifted with the rare treat of boobook owls. Boobooks are Australia’s smallest and most widespread owls, and, as with most owls, are seldom seen. In the Hawk Owl family (genus Ninox), these fledglings appear to be the more commonly distributed subspecies, Ninox boobook ssp boobook, rather than the rainforest subspecies of lurida, which is interesting as it means both subspecies must overlap in range here at Paluma.
We had heard both boobook and lesser sooty owls the previous evening, and saw at least one of the adult parent birds very early, from the bedroom window. The photos were taken from the lounge room window. These fledglings were being guarded by an adult bird, who quickly flew into the forest when spotted, but the fledglings stayed put for most of the morning, giving us a glorious opportunity to watch them watching us!
Owls are apex predators in many environments, and are at risk of consuming or accumulating toxins used to control pest species such as insects and rodents. While in Paluma, commercial spraying of pesticide is not a threat to these birds, the indiscriminate use of rodent poison certainly is. We ask all residents to consider live trapping for control of rodents over use of toxic baits. This provides not only the opportunity to identify the trapped animal, and release in a suitable location if one of our valuable endemic species, but also prevents the inevitable leeching of these toxins into our environment. After all, wouldn’t it be nice to have more owls around so that they can control the rodents instead!
It seems appropriate that during this month of Christmas we feature an evergreen conifer as our tree of the month. The Black Pine (Prumnopitys amara). This species is widely distributed in north-east Queensland as well as New Guinea and Indonesia. It can grow to 60m and has a frequently dark to blackish trunk with scattered cracks. Mature leaves are long and narrow with a distinct groove along the mid-vein on the upper surface. The species name “amara” is from the latin word for bitter and refers to the fact that the leaves, if chewed, are initially sweet tasting but then turn bitter.
Prumnopitys amara leaves (Botanic Gardens, Sydney) Photo by Peter Woodard; Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
None of these features are easy to distinguish in the field, but luckily the fruit are very easily recognised scattered on the ground along walking tracks. They are bright red and globular (20-25mm wide) with a shallow flesh around a hard gloubular seed. Fruit can be found on the forest floor from December to February. They are eaten by Cassowaries, and several species of rainforest rat.
Prumnopitys amara fruit collected behand Paluma Dam, February 2016
Black Pine nuts are one of about four species of rainforest seeds regularly that were used (and relied on) on by rainforest aborigines as a source of carbohydrates. While some of the seeds required lengthy preparation to leach out toxins and bitter chemicals, Black Pine seeds, could simply be collected and cooked for thiry minutes in a grond oven and then cracked open to reveal the tasty kernels which were then pulverised between two stones.
The timber from the Black Pine is used in New Guinea and Indonesia for general building purposes as well as funiture including butter churns.
Other conifers around Paluma
Conifers belong to a group of seed-bearing plants (including Cycads and Ginkos) in which the seed is not enclosed in and ovary (Gymnosperms – meaning naked seed). The seeds of conifers (Pines and relatives) are borne within cones. Australia has several conifers that are endemic (found only in Australia) and one which is considered to be a “living fossil” (Wollemi Pine).
The Black Pine is one of only a few naturally occurring rainforest conifers in the Paluma region. Two others that can be potentially (but not commonly) seen are “Plum Pines” or Podocarps (Podocarpus grayae and Podocarpus elatus). Both are called Brown Pine and both are endemic to Australia. While not strictly a rainforest pine the Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghami) can also be seen naturally on the slopes down to the coast along the range road, and there are several large specimens that have been planted out around the village. It is not restricted to rainforests, and is common around the rocky coast of Magnetic Island.
There are other species of native pine that don’t naturally occur in Paluma but that have been planted out around the village. These include a small Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwilli) around the first corner of Smith Crescent and a Kauri pine (probably Agathis microstachya*) behind the Paluma Environmental Education Centre. Two small potted native “Christmas trees” adjacent to the the Community hall include one conifer naturally found only in the mountains west of Mossman (Mt Spurgeon pine, Prumnopitys ladei) and a variety of casuarina (not a conifer) called the Daintree Pine (Gymnostroma australianum).
Text and photos (unless indicated) by Jamie Oliver
*Note: the Kauri pine behind PEEC is, on closer inspection, most likely to be Agathis robusta. It is distinguised by its smooth bark with thin flakes. – Jamie
The PDCA ended the year on a high note on Saturday night (12/12/20) with the final social event of the year, the Paluma Tropical BBQ.
The Community Hall was lit up like a Christmas tree (literally!) and the tropical shirts were as loud as the lively chatter emanating from the hall. The residents of Paluma came armed with a feast of sumptuous dishes and Don fired up the BBQ with his usual finesse. Barman Les reported a lively trade and he made sure that everyone remained hydrated with their favourite beverages on the night.
Colin and Jill were the outright winners of the ‘Best Dressed’ tropical costume, arriving as if they had just stepped off the cruise boat (hopefully not the Ruby Princess!) adorned in sarong, board shirts, frangipani leis and tropical cocktails in hand.
Despite a challenging 2020, the community spirit is alive and well at Paluma as these few photographs clearly show. Merry Christmas Paluma-style!
There is no doubt that we co-habit with a diversity of interesting critters at Paluma, but this moth has to be admired for its remarkable and distinctive appearance. Spotted at Peter and Jan Cooke’s place just recently, this moth flew in and spent a few hours resting around the place before heading off back to the forest.
Check out the big hair-do and the antennae. A good leg wax is certainly well overdue !!!!
Have you spotted any interesting insects or other critters around your place with the warming of the weather and the first summer showers? If so, please send us a photo so we can share your discoveries with other residents.
TMR anticipates that the full road closure of Mt Spec Road will be completed this Sunday night and the road will be operational at all times from 6am Monday 14 December 2020.
Construction crews are in the process of demobilising the project sites and expect to be finished on Mount Spec Road over the next few days.
We will provide a project update to stakeholders by email and an SMS when works are completed, and Mt Spec Road is fully open to motorists.
TMR thanks you for patience during these important works. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 1800 625 648 should you require any further information.
Kind Regards,
Meghan
Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Floor 6 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810 PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810 P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8725 E: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au W: www.tmr.qld.gov.au
Please be advised that the bottom gate closure for the Mt Spec reconstruction works has been relocated up to the Little Crystal Creek Bridge. This means that you will need to be at the Little Crystal Creek Bridge by 6pm Saturday to Thursday and 7pm Friday to travel up Mt Spec Road before the closure of the road for the evening.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information about the project.
Kind regards
Meghan
Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Floor 6 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810 PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810 P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8725 E: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au W: www.tmr.qld.gov.au
Thank you for your patience while the Department of Transport and Main Roads continues to complete important reconstruction works on Mt Spec Road.
While the weekend did see the project experience some inclement weather on Saturday night, concreting works at Windy Corner and Culvert 161 were able to be completed on Sunday evening.
Please be advised that TMR will not be completing a second weekend closure this weekend. Existing closure times for Mt Spec Road (6pm-6am Saturday to Thursday, 7pm-7am Friday) will be in place for this weekend.
Again, thank you for your patience while we complete these important works and please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.
Kind Regards
Meghan
Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Floor 6 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810 PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810 P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8725 E: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au W: www.tmr.qld.gov.au
The washing-board tree (Cryptocarya corrugata) belongs to the Laurel family (Lauracea). There are over 300 species in the genus Cryptocarya, most of which inhabit cloud covered rainforests. This particular species is endemic to central and northern Queensland upland rainforests.
On close inspection the tree has distinctive red flakey bark and conspicuous fist to saucer-sized dimples along its trunk where the bark has flaked off. The sap-wood has a corrugataed surface, but this is largely masked by the outer bark.
Cryptocarya corrugata (Washingboard Tree) on the H-track. This is one of the recently retagged trees that are part of the upcooming revised Guide to Trees of the H-Track (Photo by Will Cairns)
The washing-board tree can grow up to 35m tall and occasionally has a butressed trunk. The cut bark and outer wood (a blaze) smells like sugar cane, but with alternative common names such as Bull’s Breath and Acid Wood this smell be a matter of personal perception.
The twigs and new leaves are covered in twisted brown hairs, while the older leaves become hairless (glabrous) with age
The fruit of the Washing-board tree are also distinctive. They are large ( 15-22mm high x 22-34mm wide) and broad or bilobed with a smooth to shiny purple-black outer surface. Flowering occurs in December, with mature fruit developing the following September. The fruit are eaten by cassowaries and fruit doves.
The wood of the washing board tree is infrequently used for general purpose timber under the name “Corduory Laurel.
You can find a tagged specimen (#4) of this species near the beginning of the H-Track (starting at Whalley Cr) on the right hand side of the track. This tree is part of a Guide to the Trees of the H-Track which is currently being revised with new text and new white tags.
