Nature – Page 13 – Paluma – our village in the mist

Rainforest biodiversity: 5 easy species Part 2 – Ferns

By Jamie Oliver

Ferns are common plants found almost everywhere in the rainforest, from the forest floor, on logs, in tree canopies and on trunks, and growing as tall ‘tree ferns’. Ferns are a group of vascular plants that lack flowers and seeds. (The term ’vascular’ refers to specialised structures that conduct water, minerals, and nutrients around the plant.) The life cycle of a fern has two distinct stages – the larger plants that we are familiar with produce spores on their leaves, spores later germinate in damp areas into tiny plants that sexually reproduce – thereby completing the cycle to form new spore-producing plants. Some ferns can be tricky to identify and require inspection of the placement of spores on the fronds, but there are quite a few that have distinctive features, readily distinguishable by a careful novice observer.

1. Rebecca’s Tree Fern (Cyathea rebeccae)

Although many gardens around Paluma have tree ferns with robust trunks reaching up to 10 metres or more in height (Cyathea cooperi) the most common tree fern you will encounter along the shady walking tracks near the village is Rebecca’s Tree Fern. This species has a distinctive slender trunk and deep green glossy fronds that are ‘bipinnate’ (see leaf types below). Rebecca’s Tree Fern is also commonly found along the sides of smaller roads (eg. back of Lennox Cr.) where its ability to produce suckers around the main stem (an unusual feature in a tree fern) allows it to form small clumps. These young suckers can be mistaken for some other fern since the fronds don’t form secondary leaflets (they are pinnate rather than bipinnate). Uncommon in the Paluma rainforest but more widespread in the north, Cyathea robertsiana is the only other species of tree fern that has a slender trunk . It can be distinguished from Rebecca’s tree fern by its more delicate fronds, with leaflets that are deeply lobed.

Deeply lobed leaflets of the Lacy Tree Fern

2. Bird’s nest fern (Asplenium australasicum)

The bird’s nest fern is a well-known feature of the Wet Tropics and easy to recognise by its elongate simple fronds arising from a central area that often accumulates leaf litter and the occasional seedling of other plants. This fern is generally epiphytic (growing on other plants) and along the walking tracks is usually found on tree limbs high up in the forest, although in well-lit areas (and gardens) it can be found on logs or tree trunks near the forest floor. Asplenium australasicum is by far the most common bird’s nest fern around Paluma and can be identified (if it is low enough) by checking the mid-rib of one of the larger fronds. A. australasicum has a prominent triangular raised mid-rib on the lower surface of the frond, while the upper surface is much smoother. Another species (A. nidus) which is less likely to occur has a prominent rounded mid-rib on the upper surface of its fronds while the lower surface is smooth.

3. King Fern (Angiopteris evecta)

While it is not a tree fern with a defined trunk, this fern has the largest fronds in the world (up to 9m long) and its base can be 3m across. Such giant specimens are more common around the Daintree, but smaller specimens (fronds up to 1.5m) can be found reliably along the banks of most creeks around the village. It is most easily recognised by the large glossy pinnate fronds and by their bulbous base. There are examples of this fern on either side of the foot bridges halfway along the H-Track, and at the far end of the Rainforest Track.

4. Elkhorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum)

This is a common epiphytic fern around Paluma and can be found on trees from nearly ground level to the crown. It can grow to an enormous size and will occasionally overbalance a small tree and cause it to fall over. The primary erect fronds are flattened and divided into large fingers or lobes at the margin. The fronds are initially erect but then hang down to cover the base. The base is formed from flat guard leaves that turn brown. The elkhorn fern has multiple centres of frond growth, which distinguishes it from the staghorn fern (more likely found in open forests) which has only one centre.

5. Gristle Fern (Blechnum cartilagineum)

The gristle fern is a glossy leaved fern of the forest floor that has beautiful pink new fronds. The fern can be distinguished from most others along the Paluma tracks by the shape of the leaf and the fact that the lobes or leaflets of each frond extend onto the central axis and merge with the adjacent leaflet. Most other ferns of this shape and habit have distinct leaflets arising from the bare central stem.

One other fairly common species of fern has this form of merged central leaflets along the stem but it also has small leaf-like lobes extending down the base, whereas in C. cartilageneum the base of the stem is bare. The patterns of veins on the leaflets are also quite distinctive – they occur in pairs that arise from a single point on the central stem.

Vein pattern on underside of leaflet Frond showing bare base

What’s this Curious Critter ?

Just recently, Paluma residents Jodie and Danno discovered a very curious insect had taken up residence in their Smith Crescent home.

Take a look at this creepy crawly! The photo is a bit blurry, but those big hairy legs are very clear.

Can anyone provide an identification or any insight into what it is?

Rainforest Biodiversity: 5 easy species at a time. Part 1 – Birds

by Jamie Oliver

Introduction

Rainforests are the most biologically diverse of all terrestrial habitats, and the number of different species in just a small plot of forest can be huge. For the interested amateur, identifying the myriad of rainforest plants and animals can be challenging! We don’t know exactly how many species of plants and animals live in the rainforests of the Queensland Wet Tropics – for some groups e.g.fungi, some insect families, there may actually be more undescribed species than ones that have been formally identified. It is likely that during a short 15 min walk along Paluma rainforest tracks you could be passing several hundred different species of plants and animals. Some of these are large and conspicuous while others could require much closer inspection (and perhaps a hand lens) to identify.

Paluma is located at the southern end of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The WTWHA contains at least 663 vertebrate animal species, and invertebrate fauna is the richest in Australia. Land snails alone are represented by 222 species. It is estimated that the Wet Tropics probably has around 40,000 species of insect, including 230 butterfly species and 135 dung beetle species. Plant diversity is equally remarkable with 2,800 species of vascular plants – 700 of which are only found in the region[1].

All this seems very impressive but it leaves the casual visitor somewhat overwhelmed – to the point where any interest in identifying species can be lost in the enormity of the task.

The purpose of this series of posts is to enable even the most casual and inexperienced visitor to identify the five most common and distinctive species from each of 10 or so groups of plants and animals. By breaking the task down in to 5 easy species from each group a weekend visitor with a keen interest in the task might become familiar with 10 or 20 different rainforest species, and after a few such visits might claim knowledge of 50 or more species!

We will start with one of the easiest groups (birds) and then move on to other groups that may require a little more effort and patience. By the end of this series we hope to have compiled an online and downloadable guide to the 50 most common and easily identified species around Paluma village.

[1] https://www.wettropics.gov.au/biodiversity , https://www.wettropics.gov.au/insects

Birds

Birds are one of the most conspicuous rainforest animals and many of them are quite easy to identify, so it is appropriate to start our ‘5 easy species’ series with this group. The five birds listed here were chosen because they are very common around Paluma roads and walking tracks at most times of the year. They are also easy to identify from photos and descriptions. All of these birds are less common down on the coast and thus contribute to the feeling that you have entered a whole new environment when you take the drive up to Paluma.

1. Lewin’s Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)

Lewin’s honeyeater is commonly seen flitting among low branches of trees and shrubs along road edges or in open picnic areas. While its soft green and grey colouring does not make it stand out, the yellow half-moon cheek patch and its staccato call make it easily to identify.

Lewin’s Honeyeater call. (recording by Andrée Griffin)

It is also a very common visitor to bird feeders around the village. A related species, the yellow-spotted honeyeater, can also sometimes be found in the village. It has a more rounded cheek patch and its call is very different (not staccato).

2. White-cheeked Honeyeater (Phylidonyris niger)

This strikingly bold black and white honeyeater is smaller than the Lewin’s and can be found flitting amongst shrubs and trees, feeding on flowers. It has a large white cheek patch and yellow streaks on the wings. It is one of the most common birds to visit bird feeders around the village. Here it displays a surprisingly bold demeanor, chasing much larger birds away from the food on offer.

3. Brush Turkey (Alectura lathani)

This large black bird with a mostly bald red head is commonly seen around picnic areas, roadsides and along rainforest tracks where it uses its feet to scratch the leaf litter in search of insects. During the breeding season (August to December), males develop gorgeous yellow neck wattles to attract females. Eggs are buried in large mounds of leaf litter built and tended by the male. The heat of decomposition of litter in the mound provide the warmth needed to incubate the eggs.

4. Crimson Rosella (Platycerus elegans)

This beautiful crimson and blue parrot is commonly seen around Paluma but almost never in the nearby coastal areas. It is found in trees or shrubs, as well as on the ground when grass seed is available. The head and breast are deep red, while its back is red with blue mottling. The tail, wings and throat are blue. While this species of Rosella is found in forests throughout southern Queensland and the southern states, in north Queensland it is restricted mostly to Paluma and the Tablelands. The only other parrot of this size in the area with predominantly red colouration is the King Parrot, which is red and green, instead of crimson and blue.

Crimson Rosella calls (recording by Andrée Griffin)

1. Chowchilla (Orthonix spaldingii)

You are more likely to hear this bird than to see it. In the early mornings and evenings the forest often resounds with the raucous sounds of family groups of Chowchilla calling back and forth.

Chowchilla chorus around Paluma (recording by Andrée Griffin)

It is a small brown bird with mostly inconspicuous colouration – the female has a lovely orange chestnut throat, while in the female it is white. Both sexes have a distinctive white eye ring. During the daytime they are mostly silent but can still be heard, and with a bit of luck, seen scratching around in the leaf litter beside village walking tracks. It stays almost entirely on the ground although it will fly when disturbed.

There are many other species of birds that occur in Paluma, and lots of them are both common and easy to identify. Visit the Birds section of the website to learn more about what can be seen in the area.

Rainforest Tree of the Month, March 2020 – Cardwellia sublimis

This tree is also known as the Northern Silky Oak or Bull Oak.

Two seasons ago, after the rainy season, many patches of the rainforest floor were covered in what appeared to be leafy green butterflies. Close inspection showed that they were actually the seedlings of the northern Silky Oak (Cardwellia sublimis). The seeds of this species are flat and ovate, and when they germinate the two halves of the seed (cotyledons) split apart to become green pseudo-leaves, with the stem of the seedling in the middle. After a month or so the first true leaves develop and the butterfly shape is lost.

A mature Bull Oak on Lennox Crescent. In the forest the tree is taller and more slender.

Despite the fact that these were a common sight, none of us managed to capture the full splendour of this display on a camera so the picture of a solitary seedling here does not do justice to what we saw. The display has not been repeated in subsequent years. Perhaps next year?

Sublimis derives from Latin, meaning tall and lofty and Cardwellia sublimis is indeed that, growing to a tall and shapely 35 metres. It is the only species in its genus and is endemic only from the Big Table-land near Cooktown to the Paluma Range, growing at altitudes up to 1300 metres. The tree was named by Ferdinand von Mueller in honour of Edward Cardwell, Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1864 to 1866. The type specimen was collected by John Dallachy in Rockingham Bay. Its name in the local Dyirbal language was ‘jungan’.

The compound leaves have 6 to 20 leaflets arranged in pairs on short stalks. They are about 20 cm long. The upper surface of the leaf is glossy dark green and glabrous (hairless), while the underside is covered in minute rusty coloured hairs.

The fragrant white or cream flowers grow in terminal racemes or spikes, crowning the tree spectacularly from October to December. Then, in January, standing proud on long stems above the tree canopy, the large oval seedcases are silhouetted against the sky. When ready, these capsules crash to the ground or (with a startling bang) onto a house roof, opening to release 6 to 12 winged, flat seeds. The empty seed capsules, or follicles, split along one side only. They are brown and woody and lie like miniature cobblestones on a bumpy pavement but they quickly decompose back into the soil. Seeds of Cardwellia sublimis are eaten by Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Bush Rats and Giant White-tailed Rats.

The dark, oak-like timber of this tree is highly regarded and sought after for furniture and cabinet making. It once made up 15% of all timber production in the area.

Text and sketch by Colwyn Campbell;
Photos by Colwyn Campbell and Jamie Oliver

Rainforest Tree of the Month, February, 2020 -Buckinghamia celsissima

Also known as Ivory Curl Flower and Spotted Silky Oak

Buckinghamia celsissima belongs to the plant family Proteaceae and is endemic to the wet tropical rainforests of North Queensland from near Cooktown to the Paluma Range. The species was described by Ferdinand von Mueller in honour of his friend Richard Granville, 3^rd Duke of Buckingham from a collection made by John Dallachy in 1865.

It is a handsome tree, growing to about 30 metres and may be buttressed. Foliage is dense with glossy, dark green simple leaves, 8 to 16 cm long by 3 to 7 cm wide. The leaf underside is whitish. Juvenile leaves can have one or two lobes and foliage may be flushed with red during periods of new growth.

Flowering shows the Buckinghamia celsisima in its full glory as masses of fragrant white to cream drooping spikes cover the tree. (A magnificent specimen is located in the Trees of Memory grove at the foot of the Village Green). The flowers, up to 20 cm long, grow in terminal racemes and are visited from dawn to dusk by bees and birds. The flowering period is usually between January and May.

The green to brown fruit is a woody follicle or capsule, 15 -30 mm by 12 -18 mm, which splits open along one side to release three to six flat, narrowly winged seeds. Crimson Rosellas feast on the seeds.

Capsules are 15-30 mm long x 13-20 mm . Seads are 12-18 mm long

The tree is popular with gardeners as propagation from cuttings is usually successful though slow but the seed is easy to germinate and produces plants which will flower in three years. The tree is also grown as an attractive street tree as it seldom reaches the same height as in its natural environment and is also amenable to pruning.

Footnote: The Village Green specimen, so glorious in mid-February, has suffered a battering from the heavy rain over the weekend of 22/23 Feb, its blooms now rather bedraggled but still beauriful..

Text and images by Colwyn Campbell

Nature Notes – Fellow Travellers

This post focuses on animals that either travel together by choice, or are obvious at the same time of year.

Both our Eastern/ Golden Water Skinks and Red-bellied Black Snakes breed in the northern “Spring” – or as soon as the weather warms up. In 2019, warm weather was early, so both species have now given birth to their young. When I say “given birth”, both the EW/G skink and the RBBS are live-bearers. They do not lay eggs as most other reptiles do. Their young are born in membranous sacs, like that inside the hard outer shell of a boiled hen’s egg, and not as tough as the usual leathery reptile egg covering. Red-bellied black snakes have a pregnancy of four to five months after mating and give birth to between 5 and 18 young measuring around 28cm in total length. This is the same length as an adult Eastern Water skink. These skinks also mate in Spring and give birth to about nine young in Summer. Their young are much smaller than 28cm, and a favourite food of the Red-bellied Black Snake.

So, if you see pregnant Eastern/ Golden Water Skinks (obviously broad across the beam) basking in the sun, or baby skinks, be mentally prepared to see some young Red-bellied Black Snakes. Fortunately, they are a shy snake and will generally only deliver a serious bite under severe molestation, still often delivering a “dry bite”. Your best option is to leave them alone.

The Australian Museum regards the Red-Bellied Black Snake as probably the least dangerous elapid snake in Australia for its size. Despite the number of bites received every year, very few human deaths have resulted. Most death records date from early times when the snake’s identity was often unconfirmed. Many bite victims experience only mild or negligible symptoms, however a number also end up hospitalized. The health risks to children and pets are greater, due to their smaller size. As individual reactions to envenomation can vary, all suspected bites should be treated as serious and medical attention sought as soon as possible.

Another set of fellow travellers, by choice this time, are the White-rumped Swiftlets and White-throated Needletails, small flocks of which have been seen hawking for insects together above the forest canopy. Apparently, they sense changes in barometric pressure and fly in front of approaching storm fronts. The Swiftlet is resident in Australia, while the Needletail breeds in northern Asia and flies south each year, reaching northern Australia early October. The Needletail stay for the Wet, then flies “home” in March.

Another pair of fellow-travelling species are the Figbirds and Olive-backed Oriole (which looks similar to an immature Figbird). Our rusty fig is in full fruit, so we have Figbirds visiting. Only a very small flock so far this year, but they are accompanied by at least one Oriole – more often heard than seen.

One of the funniest, and short-lived pairings, was that of an immature Pied Currawong and a family flock of Crimson Rosellas. The Currawong only arrived in numbers locally in the mid-1980s and a few have remained as permanent residents. However, I have never seen a breeding pair with a chick until this year. They are obviously breeding here as well now. Initially grey and white in colour, the young Currawong is now looking more “adult”. Its parents obviously thought their job was done, because after a couple of weeks of feeding their whinging offspring, they abandoned it to its own devices. In desperation, the young Currawong attached itself to a group of Crimson Rosellas, unusual considering that Currawongs will take nestlings of all sorts of species as food. Bill watched a Crimson Rosella stare down the young Pied Currawong, then bounce over and give it a severe peck! We haven’t seen the Currawong hanging around with the Rosellas since.

Linda Venn

More Wet Season Mushrooms

Colwyn recently posted her observations on the first crops of mushrooms “popping up” around the village. Over the last few weeks even more have been springing up around the forest walking tracks and many of them are delightfully photogenic although they can be frustratingly difficult to identify. Here is a collection from the last month that Andi Cairns and I have seen out on the tracks. The identifications are made with a fair degree of confidence (and a large measure of hubris) but we would welcome any comments on our identification efforts.

Mycena haematopus – Bleeding Fairy Helmet

This gorgeous mushroom gets its somewhat macabre common name from the fact that it will ooze a red/purple juice if squeezed or cut (especially at the base of the stem). If the name puts you off you can always opt for its alternative common name: Burgundydrop Bonnet. It is widespread and common in Europe, North America and also recorded in SE Asia and Australia.

Filoboletus manipularis – no common name

Depending on which reference you use this delightful clumping mushroom, frequently found on logs and trees, can be named Filoboletus, Favolaschia or Mycena. It differs from other clumping fungi on trees in that it has a reticulate pattern of pores under that cap instead of linear gills.

Photos by Jamie Oliver (left) & Will Cairns (center, right )

Wikipedia claims that it is bioluminescent but the specimen shown on the tree trunk did not show this trait (the mushrooms were rotting by the time I (JO) went back to check.

Dacryopinax spathularia – Fan-shaped Jelly Fungus

This is a beautiful and common fungus which can be found as small yellow/orange blades poking out of cracks in dead wood or as larger convoluted fans. It will even grow on polyester rugs, so you might just find it in your house if we ever get a proper wet season here in Paluma!

Wikipedia states that this species is edible and is a component of the Asian vegetarian dish called Buddha’s Delight. But PLEASE DO NOT EAT this unless you independently confirm its identity

Crust Fungi, or Corticoid Fungi

These are not often mentioned in books or online and are a diverse group of fungi with superficially similar form (encrusting) but which can belong to any of 18 different taxonomic orders. On consultation with an expert colleague of one of us (AC), Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, “ This is a skin, patch or Corticoid fungus, which are super-tricky [to identify] and we don’t have many experts in Australasia. Microscopic characters are likely needed [to confirm identification].” To the untrained eye this one could easily be taken for a lichen, so confirming that it is actually a type of mushroom is some progress.

Galerina patagonica – no common name

A beautiful clumping mushroom that grows on rotting logs, it belongs to a group with highly toxic species that unfortunately bear a strong resemblance to some hallucinogenic Psilocybin mushrooms. So if you are looking for an alternate view of reality – beware.

This species has not been formally recorded in north Queensland before, although there are some photos on Flickr that were taken in Cairns that are identified as C. patagonica.

Cyptotrama asprata (Golden Scruffy Collybia)

This distinctive and beautiful orange mushroom can be found along the H-track as well as other local tracks. It grows on dead wood and is found worldwide in the tropics.

Leucocoprinus fragilissimus (Fragile Dapperling)

This dainty (and fragile) mushroom starts off with a rounded convex cup that becomes flat then slightly convex with age. It is quite common on local forest tracks. Even a gentle touch is likely to damage the cap. It is found on all continents.

Laetiporus sp – Shelf fungi

I was impressed by the size and colouration of this shelf fungi on the Andreé Griffin Track. I am not certain of the species but it is a member of the Polyporace which includes a variety of shelf and bracket fungi.

Another smaller species of Laetiporus (L. sulphureus) is yellow to brilliant orange and is likely to be seen around the tracks as the wet season progresses (I have seen it once this year but did not photograph it). Despite its distinctive colour, which would provide good material for a common name, L. sulphureus is called Chicken of the Woods, apparently because, like many unfamiliar foods, it “tastes like chicken”. However there are reports that it can cause tummy ache, so I suggest you stick to real poultry unless you really know your mushrooms.

Photo by Jamie Oliver (taken on the H-Track in 2014)

While we are showing photos of fungi that, while not seen by us this year, have been recorded in the past, this stunning Anemone stinkhorn (Aseroe rubra) was seen by Will and Andi in 2004 along the track to Witts Lookout.

Be on the lookout for these and other marvellous mushrooms as you stroll along our local tracks.

Text by Jamie Oliver and Andi Cairns; photos as per captions

Further Reading

Some references for those who would like to try their own identifications, or just learn more about Australian Mushrooms:

Facebook Mushroom Sites:

Australia & New Zealand Fungus Identification

SEQ FUNGI

Queensland Mycological Society

Fuhrer, B, (2004). A Field Guide to the Fungi of Australia. (now out of print, but might be in some libraries)

Young, T & Smith, K (2004). A Field Guide to the Fungi of Australia. UNSW Press

Facebook identification sites prefer a photo of the under-surface of the mushroom cap and (if possible) a spore print (this may be too much information!). It is also a good idea not to touch fungi with bare hands — it’s better to use a disposable glove or tissue to turn over a mushroom cap, and always wash hands after touching fungi.

World’s biggest insect makes a long awaited appearance in Paluma

This afternoon I was wandering down my driveway, coffee in hand, to feed the fish in my pond when I noticed a small group of birdwatchers at the end of the driveway excitedly pointing up and and raising their binoculars to look at what I thought must be one of Paluma’s many special birds. The ladies who, judging from their T-shirts, were all members of Birdlife Townsville beckoned to me and pointed to the nearby telephone pole where, halfway up, was a magnificent male Hercules Moth. This is one of Paluma’s truly iconic wildlife species and while it has been seen around the village in previous years it is not very common and has been on my wish list to see for the last 30 years. I quickly went back up to the house and came down with my camera and telephoto lens and was able to capture some quite decent shots .

The Hercules Moth (Coscinocera hercules) is the largest moth in Australia (and possibly the world) with a wingspan of around 27cm in females. In terms of wing area (300cm²) it ranks as the world’s largest insect. The largest recorded specimen, from Innisfail, had a wing span of 36cm! The species occurs only in tropical Queensland and New Guinea.

The larvae of this moth are voracious eaters, preferring the leaves of the Bleeding Heart tree (Homalanthus) and the Cheese Tree (Glochidion), both of which are common around Paluma. The larvae get pretty big too (12cm) after gorging themselves for about 3 months. They then retreat into a cocoon where they can stay for up to 2 years before emerging.

The adult moths do not have functional mouth parts and thus cannot feed, spending their short adult lives (2-8 days) searching out mates and laying eggs The males are remarkably adept at finding females. Like other moths, the male has very large feathery antennae that are incredibly sensitive receptors for the very specific chemical (pheromone) released by the female. While I doubt that any experiments have been done on the Hercules moth, male silk moths are able to find a female up to 4.5km away and others species are said to be able to detect a single molecule of pheromone.

All told, it is a pretty impressive animal. My thanks to the ladies from Birdlife Townsville for showing it to me. They made my day!

Text and photos by Jamie Oliver

Wet Season Pop-ups

Fairy rings of pale, slightly frilled fungi have grown in a dark part of my garden overhung with coleus plants. They formed a dense colony and looked quite magical. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a good photograph of them. However, their appearance prompted me to search for more of what I call ‘pop-ups’ – the little fungi that, encouraged by the warm, humid weather, pop up all over the lawns, in pot-plants and beneath shrubbery throughout the village.

I would need the help of a mycologist to identify the different species of fungus but am fairly sure that the lacy-cowled fungus collapsing over the mulch pile near PEEC, is a species of Phallus fungus. It is commonly known as a ‘stink-horn’ as it has an unpleasant smell of decaying flesh.

A small white toadstool on the Village Green had been tipped over, giving a good glimpse of the ‘gills’. On the lawn outside No 24, and again on the opposite side of the road, several clusters of pale ‘mushrooms;’ have popped up. They have the distinctive ‘mushroom brown’ gills and easily peeled skin that identifies an edible mushroom but I am not prepared to take the risk of sampling one.

A cluster of tiny orange coloured fungi is growing under the mint. I wonder if it could be a species of Hypholoma.

Over the next few weeks we should expect to see many more pop-ups erupting. Have fun finding them – many will be more spectacular than these early samples.

Another pop-up we all know and welcome with the early rains, is the dainty, pink flowered Rain Lily, (Zephyranthes species) which blooms in little clumps throughout Paluma.

Text and photos by Colwyn Campbell

Nature Notes from Paluma

Many of you will have enjoyed reading the informative ‘Nature Notes’ contributed by Paluma’s resident naturalist Roy Mackay over a great many years. Roy’s passion was to educate people about the natural world and to foster interest and respect for our native flora and fauna. In the spirit of continuing Roy’s great work and his legacy of reporting on nature’s treasures in and around Paluma Village, we present the following notes, observations and musings contributed by long-time residents and fellow naturalists Linda Venn and Colwyn Campbell.

Linda Venn writes:-

You already know (from previous postings) about our Northern Leaf-Tailed Gecko which made an appearance at Summerhouse (No. 16) over Christmas. Well, in the same time period, we had a common Green Tree Frog trying to get in the pet flap on the back screen door. We can hear several Green Tree Frogs calling when it rains, which is unusual. When we first came to Paluma, conventional wisdom was that the only Green Tree Frogs here had been inadvertently imported in goods brought up the hill, as it was too cold for them. Well, now we have at least three just at our end of the Crescent. Maybe Paluma is warmer now than it was 30 years ago? It’s certainly drier.

Another unusual visitor is the Pallid Cuckoo. There’s been a pair around for the last few weeks. These are not often seen in Paluma, though Andree Griffin recorded one at the dam in 1971 and Roy Mackay saw one in Paluma more recently. Their flight is very falcon-like, but whether or not they are a bird of prey was not confirmed by the smaller birds – who couldn’t care less about their presence and gave no alarm calls. This is interesting, considering that the Pallids parasitise honeyeater nests.

Talking of the cuckoo group, I heard a Koel calling one night, but not since (Phew! Noisy buggers!). Must have been just passing through, as were the family group of Black Cockatoos. Also got a good look at a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo this morning; usually heard but not seen. They’re quite small and delicately barred on the chest.

Another interesting one is the Red-necked Rail/ Crake that was calling outside our bedroom window one morning, in the regrowth forest at the rear of Fatima Cottage. This lovely little “chook” was first seen in Paluma by my brother, in the backyard of Ivy Cottage in 1982. Seems to stay close to creeks and is more likely to be heard than seen. Its call is a maniacal laugh, quite disconcerting at close range before dawn!

Yesterday, we had a solitary Metallic Starling in our rusty fig (now fruiting, so we’ve had a Figbird or two as well). To see just one starling is unusual, as they usually travel in flocks. Well, this morning a small flock arrived and spent time in the fig and the regrowth between Summerhouse and Mt Spec Cottage. Their fluttering flight is distinctive.

We also have a shy resident Tooth-billed Bowerbird who enjoys both the figs and the fruit of the walking-stick palm. He was giving his repertoire of mimicked bird calls the other evening, quite disconcerting until you realise that all those different birds are highly unlikely to be in the one tree at the same time!

Another bird that usually travels in a group is the Silvereye. We’d only seen a pair, then this morning a small flock arrived in the regrowth on the footpath.

Colwyn Campbell penned the following response:-

A few years ago, (I’d have to trawl through old diaries for the date), Linda Venn called me over to look at a bird feasting on the fruit of a rhodomyrtus in the front garden. It had been there all the previous day and it was the scolding of smaller birds that drew attention to it. It was unfazed by our presence and just kept eating, seeming determined to strip the tree. We were puzzled because it had the distinctive markings of a cuckoo. Roy Mackay came up and identified it as a young Pallid Cuckoo. We were puzzled as its presence was unusual here; also Linda wondered what local bird would have a nest big enough to have hosted the cuckoo.

The Red Necked Rail/Crake makes its way in the evenings along the creek area behind my house. Only twice in all the years I have been here have I seen one venture onto the back lawn. Last year I saw one at the edge of the shrubbery across from Manali. Coincidentally, that afternoon, two birdwatchers had the Rail/Crake on their ‘to see’ list and it emerged from the scrub long enough for them to take some good photos. Seven years ago near Roy Mackay’s house I found one dead on the road verge. It had evidently been hit by a car, but was almost unmarked and still warm. Roy stuffed it and it now is in the museum.

The Koel – yes, I was surprised to hear it too.