Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc.

21/01/2025

Our January excursion was to Lillydale Lake. It was a hot weather forecast but the 22 members attending did a lovely walk along the shore of the main lake, and then took a left hand turn to head into the wetland area which is a natural filter drain for storm water running into the lake.

Birds were relatively scarce, aside from the usual "parkland" birds and ducks, which are always plentiful around the lake, but we managed 30 birds for the day with only a single Darter being seen! Lillydale Lake is normally a good spot for Darters, when you might see 8 or more on a walk.

It was starting to heat up as we had lunch under the large gum trees beside the lake, so we were happy to call it a day.

Thanks to Eleanor and Warwick for leading the walk.

26/12/2024

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Healthy 2025.
Swainsona formosa Sturt's Desert Pea

21/12/2024

Snake bite in Australias.
This is a long read, but may save a loved one, friend or even yourself.

3000 bites are reported annually.
300-500 hospitalisations
2-3 deaths annually.
Average time to death is 12 hours. The urban myth that you are bitten in the yard and die before you can walk from your chook pen back to the house is a load of rubbish.
While not new, the management of snake bite (like a flood/fire evacuation plan or CPR) should be refreshed each season.
Let’s start with a
Basic overview.
There are five genus of snakes that will harm us (seriously)
Browns, Blacks, Adders, Tigers and Taipans.
All snake venom is made up of huge proteins (like egg white). When bitten, a snake injects some venom into the meat of your limb (NOT into your blood).
This venom can not be absorbed into the blood stream from the bite site.
It travels in a fluid transport system in your body called the lymphatic system (not the blood stream).
Now this fluid (lymph) is moved differently to blood.
Your heart pumps blood around, so even when you are lying dead still, your blood still circulates around the body. Lymph fluid is different. It moves around with physical muscle movement like bending your arm, bending knees, wriggling fingers and toes, walking/exercise etc.
Now here is the thing. Lymph fluid becomes blood after these lymph vessels converge to form one of two large vessels (lymphatic trunks)which are connected to veins at the base of the neck.
Back to the snake bite site.
When bitten, the venom has been injected into this lymph fluid (which makes up the bulk of the water in your tissues).
The only way that the venom can get into your blood stream is to be moved from the bite site in the lymphatic vessels. The only way to do this is to physically move the limbs that were bitten.
Stay still!!! Venom can’t move if the victim doesn’t move.
Stay still!!
Remember people are not bitten into their blood stream.
In the 1980s a technique called Pressure immobilisation bandaging was developed to further re**rd venom movement. It completely stops venom /lymph transport toward the blood stream.
A firm roll bandage is applied directly over the bite site (don’t wash the area).
Technique:
Three steps: keep them still
Step 1
Apply a bandage over the bite site, to an area about 10cm above and below the bite.
Step 2:
Then using another elastic roller bandage, apply a firm wrap from Fingers/toes all the way to the armpit/groin.
The bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it causes fingers or toes to turn purple or white. About the tension of a sprain bandage.
Step 3:
Splint the limb so the patient can’t walk or bend the limb.
Do nots:
Do not cut, incise or suck the venom.
Do not EVER use a tourniquet
Don’t remove the shirt or pants - just bandage over the top of clothing.
Remember movement (like wriggling out of a shirt or pants) causes venom movement.
DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!!! This is important.
In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type of snake; it doesn’t change treatment.
5 years ago we would do a test on the bite, blood or urine to identify the snake so the correct anti venom can be used.
BUT NOW...
we don’t do this. Our new Antivenom neutralises the venoms of all the 5 listed snake genus, so it doesn’t matter what snake bit the patient.
Read that again- one injection for all snakes!
Polyvalent is our one shot wonder, stocked in all hospitals, so most hospitals no longer stock specific Antivenins.
Australian snakes tend to have 3 main effects in differing degrees.
Bleeding - internally and bruising.
Muscles paralysed causing difficulty talking, moving & breathing.
Pain
In some snakes severe muscle pain in the limb, and days later the bite site can break down forming a nasty wound.
Allergy to snakes is rarer than winning lotto twice.
Final tips: not all bitten people are envenomated and only those starting to show symptoms above are given antivenom.
Did I mention to stay still.

Snake bandages are available in most chemists and have a line marked on them to show the required tension. I hope you never need this information, but better safe than sorry.

13/11/2024

Come along tonight to hear Richard Austin speaking on
“Native Orchids on Melbourne’s Fringe”. Richard is a very knowledgable orchid fanatic which many of you will have heard of.

Our meetings are held at 7.30 p.m. on second Wednesday of each month in Room 4 at Maroondah Federation Estate, Greenwood Ave, Ringwood (Melways 49 H10)
All visitors welcome.
Hope to see you there.

23/10/2024

For our October excursion we headed down the Peninsula to Crib Point. There are some lovely bushland reserves down that way which can be good for birdwatching and native terrestrial orchids.

We were extremely lucky with the weather - it was sunny and mild with only a slight breeze - which was much better than the previous weekend which was heavy cloud and rain!

We visited a few sites and while birds weren't common, we still saw 24 species. The orchids however, were absolutely spectacular in the perfect conditions, with many species of sun orchids (Thelymitra) in full flower, much to our members' delight. We also saw a couple of Leek orchids (Prasophyllum) and some Brown Beaks (Lyperanthus suaveolens). We spent most of the day carefully walking, observing and photographing the treasures we found. It was a most enjoyable day.

09/10/2024

Tonight's meeting at the Ringwood Field Naturalists Club has Gemma Snowball speaking on "Platypus- Unique egg-laying mammals and urban environment". Gemma works at Ecology Australia and is very knowledgeable in the field of The Platypus. Meeting is in room 4, Maroondah Federation Estate, Greenwood Ave, Ringwood. Meeting starts at 7-30pm. Visitors welcome.
Photos by Ecology Australia.

07/10/2024

2nd excursion for the month of September was to Boomers Reserve in Panton Hills. We had a very large gathering to look around the Reserve. The tracks were good and wide although some were a bit washed away in spots. Members were able to hear birds straight away, with the best sightings of varied sitellas, black faced cuckoo shrikes and a scarlet robin. The local wildflowers were out with many of the pea flowers, heath and a hakea in flower. Our trip was to see what we could see in the way of orchids. 10 orchids were found during the morning. Parks Victoria have fenced off some large areas to help with regeneration and also protection of some of the more special orchids. Lunch was held in St Andrews in the park. Members then went their own way, spending time at Queenstown cemetery, One tree Hill and back to Tindalls Reserve in Warrandyte. A lovely morning out with the weather being very kind to us.
Photos Alison Rogers

30/09/2024

In September the Club holds 2 excursions. This is because Spring is such a great time in the bush with flowers, orchids and birds. Excursion 1
Euroa Arboretum: Leaders Liz T and Shirley S
Travelling through the early morning fog we arrived to a beautiful sunny day in Euroa. The Euroa Arboretum is only three kilometres south of the town and is made up of 27 hectares of native plants and vegetation. Following our leaders down the many ‘well maintained’ tracks we were able to see many species of flowering and non-flowering plants. The wattles in particular were spectacular with many local and interstate varieties to admire. A huge dam and board walks through the wetlands had us listening to the frogs and admiring the many coloured dragonflies. The birdlife was varied with bush birds and water birds seen throughout the park. A sighting of a mistletoe bird and Diamond Firetail finches made the day complete.

19/08/2024

We spent an enjoyable morning walking through the Yarran Dheran Nature Reserve in Mitcham, with leaders David and Eeva H. This very attractive area was a stone quarry for a time, then a tip, but over the last several decades has become a beautiful and well-cared for park.

Various plants were in flower or about to be. We saw and heard over 20 different bird species, though not many were prepared to pose for the cameras.

Thanks to Eeva and David for leading the excursion.

14/07/2024

Our July excursion was to Sugarloaf Reservoir in Christmas Hills. Many of us had never visited this area before, although it is not a great distance from home.

At one point found ourselves in a "hot spot" with a female Scarlet Robin, a male Golden Whistler and a Grey Shrike-thrush all seen in the same area. We had a total of 33 birds seen or heard during the morning, a good total for midwinter.

Here are a few photographs from the morning walk. There was a second short walk after lunch, but I wasn't able to stay for that and others may have some input from that walk.

Thanks to Graeme and Helen F for leading us on the day.

16/06/2024

We had a good turnout for our June excursion to Sherbrooke Forest, led by Alan V. It was a cold but sunny morning when we met at Grant's Picnic Ground and set off in search of Lyrebirds and to enjoy a walk in the beautiful forest.

We heard many Lyrebirds running through their repertoires, and eventually were fortunate to have a great view of a male working his way along the edge of the walking track, scratching up the soil in search of things to eat.

We returned to the picnic area with a great sense of achievement, saw a few more birds there, and enjoyed lunch together before we dispersed.

Thanks very much Alan, and we were sorry that Hazel couldn't be with us also.

08/06/2024

Some of our members volunteer at the FJC Rogers reserve in Heathmont. The image below was put together by Judith Cooke, a long time volunteer at the Reserve. Fungi season.
Thanks Judith.

09/05/2024

Our May excursion, led by Jack A, was to Yea, about 1.5 hours from Melbourne's eastern suburbs, and he managed to choose a perfect autumn day for it.

We started off just after 10.30, and quite soon found what turned out to be the bird of the day - a Barking Owl perched high up in a tree with plenty of leaves and twigs to make seeing it, let alone photographing it, a bit of a challenge!

There weren't many birds prepared to pose for the photographers, but we caught brief looks at a number of smaller birds, and heard the calls of others without seeing the birds. The performance of the day was put on by a female Australasian Darter, who wanted to perch on the topmost part of a big fallen tree, and rather than fly to it, did a long zigzag climb up to it along the main trunk and then up one of the branches. She was very entertaining to watch.

After lunch on the grass beside the car park, we all drove the short distance to the Cheviot Tunnel. In times past this was built for a railway line which no longer exists, but is now a walking trail. We walked through the tunnel and then returned back over the top of it to the car park. Some were lucky enough to see a Flame Robin, but this photographer missed it completely!

An excellent day out with friends in perfect weather. Thanks Jack.

22/04/2024

Part 2
In the afternoon we travelled to the Toorongo Falls Scenic Reserve. A very popular area with many sightseeing adventurers, mainly in family groups. We again headed on a beautiful walk through wet forest types. The bush was mainly made up of tall 'over story' mainly consisting of Mountain Grey Gum, Mountain Ash, Blackwood Wattles and Austral Mulberry. The rough track was well worth the trek when we reached the Toorongo Falls viewing platform. The falls were flowing with a lot of water as we had just had an amazing amount of rain the previous week.
Some returned by the same track, but others continued the loop, visiting the Amphitheatre Falls and then coming back along the Toorongo River. Many ferns were again seen and ticked off the list by our expert fern lover Graham, who had been here many times with his parents who were experts on ferns.
A lovely day was had by all. Thanks to Inta and Roger R for organising this for us.
Photos Alison Rogers

22/04/2024

Part 1
Our April excursion was to Glen Nayook and surrounds, lead by Inta and Roger R.
We met at Glen Nayook Reserve on a chilly morning after an early start.
Gathering together we headed up the track on the Glen Nayook Rainforest walk. Following the track we were led through beautiful fern gullies with the tall Mountain Ash towering overhead. Nearly straight away we were lucky to see a Lyrebird scratching away in the undergrowth. Large moss covered granite boulders were admired near the Little Targo River. 20 or so ferns were seen along the walk. Many birds were heard but not often seen. The yellow tailed black cockatoos were calling constantly and enjoyed by the group.

We then moved to the picnic area across the bridge in Noojee, enjoying lunch by the Latrobe River.

Photos Alison Rogers

11/04/2024

At last nights meeting we had Daniel Flaim, Biodiversity Officer
Maroondah Council come along to do a presentation on "Biodiversity and Conservation in Maroondah".
A very interesting and thought provoking talk.
Daniel provided a presentation on the management of local bushland Reserves. This included problems facing the Reserves including illegal rubbish dumping. In an effort to improve the health and increase plant species number, the Bush Management team undertake weeding, occasional fuel reduction burns and hand pollinate some plant species. The team is also involved in growing their own indigenous plants which are then planted in the various Reserves. Another practice undertaken is their seed bank where they collect seed from their own nursery plants. This seed is used to either grow more plants in the nursery or as direct seeding into the ground in a particular Reserve. Overall a great effort is being done and is slowly improving the health and species numbers in the local bushland Reserves.
There are many Bush Reserves in Maroondah. One that our Club has close contact with is the FJC Rogers Reserve in Heathmont. One of the 'Friends of' is Judith C. She has provided the Collage of photographs of this Reserve taken in Autumn this year. Not a time when much is out in flower, but lots of interesting things to look at.

Thanks Judith and thanks to Daniel for his interesting Presentation.

10/04/2024

Here's a link to a great story about a group of friends regenerating some land in central Victoria. It comes from the ABC in Ballarat.

A group of friends, dismayed about climate change, bought the most degraded piece of farmland they could find. Not to live on, or to make money from, but to transform into the bushland it once was.

06/03/2024

Our Autumn weekend away took place on 1-3 March, led by David and Jenny W. We were based in Traralgon, and had a full programme.

We started by meeting at the Traralgon Railway Reservoir Conservation Reserve, and enjoyed a gentle stroll around the lake and through bushland, followed by an evening meal together in the caravan park where many of the members were staying.

Saturday was a big day, spent in Tarra Bulga National Park. Our morning walk included the highlight of being able to watch not one but two Lyrebirds scratching for food, quite undisturbed by our presence. The walk was quite a strenuous one for most of us, but we were able to enjoy the trees and tree ferns as we went.

After a well-earned lunch we travelled to Cyathea Falls. Quite a number of members made it all the way to see the Falls, but others decided to take a more leisurely stroll in the area adjacent to the Visitor Centre carpark.

On Sunday, we were to have gone to Morwell National Park for the morning, but unfortunately it was closed because of storm damage. So instead we went to the Traralgon South Flora and Fauna Reserve. While there weren't many flowers at this time of year, we did see some birds and enjoyed the quite different trees and bushland compared with the forest visited on Saturday.

We finished our weekend at the Edward Hunter Heritage Bush Reserve in Moe, where we had lunch followed by a walk around the lake.

We all appreciated the well planned programme put together for us by Jenny and David, all the more so as they are relatively recent members of the Club. Thanks very much to both of them.