Flotsam – CDCCG Newsletter – Issue 5 - Page 1

FFLLOOTTSSOOMM Issue 6 - February 2013

157 Warran Rd, Yaroomba Qld 4573 Ph: 07 5473 9322

coolumcoastcare.org.au info@coolumcoastcare.org.au

WWeellccoommee!! We hope that everyone enjoyed a happy and safe summer break. But we are well and truly back to work.

Our weekly weeding and revegetation groups are back on the dunes, working hard to keep weeds at bay, and help the native vegetation fight through. This can be very hot work in summer, and breezes don’t always find their way into the dunal bush.

Despite a lower than usual number of turtle nests this season, our turtle monitoring team has been kept very busy. The wild weather of late January has left our coastline very battered and bruised. Turtle nests that initially were laid high and dry in the dunes suddenly became vulnerable to the immense erosion that our beaches have experienced – our turtle team have had to relocate almost every nest to keep them safe.

Our coastal dunes are looking very much the worse for wear, and established vegetation, trees, and fencing have fallen into the sea. Nature will work her magic and repair some of the damage. But we will need to help her out over the coming months, planting new trees to replace what has been lost, and staying off the dunes to prevent further erosion. So it is very timely that we will be working on a program this year that focuses directly on the protection of the structure of our coastal dunes. Our ‘Growing Dunes’ project will involve a range of activities, including community education, publications, possibly some scientific research, and, of course, lots of hard work and sweat from our dedicated volunteers. Keep an eye out for activities throughout the year, and join in if you can! Our dunes are as important to us as they are to the local plants and animals – so we need to look after them and keep them growing ...

MMuuddjjiimmbbaa BBuusshhccaarree GGrroouupp ...... by Helen Leckie

Our group met for our final session of the year on Monday 3rd December. We planted out banksias, native grasses and creepers along the middle and frontal dunes behind Power Park . We have now completed substantial plantings along the length of the dunes between the beach entries 124 and 125 over the last 5 months.

We had a very successful community planting session in August when we were joined by around 40 people from the community, including young members of the Mudjimba Board Riders Association. Following on from this, we have seen much reduced dune damage from random access and sliding. The frontal dune which had been most damaged by slides has now a good covering of vegetation. The protective netting is still in place and the new beach fence has not been

Flotsam – CDCCG Newsletter – Issue 5 - Page 2

vandalized again. We can see this as a win for the community as the fence and signage has been respected and this has allowed the vegetation we planted to establish.

Council will provide contractors to water over the holiday period and hopefully we will get some rain to further settle in our plantings. (Since this article was written, we have had more than enough rain!!)

In 2013 we will have a banner to proclaim our presence when weeding. After discussion we finally decided on a simple banner reading : MUDJIMBA BUSH AND DUNE CARE VOLUNTEERS. Beneath this on one side a small Coolum Coast Care logo and SCRC logo on other side. We decided we didn’t really need to go to the expense of our own logo … the wording defines us.

I have asked Ash to see if he can get the broken, rusted wire on the fencing at the boardwalk lookout. All the wiring between Power Park and the dunes has been replaced and repaired over the last several months thanks to Ash Goodman’s organisation. This has given a cared for appearance and has certainly reduced random access. Our other area, along the perimeter of the Conservation Reserve in Cottonwood St is also looking cared for and new plantings are growing well.

We are now a core group of 8, having just welcomed Chris Andersen, with a couple of occasional members. Thanks to all for your efforts in 2012 and to Ash for all his support, I think we can truly say we have made a big difference.

Cyalume glowsticks ... by Susan Richards

Glowsticks like these often wash up on our local beaches. These examples are from commercial long line fishing operations, but there are other glowsticks used in recreational fishing. Each glowstick is attached to a long line hook to lure fish. The liquid in the cylinder contains hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals. The contents of the tube are mixed together to create a chemical reaction to give off light. This attracts fish to the hook. In Queensland, long line fishing, using up to 300 hooks, in water deeper than 200m, is permitted in certain areas to catch Tuna and Billfish/Swordfish.

Each glow stick is used only once and then discarded (often into the ocean).

We have started a project to identify what types of glow sticks are washing ashore, which beaches they are found on and in what quantities. The data we collect will be sent to Tangaroa Blue, a non profit organization specializing in marine debris identification. Tangaroa Blue will then enter the data in the National Marine Debris database. Tangaroa Blue has also recently commenced consultation with the commercial fishing industry regarding the use of glow sticks in Australian waters, and any data we collect may assist with this process.

If you would like to help with this project, please collect any glow sticks you find on the beach and make a note of which beach you found them on and the month. The easiest way to do this is to keep a box or bag, marked with the beach name and month, in your garage and add any glowsticks you find during your daily walk to the container. At the end of each month, please give the marked container to Susan or Leigh or leave it at the Coolum Community Native Nursery. We will then be able to sort, count and photograph the glowsticks on a monthly basis.

Hopefully, the data that we collect in partnership with Tangaroa Blue will help to change the fishing practices that are producing this toxic debris.

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Can you guess what

this is? by Adrienne Savage

In 2012, some members of the CDCCG turtle group attended a workshop with the Earthwatch Institute at Moreton Bay Research Station on North Stradbroke Island.

After initial briefings with Dr Kathy Townsend, we observed and participated in necropsies (autopsies) on marine turtles to determine the cause of death. The scientists were very informative as they explained the anatomy of the turtles.

Particularly interesting was the oesophagus which is the part of the digestive tract between the mouth and the stomach. Most turtles’ oesophagus is lined with downward-curving spines called oesophageal papillae. The purpose of the papillae is to prevent regurgitation of food from the stomach, as a result of the changes of pressure during diving or when the turtle is expelling excess water from the stomach. Unfortunately, this also means that foreign material such as plastic cannot be regurgitated either, resulting in blockages in the intestinal tract. Over time, these blockages can lead to poor body condition, buoyancy problems from accumulation of gas, or cause local necrosis and ulceration. Then the sick turtle ends up stranded on our beaches.

Once the necropsies were completed, the remains of the turtles were stored in freezers, so that the local indigenous people of North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) can do a ceremonial burial at a later date. The turtle is the totem animal of the Quandamooka people. It was pleasing to see the traditional customs of the Quandamooka people being recognised and respected.

To end the day, we collected litter off a beach and collated and counted for research data.

I couldn’t say that the whole day was enjoyable, but it certainly was interesting and informative, and we all gleaned a great deal of knowledge. Thank you to Dr Kathy Townsend and her team for their great work.

Movie makers ... by Diane Goodwillie

Birte Spencer, Suzanna Fisher and I recently attended the NICA free workshop on Film Production. Our heads were spinning afterwards despite the teacher’s best efforts to keep it simple. He explaining the difficult concepts of interviewing, lighting, filming, recording and editing short films. We have been inspired and are now working on our script for a Coolum Coast Care entry into the Ecoflicks competition. A few years ago Linese Norrish entered a film about her Watercourse Warriors, so we're not the first from Coolum Coast Care to work on environmental films.

If the film works out well, we'll put it on the CDCCG website!

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Mammal detectives ... By Edwin Hammet

In late October 2012, I was fortunate to attend a ‘Mammals of the Sunshine Coast’ workshop, presented by Martin Fingland of Geckoes Wildlife Presentations (www.geckoeswildlife.com.au), thanks to Sunshine Coast Council’s Community Conservation Program. The workshop was designed to give some clues to mammal identification. Using some ‘live’ props, Martin took the group through some of the processes to determine what animal maybe in the bush.

At the conclusion of the talk, Martin introduced us to a number of his mammals, pointing out their unique characteristics. Included were: little red flying fox, heath mouse, northern brown bandicoot, mountain bobuck, ringtail possum, squirrel glider, long nosed potoroo, rufous bettong, dunnart, phascogale and, the highlight for me, a spotted quoll. A thoroughly engaging morning.

Here are some pointers from Martin’s handout:

Tracks These can be difficult to interpret unless they are fresh or in soil where a defined impression has been left. Using a ‘sand box’ can assist in this process.

Sounds and smells

Many mammals vocalise, particularly at night. Who hasn’t heard the sound of koala or possum ‘growls’? The internet can help here as there are sites where sounds can be identified. Mammals also frequently have a distinctive odour, often used to ‘mark’ their territory. These two ‘clues’ come mainly through familiarity.

Fur Generally not a useful identifier unless a very complicated scientific analysis procedure is used.

Skulls and bones

Skulls are great for identification purposes, paying careful attention to the type and arrangement of teeth. Prominent canine teeth would suggest a predator, whereas sharp ‘needle like’ teeth would indicate an insectivore. Blunt incisors and molars would usually belong to a herbivore.

Nests and other constructions

These are many and varied. Some are ‘nests’, some are ‘scrapes’ or ‘depressions’. Others use hollows or create a burrow. Bandicoots make small conical holes in search of food. Some mammals also distinctively ‘mark’ trees.

Scats Is it faecal matter or is it a regurgitated pellet? Have a look at the contents. Pellets will generally be less digested. Mammal scats have no white uric acid material. They can quite different in shape and consistency. The contents can give an indication as to whether it is a carnivore or herbivore.

Warning: Scats may carry parasites harmful to humans, so wear gloves or use tweezers. Don’t touch with bare hands and practice good hygiene.

If you want to know more, these are some references that Martin provided: Queensland Museum - The Enquiry Section Ph 07 3840 763 www.qm.qld.gov.au can assist with identification Tracks, Scats & other Traces – A Field Guide to Australian Mammals, Barbara Triggs. Wildlife of Greater Brisbane – A Field Guide for local species, published by the Qld Museum

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Flotsam and jetsom

The Coolum Community Native Nursery hosted the passengers of a bus trip, including the Queensland Minister for the

Environment, the Sunshine Coast Mayor, several Councillors, and Sunshine Coast Council employees. The visitors enjoyed a barbeque lunch at the nursery, and presentations by Leigh and Jake about the work of the nursery and

Coolum District Coast Care Group.

Congratulations to Corinne Renault who won second prize in a national photo competition to record the effects of the king tides in January 2013. Corinne took this photo at the north shore of the Maroochy River – you can see the tide has

brought the water in over the beach and well up into the grassy area. The aim of the photo competition was to illustrate the impacts that we can expect from sea level rises as a result of climate change – check out more

information about the Witness King Tides project here.

2nd

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We had a fantastic Christmas Party at the Coolum Croquet Club in

December 2012. We all had a hit around the croquet lawns without any injuries! This was followed by a barbeque dinner, and the

launch of our beautiful 2013 calendar.

Thank you to the Coolum Croquet Club for their hospitality, and to the hardworking team who put our calendar together.

A brave group of senior students from the Luther Heights Youth Camp braved the torrential rain to weed and plant at Marcoola in January. Spirits were high despite the fact that

everyone ended up drenched to the skin!

Weekly Weeding Groups

Stumers Dunes Bill - (07) 5446 4916

Peter - (07) 5446 5819

Lions Park Watercourse Linese - (07) 5446 5116 linese5@bigpond.com

Tony Gibson

0419 791 860 tony.gibson@spirit3h.com.au

Yinneburra and Yerranya Dunes Silva - (07) 5446 5549 Leigh - (07) 5446 1600

Yaroomba Bushland Park Sherida - 0403 370 157

Mudjimba Bushcare Helen – (07) 5448 9604

Marcoola North Dune Care Alan Hayes - 0419 526 347

157 Warran Rd, Yaroomba Qld 4573

Ph 07 5473 9322 info@coolumnatives.com

Tues-Fri 7:30am – 3:30pm Sat 8:30am – 12:30pm

Jake Hazzard & Ben Pearce

This newsletter has been produced with the support of all Coolum District Coast Care Group members and

|Sunshine Coast Council.