Over four hundred native trees and shrubs were planted by Vicki and Graham Anderson in September 2023 at their Tallandoon property. Species included Rosemary Grevillea, River Tea Tree, Prickly Tea Tree, River Shea Oaks, Blackwood, Mountain Swamp Gum, River Red Gums, Eucalyptus Viminal, Natural Hemp and Spiny Headed Rush. The Andersons also fenced off 1.05 hectares of the wetland to prevent pest and animals and domestic stock from grazing the area, completing 670 metres of wildlife friendly fencing.
This project to restore and protect their wetland was funded through the Murray Darling Basin Healthy Rivers Program. This wetland will make a difference for insects, frogs, bird life, and protecting the natural plant species that already exist at the site. “We are carefully watching the plantings grow and cannot wait for the future views of this area”, stated Vicki and Graham.
Thankyou to Mitta Valley Landcare Inc. for auspicing this project and Simon Felliafe for his advice and support.
This project is supported by Mitta Valley Landcare, through funding from the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program. Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers – an Australian Government initiative.
This project is supported by Mitta Valley Landcare, through funding from the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program. Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers – an Australian Government initiative.
On Sunday 23rd April 2023, Mitta Valley Landcare (MVL) together with the Fernvale Recreation Reserve & Soldiers Memorial Committee hosted a free community event at Fernvale Hall. The Frog Habitat & Wetlands event was very popular, with over 50 local landholders and community members coming to hear Dr. Anna Turner, PhD Research Associate Charles Sturt University. Anna presented the recent 2022 Mitta Valley frog survey results as well as previous study years that have been specifically looking for the declining Sothern Bell Frog.
Southern Bell frogs (Litoria raniformis) were once very common across south-eastern Australia. Their decline is mostly due to habitat loss from intensive farming, barriers to water movement, predation from invasive pest (foxes), and fungi disease. The Southern Bell frog is listed as endangered in NSW (Threatened species conservation Act 1995) and threatened in Victoria (Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988). The last (3) years of surveying did not detect any evidence of the Southern Bell Frog. If you believe you may have heard this now rare amphibian, you are encouraged to record their call via the FrogID app for a virtual identification by frog call experts from the Australian Museum. The FrogID app is a citizen science project that enables registered users with a smartphone to submit audio recording of frogs. Alternatively, Anna is very open to engaging with anyone who needs help identifying any frogs you may find, she can be contacted on 0499 266 290 or via email aturner@csu.edu.au.
Frogs and wetlands walk with Alex Knight.
Following on from Anna’s presentation, Dr. Alexandra Knight, Lecturer in Environmental Management Charles Sturt University, lead a wetland walk on the Mitta River flats below the hall where Libbe Paton has established a small wetland restoration area, and was very fortunate to record a Bibron’s Toadlet (Pseudophryne bibronii) earlier in April. Anna and Alex’s knowledge was well received throughout the day with many questions on frog species and how to create wetlands on farm.
MVL would like to thank their members and the Fernvale Hall Committee for catering the event, and to Ben Teek and Simon Feillafe for cooking the spit roast lunch of venison and Banimboola Beef. A special thank you to Paula Sheenan of Holbrook Landcare who keep all kids busy, and to local stall holders Mitta Brewery, Mitta Hub shop, Harker’s Creek Hazelnuts, and Hillview Garlic & Produce, who added an Eat Local Sunday vibe to the day.
author: Robyn Scales
This project is supported by Mitta Valley Landcare, through funding from the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program. Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers – an Australian Government initiative.
On Friday 30th September, Mitta Valley Landcare coordinated a planting day at Springpol, on the Dartmouth Road, Dartmouth. This project involved revegetating a gully running into the Mitta River. Eight hundred native species were planted by a team of Mitta Valley Landcare volunteers and property managers Chloe Giltrap and Tim
To establish this site, a mix of plants were chosen to thrive in a soil contrast of very dry to very wet, soggy ground, with an emphasis to support the exiting banks and create habitat. The plant list consisted of Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle), Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood), Callistemon sieberi (River Bottlebrush), Eucalyptus camphora (Mountain Swamp Gum), Eucalyptus globubas (Blue Gum), Eucalyptus radiata (Narrow-leaf Peppermint), Kunzea ericoides (Burgan), Leptospermums brevipes (Slender Tea Tree), Leptospermum continentale (Prickly Tea Tree), Lomandra longifolia (Spiny Headed Mat Ruch), and Poa labillardierei (Common Tussock). The plan for revegetation was completed by Audrey Beard.
A total area of 1.46ha was revegetated. The area was already fenced off with wildlife friendly fencing. (-36.518625, 147.451135) The area is characterised by woody grass lands and has existing river red gum, blue gum, and stringy bark trees along the near bye Mitta River. The area has also been habitat for barking owl and platypus.
Catering was provided by Dartmouth Hotel.
Report by Libbe Paton
This project is supported by Mitta Valley Landcare, through funding from the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program. Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers – an Australian Government initiative.
On Friday 12th August, Mitta Valley Landcare) held another successful planting day at Chloe Giltrap Mittavale property on the Mitta River. Sixteen landcaers and family turned out to plant 600 native species around a wetland, off the Mitta River. The existing EVC Vegetation Class includes River Red Gums, sedges and tussocks. The wetland is a habitat for the Growling Grass Frog.
The current wetland eco system will benefit from an extensive mixed plant list consisting of Acaia melanoxylon (Blackwood), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum), Eucalyptus melliodora, (Yellow Box), Bursaria spinosa (Sweet Bursaria), Callistemon sieberi (River Bottlebrush), Callistemon pallidus (Lemon Bottlebrush), Grevillea rosmarinifolia (Rosemary Grevillea), Kunzea ericoides (Burgan), Leptospermum brevipes (Slender Tee Tree), Melicytus dentatus (Tree Violet), Carex sp. (Commeon Sedge), Lomandra longifolia (Spiny Headed Mat Rush), and Poa labillardieri (Common Tussock). Project Officer Audrey Beard f coordinated and ordered the species schedule.
Catering for the day was provided by Eskdale Café, a locally owned and operated business.
The ability to offer fencing and revegetation projects in the local community is due to funding from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Murray Darling Healthy Rivers Program. The program aims to support community-led, on the ground projects, and improve the health and ecological condition of rivers and wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin whilst supporting economic development and jobs.
This project is supported by Mitta Valley Landcare, through funding from the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program. Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers – an Australian Government initiative.
You can see the cross-shaped pupil and emerald sparkles on the close-up of a Peron’s tree frog.
With all this water you may have noticed the nighttime chorus of frog calls. Spring flooding and increased nighttime temperature means you will hear new species start calling that were quiet over winter. Around the Mitta Valley, during the winter months, common frogs such as the eastern sign-bearing froglet (Crinia parinsignifera) or the common eastern froglet (Crinia signifera) can be heard calling from around farm dams, creeks and wetlands. The spotted marsh frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) is also a common one to hear. The eastern banjo frog (Limnodynastes dumerilii), also known as Pobblebonk, makes a wonderful chorus of ‘bonking’ noises in late winter through to spring and summer. If you have frogs inside fence posts, down-pipes or climbing on your windows, they are most likely a Peron’s tree frog (Litoria peronii), check their back for emerald colour sparkles and their cross shaped pupil (rather than a slit). Other tree frogs include the whistling tree frog (Litoria verreauxii) and the brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii).
There are a number of other species which you may come across and the best way to find out what they are is to use the Australia Museum ‘FrogID’ app or check out the website http://www.frogid.net.au. This app is free to download and create an account. You can filter to species to ‘frogs near me’ and see pictures of them and listen to recordings of their calls. You can also submit a recording to the FrogID team and you will receive an email of what species are calling. This week is actually FrogID week and everyone is encouraged to get out in their local areas and record the frogs that are contributing to the nighttime chorus.
Stony Creek frog (Litoria lesueuri) found in the creek behind the Mitta pub.
The Mitta Valley Landcare in collaboration with Charles Sturt University are conducting frog surveys in the Mitta Valley over the coming weeks. These are a continuation of frog surveys which were conducted in 2019 and 2020 in search of the southern bell frog (Litoria raniformis), a large and iconic frog species which is listed as endangered and hasn’t been seen in the Mitta Valley since 2009. Whilst the species hasn’t been detected in recent surveys, it is great to learn more about what species are present in the Mitta Valley to help guide conservation efforts in the region. Make sure to keep an ear out as the bell frogs have a distinct guttural call, much like a motorbike revving its engine.
We will keep you updated on the results of our surveys and if you have some interesting frogs on your property, are interested in learning more about the upcoming surveys, or just want to get in touch. Contact Anna Turner at aturner@csu.edu.au.
Brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii) found during 2020 surveys in the Mitta Valley.
author: Dr Anna Turner
This project is supported by Mitta Valley Landcare, through funding from the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program. Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers – an Australian Government initiative.
Improving the health and ecological conditions of the Mitta river.
On Friday 12th August, Mitta Valley Landcare) held another successful planting day at Chloe Giltrap Mittavale property on the Mitta River. The rain held off and a great team of 16 people planted 500 native species into a wetland area semi established on property. The current wetland eco system will benefit from an extensive mixed plant list consisting of Acaia melanoxylon (Blackwood), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum), Eucalyptus melliodora, (Yellow Box), Bursaria spinosa (Sweet Bursaria), Callistemon sieberi (River Bottlebrush), Callistemon pallidus (Lemon Bottlebrush), Grevillea rosmarinifolia (Rosemary Grevillea), Kunzea ericoides (Burgan), Leptospermum brevipes (Slender Tee Tree), Melicytus dentatus (Tree Violet), Carex sp. (Commeon Sedge), Lomandra longifolia (Spiny Headed Mat Rush), and Poa labillardieri (Common Tussock). Thank you to Project Officer Audrey Beard for coordinating and ordering the species schedule.
Catering for the day was provided by Eskdale Café, a locally owned and operated business, which has been revamped by Toni and Lee Hodgkin. So, if you haven’t already stopped in for a coffee or a bite to eat, then make sure you do for friendly, country service with a classic menu selection that offers home delivery every Friday and Saturday night!
The ability to offer fencing and revegetation projects in the local community is thanks to MVL winning the ‘Healthy Rivers and Wetland Projects’ program, offered by The Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment. The program aims to support community-led, on the ground projects, and improve the health and ecological condition of rivers and wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin whilst supporting economic development and jobs. The current project will cover 10 properties with 12 sites over 32 hectares in total and involves planting 3510 local native species.
To the amazing volunteers who keep turning up at the planting days, thank you! giving up your time to help at these events is very much appreciated by the MVL Committee, the Project Officers, and the property owners. If you’ve been thinking of coming along then please do get in touch with either a MVL Committee member or one of the Project Officers. All are welcome and the events are normally a 2–3-hour social outing that helps the environment, you meet new people, and you get free lunch! WIN WIN!
by Libby Paton, project worker
This project is supported by Mitta Valley Landcare, through funding from the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program. Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers – an Australian Government initiative.
