Spring has Sprung in Mirboo North’s Native Forests.
A leisurely stroll through Mirboo North’s native bushland this season will reveal a kaleidoscope of colour, whether it be an extended tour through Lyrebird Walk, a walk along the many bush tracks behind the pumping station, or a shorter walk on sandy tracks through the lowland forest off Riccardo Road. The plant species’ diversity is broad and changeable as one moves from one Ecological Vegetation class to another. Also diverse, both in plant and animal species, is the Mirboo North Regional Park, including the Boolarra South, Dickies Hill, and Hallston annexes.
Whilst the bright red, pinks and whites of heaths, the whites of Hakeas, limes of Greenhood Orchids, lemon of Silver Banksia and creams of Blackwoods are fading, these will soon be outshone by an array of wildflowers including the brilliant gold, orange and reds of various Bush-peas, pale lilac and white of Dog Roses, lemons and yellows of shrubby wattles.
The sky-blues of Flax Lillies, Lobelias and Bluebells, pinks of Sundews, creamy whites of Clematis, Creamy Candles, Everlastings and Daisy Bushes, the limes of Hazels and bright greens of newly released fern fronds and shoots are beginning to show themselves now. Bird Orchids are coming into flower and Maroon Hood Orchids still have the odd remnant flower.
The Bushy Clubmoss, a primitive, fern-like plant with characteristics of its tree-like ancestors from more than 250 million years ago, will be sending up new fronds.
A multitude of fungi exist amongst the ground litter and on fallen branches and rotting stumps, less evident now than in Autumn after rains. A small selection includes the wacky Bird’s Nest fungi, creamy-topped bracket fungi, brilliant-hued slime moulds, Coral fungi, translucent Jelly fungi, the bright orange Orange-peel fungus, bright purple Cortinarius and bright blue caps of the Pixie Parasol fungi.
As Spring progresses into Summer, butterflies begin to appear, many of them dependent on one or just a few species of native plant for survival. The Mat-rushes (Lomandra spp.) can support many of the Skipper butterflies, including the Heath Ochre, Silver-studded Ochre and Splendid Ochre butterflies. Common native Tussock grass, Weeping Grass and other native bushland grasses are favoured by the Mountain Skipper and Two-spotted Grass Skipper butterflies.
Red-fruited Saw-sedge supports the Spotted Sedge, Flame Sedge and Mountain Sedge Skippers, whilst the Striped Xenica butterfly is dependent on Forest Wire Grass. Much maligned native Stinging Nettle supports the Yellow Admiral, Hazel Pomaderris the Yellow-spot Jewell, Blackwoods and Silver Wattles the Moonlight Jewel, Elderberry Panax the Dark-pencilled Blue and flowering pea shrubs, the Fringed Blue butterflies. These relationships are just one aspect of a very intricate local ecosystem.
Birds are becoming increasingly active, and Mirboo North’s bushland has been found to contain a wealth of bird species, including iconic species such as Superb Lyrebirds, Powerful Owls and Wedge-tailed Eagles. In fact, a professional bird survey recently revealed more than forty species in just 2 hours of surveying.
Spring is a busy time for nesting and raising of young and is also a time of great sensitivity to disturbance from events such as fuel-reduction burns, vehicular, human and pest animal disturbances, and firewood gathering.
Forest-floor litter, fallen and standing dead trees, rotting stumps and dead stags with cavities are especially important sources of habitat and food for many native birds and other animals. A select handful includes Lyrebirds, owls, parrots, Black and Gang cockatoos, Kookaburras, Tree Martins, Pacific Black Ducks, Bassian Thrush, Bower Birds, Greater gliders and other possums, Lace Monitors, lizards and skinks, bandicoots, echidnas, antechinuses, bush-rats, bats and a massive number of invertebrates.
Forest floor litter and understorey plants, often described purely as “fuels” also play a crucial role in enriching soils with nutrients and organic matter, in providing nesting sites for small birds, in buffering soil Ph, in providing a carbon sink, in acting as a moisture sponge and in warding off accelerated soil erosion and cleansing water supplies.
Given the frenetic pace of modern human life, environmental pressures, climatic changes, fire threats and the attachment to and innate need that humans have for natural, unspoilt places, it has become even more urgent to permanently protect Mirboo North’s precious native forests.
Ian Cornthwaite-Biodiversity Research Team-Preserve our Forests Mirboo North & District
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