Wondering what’s the latest news on Southern Pygmy Perch? As we’ve covered previously, Gunning District Landcare is working to conserve the endangered Southern Pygmy Perch and its habitat in our region. Southern Pygmy Perch is now only found in a very few locations in NSW, and we are very fortunate to be one of them. This means we have an opportunity (and responsibility!) to ensure that this local endangered fish does not go extinct.

Southern Pygmy Perch was originally native to large areas in the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Murray river catchments, but its distribution has been severely affected by the introduction of exotic fish, the spread of disease, and habitat modification and loss. Southern Pygmy Perch is also likely to be vulnerable to the effects of a warming climate. 

In 2017, we commissioned fish experts Mark Lintermans and Luke Pearce to prepare a Local Action Plan to help guide local conservation efforts for Southern Pygmy Perch. Consistent with their recommendations, in March-April 2018 we organised for Mark Lintermans to survey fish in several local waterways. He was not only looking for Southern Pygmy Perch, but also for other fish (especially Redfin Perch) that are predators of Southern Pygmy Perch. This information is important when considering which sections of our creeks and rivers may be suitable for re-introduction attempts in the future. We will provide an update on the results of Mark’s monitoring work in the coming months.

We plan to continue monitoring local populations of Southern Pygmy Perch in the future and hope to involve community members to help with annual fish surveys — please get in touch if you are interested to be involved.

Also in March-April 2018, we engaged riparian expert Lori Gould to undertake habitat mapping along local waterways, and to assess nominated farm dams for their suitability as refuge sites for Southern Pygmy Perch. Many landholders in the Gunning region jumped at the chance to help conserve the endangered fish by nominating their damns as potential refuge sites. Lori has been kept busy speaking to landholders and visiting numerous properties. It is going to be very difficult to decide which dams will be selected to receive support in this round, but we are actively looking for more funding to expand this work into the future. So if you missed out this time, you will still be on the register and we will be able to consider you down the track.

If you are interested in improving the habitat qualities of your farm dams and riparian areas, you might be interested in the information below taken from our local action plan for Southern Pygmy Perch. There is also more detailed information available in this excellent brochure from the NSW Government.

What makes a suitable refuge dam for Southern Pygmy Perch?

Essential criteria:

• Permanent water, even during extreme droughts
• Abundance of aquatic plants – especially those that are emerged, submerged and floating
• No predatory or alien fish species present
• Good water quality

Desirable criteria

• No or limited stock access / dam fenced to exclude stock
• Abundant fringing vegetation, reeds, grass, shrubs and trees
• Dam not used as water supply
• Dam has a catchment in good condition. That is, good ground cover is maintained year round
• Additional habitat in the form of logs, rocks etc.

 

What makes a potential stream stocking location for Southern Pygmy Perch?

Essential criteria:

• Permanent water, even during extreme droughts
• Abundance of aquatic plants – especially those that are emerged, submerged and floating
• No predatory or alien fish species present
• Barriers to prevent alien fish invading
• Good water quality.

Desirable criteria

• No or limited stock access / stream fenced to exclude stock
• Abundant fringing vegetation, reeds, grass, shrubs and trees
• Low or no erosion
• Stream has a catchment in good condition. That is, good ground cover is maintained year round
• Low sediment loads
• Cooperative landholders and neighbours
• Few or no weeds, particularly blackberry and willows.

Wow! What talent there is in the Gunning District! Eagles, goannas, echidnas, dolls and even snakes. All created with some straw, some wool and whatever was found lying around. Ronnie Jordan from Thunderstone Aboriginal Cultural Services showed our Junior Landcare members how people used to make toys from the very basic materials available at the time. And our participants rolled up their sleeves and got right into it!

After some refuelling at morning tea, they then served up some traditional aboriginal dancing. Again our kids demonstrated incredible talent and enthusiasm to get involved, have a go and serve up a couple of very entertaining performances.

“It was great to see the kids enjoying themselves and getting into it. These School Holiday events are turning out to be very popular.” Said Gunning District Landcare Committee Member Janet Heffernan. “And today, what a boomer!”

Keep an eye out for what’s coming up in April, or even better, become a Junior Gunning District Landcare member and receive priority notification.

Gunning District Landcare hosted the Gunning Garden Weeds Workshop this weekend.

This interactive and fun workshop looked at various techniques to manage backyard weeds. Alison Elvin from Natural Capital identified and array of wild and mysterious plants participants bought in. Each participant had the opportunity to explain and discuss their individual weed situation, which often was common to several people attending.

Alison explained the role of weeds in the landscape as the healers.  They prepare bare ground for other, often what we consider more desirable, plants to move in.  Plants can also be seen as messengers. Telling us what nutrients and minerals are deficient in our soil. Explaining a story of ground than is repeatedly bared out or compacted. By observing and seeking to understand there is much information laid out in plain sight, for those who look. And many hidden benefits to weeds we can take advantage of.

Once we understand the system, we are much better place to work with it to achieve the positive outcomes we are looking for.

A very enjoyable morning!

Gunning District Landcare hosted a very informative day at Dalton Anglican Church Hall recently. Speakers from Local Land Services included biosecurity Officers Scott Schlunke and Gina Guinane who explained feral pig biology and behaviour, as well as early warning signs indicating if pigs are active in your area. Local Land Services District Veterinarian Alex Stephens discussed important health concerns we all need to be aware of and simple precautions we can take like wearing eye protection, face mask and gloves when handling feral animal carcases.

Mick Calleja from the Rural Police squad explained where a landholder stands in regard to illegal hunting, the use of CCTV cameras and trespassing. Mick also gave some tips to help protect your property from thief. Peter West from the Invasive Animals CRC (DPI), and the developer of FERALSCAN, explained how FERALSCAN can be used to track and monitor feral animal populations and options to restrict this information to a private group. Monitoring cameras were also discussed in detail, including what models suit what purpose, placement, and others tips and tricks for successful use.

Participants learnt what methods of control are available and saw some practical demonstrations explaining how to bait and trap effectively.

A jam packed morning that delivered some excellent and practical information. If we work together as a community, we can keep pigs in low and manageable numbers.

With increased sedimentation, vegetation clearing and exotic fish populating our waterways – it’s a wonder we have any native fish left. But we do! Here - in the paradise of Gunning District – we have a population of Southern Pygmy Perch. This population is one of only 3 known remaining populations in NSW.

Southern Pygmy Perch once inhabited waterways far and wide throughout NSW, including the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Murray river systems. They were once so plentiful people would catch them in large numbers and use them as bait fish. Now they are listed as an endangered species.

It is a classic tale of big fish eating medium fish, and then medium fish eating small fish, small fish eating tiny fish and so on. Southern Pygmy Perch may be small but their ongoing survival is important for the survival of many other fish species. Not to mention any loss in biodiversity across our landscape leaves us all the poorer.

Southern Pygmy Perch live amongst the aquatic vegetation growing in creeks, dams, billabongs and wetlands. They are carnivorous, eating a range of aquatic crustaceans and insects. They grow to between about 6 to 8cm long.

The main threats to Southern Pygmy Perch survival is loss of habitat. Seen as loss of riparian and aquatic vegetation, as well as wetland drainage and regulation. Predation is also a major threat and the main culprit in the Gunning area is the introduced red fin. These aggressive fish compete with Southern Pygmy Perch for habitat but are also known to eat Southern Pygmy Perch.

The long, scruffy grass growing along your creeks and around the edges of your dam may look far from manicured, but to Southern Pygmy Perch this is home sweet home! They need vegetation to shelter in, hunt, regulate water temperature and breed. Gunning district is so fortunate to still have a Southern Pygmy Perch population. However, if we don’t turn around the habitat loss, it may not be for long. Wouldn’t it be great if rather than holding on to our small population, it could grow!

Gunning and Yass District Landcare and friends will present: THE TRUTH ABOUT TREES - Harness the Power of Nature to Increase Your Production, Profit and Pleasure.

Whether you are contemplating a complete farm makeover, renovating a dam or just bunging in a small shelter belt, this free, fully catered expo is not to be missed.

Luke Pearce from DPI fisheries recently visited the Blakney Creek area to sample various sites where Southern Pygmy Perch (SPP) had been previously released. Below is a summary of his findings.

As promised,  on the Landcare walk at the Golf Club.... the Chocolate Lilies were on full display and smelling like" freddo frogs" to the delight of the kids and one of Gunning District Landcare members' Vince Heffernan.

Three Dalton Dignitaries Declare New District Drawcard Officially Open

The Dalton district has seen some big events.  This includes three grand civic ceremonies in 1896, 1988 and November 2016.  And some 21 million years ago there was a huge cataclysmic volcanic event which we can still see the evidence of today.  The two earlier ceremonies and geological upheaval were all reflected in a very recent community event hosted by the Dalton Community Association and Gunning District Landcare.