General Observations - Fauna
Mammals
The Regionally significant Platypus occurs in Dandenong Creek Valley. It has previously been recorded in the Corhanwarrabul Wetlands (M. Grant, City of Monash, pers. comm.) and is also known from Monbulk Creek (Serena and Williams 1996).
An established population of the Sugar Glider resides in Damper Creek Reserve (D. Carra, pers. comm.; M. Palma, pers. comm.). The Sugar Glider is considered to be a Regionally significant species for the Greater Melbourne Area. Provision of nest boxes, and possibly planting of the Late Black Wattle, has allowed this species to persist within a developed landscape. A Sugar Glider has also been recorded in Valley Reserve. The size of the population in Valley Reserve is not known, but the abundance of naturally occurring hollows would potentially provide a reasonable population with nesting and denning resources. There are also populations of the Sugar Glider along Dandenong Creek, including at Shepherds Bush and Jells Park (Morton et al. 1999).
The Common Ringtail Possum and Common Brushtail Possum were also detected in Damper Creek and Valley Reserves (via presence of faecal pellets and dreys) during the field assessment. Common Ringtail Possum dreys were also detected in dense stands of Swamp Paperbark at Fairway Reserve (Scotchmans Creek) and in Shepherds Bush (Dandenong Creek). The Common Brushtail Possum is also known from the Dandenong Creek Valley (Morton et al. 1999). Large populations of these species can potentially result in dieback of native vegetation because of heavy browsing pressure on foliage.
The Grey-headed Flying-fox has been recorded along Scotchmans Creek, in the Oakleigh Golf Course (Quin et al. 1999). It is also known from Damper Creek Reserve (D. Carra pers. comm.) and is likely to use Valley Reserve when eucalypts are in flower.
The Regionally significant Water-rat has been recorded along Damper Creek (M. Palma pers. comm.) and Valley Reserve (G. Singleton, CSIRO, pers. comm.). Faecal pellets of this species were also recorded along the creek in Valley Reserve during the field inspection: near the reserve entrance at Regent Street, and under the first footbridge, c. 100-200 m north of the entrance. Residents living near Valley Reserve also report the Water-rat to be common amongst instream rock beaching in Scotchmans Creek, in the privately owned land immediately south of Waverley Road. The Water-rat also occurs along Scotchmans Creek between Warrigal and Huntingdale Roads (Quin et al. 1999).
Exotic mammals recorded at the reserves include the Brown Rat, Black Rat and Red Fox at all reserves), and the Rabbit and Brown Hare along Dandenong Creek.
Birds
Forty-seven bird species were detected during the field assessment undertaken as part of the present study (Table 1). A further 13 species were recorded along Scotchmans Creek as part of an earlier study on the Water-rat (Quin et al. 1999). Of the 60 bird species recorded during the two studies, eight are introduced. Of the 51 native species, one is of National significance (Powerful Owl), one is of State significance (Blue-billed Duck), three are of Regional significance (Latham's Snipe, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo and Crested Pigeon) and 46 are of Local significance.
A Blue-billed Duck was detected at the footbridge leading into Jells Park. There are 19 records of this species from Jells Park in the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife.
Three Regionally significant bird species were recorded during 1999 and 2000: the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo at Shepherds Bush (this study), and Latham's Snipe and Crested Pigeon at Scotchmans Creek during 1999 (Quin et al. 1999).
The Bell Miner was abundant in Valley Reserve during the field inspection, and also occurs along sections of Scotchmans and Dandenong Creeks (Table 1). High numbers of this aggressive, territorial species may help to explain the lack of other native bird species observed in this area. The Bell Miner is a successful dominant species of urban bush remnants, excluding other less aggressive native birds.
Frogs and Reptiles
Species of Garden Sunskink are also common in all reserves. The Cool-temperate Water-skink, Copperhead and Red-bellied Black Snake occur at Damper Creek and Valley Reserves and probably at Dandenong Creek. The Eastern Water Dragon has been sighted at Damper Creek Reserve (Mark Palma, City of Monash, pers. comm.), but was probably an escaped pet from nearby residences.
Fish
Nine fish species, including three introduced species, have previously been recorded in the larger study area (Atlas of Victorian Wildlife; Appendix 4). Introduced Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis holbrooki) were detected in the creek running through Valley Reserve, and have previously been recorded in Scotchmans Creek, between Warrigal and Huntingdale Roads (Quin et al. 1999). It also occurs in Dandenong Creek and its associated wetlands (C. Gittins pers. comm.). The Nationally significant Dwarf Galaxias has previously been recorded in the Jells Park wetlands (Atlas of Victorian Wildlife).
The Yarra Pygmy Perch is now regarded as extinct in Dandenong Creek (Wager and Jackson 1993), although fish with characteristics resembling this species have been sighted, but not positively identified, in Dandenong Creek since the release of Wager's and Jackson's National Action Plan (B. Taylor, Friends of Dandenong Creek, pers. comm.). The Yarra Pygmy Perch has been released into Damper Creek and Valley Reserves, but the status of the species in both Reserves is unknown.
Updated: 23 September 2003
[ Up: Flora and Fauna | Forward: Bird Species ]