The Reserve is home to native wildlife. Some of our wildlife residents such as the Eastern Pigmy Possum and Red Crowned Toadlet are listed as vulnerable. Vulnerable means we had better look after them or we will loose them so it is important their environment is preserved and we (including our cats and dogs) with our development and clearing do not wreck their home.
You may not see our vulnerable residents but some others you may see.
You may catch a glimpse of the lovely Swamp Wallabies in the morning or late evening. But more likely you will hear them thump, thump off through the bush as you approach. If you do see them, be quite and still and enjoy just watching.
Bandicoots and possums prefer the dark and so are seldom seen during the day.
Other locals you may see are Eastern Water Dragons and Goannas (Lace Monitors). The Water dragons may be seen near the creeks. In the warmer months you can see them basking next to the water. If disturbed they will leap into the creek and can stay submerged for up to 20 minutes. The males may have a red throat and belly.
Goannas often get disturbed as you walk along the tracks and will very quickly scale the nearest tree using their large claws and strong limbs and watch you pass.
The creeks are home to Yabbies (freshwater crayfish). You need keen eye sight and observation to spot them in the water. If you spot one, just observe and don’t think of having it for dinner.
There are snakes in the reserve but they will do their best to avoid contact with people. In the cooler months they may be sluggish and slower to move. However, if you do encounter any just leave them alone and give them a wide berth.
Those Vulnerable Residents:
Eastern Pigmy Possum
is the smallest species of possum in Australia, and are generally a solitary species, with each possum using a number of nests. They prefer woodland and heath vegetation communities and like to build their nests in tree hollows that are 100 years old or more. Uninterrupted connectivity to large expanses of natural bushland enables them to move between one area and another safely. During the warmer months when food is plentiful, the Eastern Pigmy Possum will accumulate body fat and the base of their tail becomes enlarged. During the cooler months, or when food is scarce they will hibernate and rely on the fat stored in their tail to survive. They are listed as vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and the major threats that are relevant to Dundundra Falls Reserve are: habitat loss and fragmentation of habitat through land-clearing for urban development, change in fire regimes which affect the flowering proteaceous and myrtaceous shrubs, particularly banksias and predation by foxes, dogs and cats. The Eastern Pygmy Possum is active during the night, preferring to rest in their nest during the day. This photo was taken at night in the Reserve. |
The Red Crowned Toadlet is a small frog (less than 30mm) with colourful markings.
It is only found within the Sydney sandstone region and populations are in decline in the area. It is listed as a vulnerable species.
Its call is a soft, squelch-like 'eeeek eek' repeated several times in succession at infrequent intervals.
It is exciting that it has been seen in the Reserve and important that its habitat is preserved.
The reserve provides habitat and food for many species of birds.
Some are temporary visitors to the Reserve as they follow flowering and food sources while others are local residents. The Red Browed Finch (Firetail) is a small finch (up 12 cm) mostly green and grey with distinctive bright red brow, beak and rump It lives in close knit flocks and couples permanently. It is usually seen in a small flock as they flit between patches of undergrowth and you then catch sight of the red flash on the tail. It feeds on seedling grasses and small fruit and visits water frequently to drink. Also known as Red-browed Firetails. |
Heaps of thanks to Cathy Mac and Stuart Soltau for the bird photos taken in the reserve.