Matthew Jones

The Shoalhaven Region of New South Wales

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:47:00 +0000

The Shoalhaven region on the New South Wales south coast of Australia is rich in biological and landscape diversity. It is a stunning place of rugged beauty that boasts internationally acclaimed natural treasures including the Jervis Bay Marine Park and no less than nine national parks as well as catchment areas and state forests. Key habitats in these forest, heath and woodland preserves provide resources to rare and threatened species and ecological communities such as ground orchids, forest owls, koalas, rock wallabies and gliding possums.

Over millenia, wild and scenic rivers have incised deep gorges, heavily disecting the ancient plateaus that were once uplifted by continental scale tectonic forces. This is a region of mountain ranges and vast wilderness areas with spectacular landscape features such as "Shrouded Gods Mountain" and "The Castle".

On the coast, precipitous cliffs tower above the wild blue frontier of the Tasman Sea which teams with life. Sea dragons patrol vast kelp beds and banded shrimp pick detritus from lichen covered rocks in underwater sponge gardens while pelagic predators pursue walls of bait.

Twice a year Humpback Whales migrate along the coast. These behemoths and their even bigger relatives, the Southern Right Whales are competant performers and entertain gasping onlookers with a range of behaviours that include: fin slapping, eye spotting, tail slamming and breaching.

The Shoalhaven River traverses over 200km from headwaters high in the ranges to a tidal mouth at Nowra (Aboriginal for Black Cockatoo). The locality is significant to the Koori people who live in the area and maintain a deep connection with the plants, animals and spirits of the land. The White-bellied Sea-eagle is an important totem and guardian for the local Koori people of Wreck Bay and can often be seen patrolling the long windswept coastline.

The region is a mecca for nature lovers and wildlife photographers, a rich tapestry of biological diversity and astounding natural beauty that I hope, in some small way to capture and present through the images and stories in this blog.

Regards,

Mattthew Jones

White-bellied Sea-eagle

Spring in the Shoalhaven

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:59:00 +0000

One of the great things about living in a temperate climate is the arrival of spring!

In the Shoalhaven Region of New South Wales, Golden Donkey Orchids (Diuris aurea) rise like sentinels from the dank litter of the forest floor. Here they shine like tiny suns in the dappled light and advertise their presence to would-be pollinators.

The Diuris genus comprises around 60 species Australia wide and the flower broadly mimics the 'eggs and bacon' pea flowers of the Fabaceae family. The flowering eruption coincides with the peas which are similarly sized, shaped and coloured so that the orchids benefit directly from the bee and wasp pollinators primarily attracted to the pea flowers.

Diuris flowers are widely distributed and so are quite generalised in their mimicry, unlike some of the ant and wasp mimics that so closely resemble their target pollinators that fertilisation occurs during mating attempts! But that is a story for another day.

One sure indication that spring has arrived is the appearance of Black Swan cygnets. We are fortunate to have abundant wetlands, rivers and lakes in the region and this attracts breeding aggregations of sometimes many hundreds of swans. Formed pairs defend personal territories against encroachment from other swans. Defence duties falls on the 'cob' as the 'pen' tends her cygnets. At this time cobs and pens parade about the wetlands in parental pride with ruffled plumes and frequently bugle at one another in reassurance. Rival cobs are seen off in dramatic displays that can involve vocalisations, wing slaps and pursuits. If things get too tense, the pen opens her ruffles and the cygnets climb on board her back as she makes off to calmer settings!

In September each year, male Red-bellied Black-snakes (Pseudechis porphyriachis) awake from their winter slumber and fight for rights to the best breeding territory and feeding grounds. These combat rituals are a test of both strength and endurance and involve hissing and body slamming and sometimes biting and venom ejaculation lasting many minutes. Contests are often repeated daily or as necessary to determine the victor and to the victor go the spoils!