Panboola BIOBLITZ
Atlas of Life BioBlitz
Pambula
16-17 May 2014
Panboola and the Atlas of Life worked together to run this second Bioblitz in our region on May 16th and 17th.
We ran 40 great surveys which gave us records to help build the biggest list of biodiversity for Panboola. Everyone had fun learning with experts, scientists and naturalists. Family and friends joined a good company to work together. From frog finding to fungi and shell midden photo surveys to oyster farmers' surprise bags of species, birds to bats and flowers to bugs - all life is here!
Have a look at the survey timetable :Libmod 21st 7amPanboola BB Survey timetable note Bird surveys modified and Fungi added
So far we have recorded over 600 species, with a few difficult to identify moths and scats still coming in. Although we had to postpone our event for a month, when it happened, it was glorious weather and everyone had a great time. Many many thanks to all the Basecamp helpers, Survey Leaders and Survey assistants and to Patrick who co-ordinated the event and Ross who gave us such great images of the occasion. Thanks to Uncle Ossie for a great Welcome to Country and to Doug and his team who organised the school surveys so well again. Once again the bioblitz proved to be fun and meaningful for all involved.
What is a ‘Bioblitz’?
A bioblitz comprises a group of scientists, naturalists, “citizen scientists” and other members of the public working together to discover, identify and record as many kinds of plants, animals, algae and fungi within our chosen area. The mixture of wildlife experts and the wider community is central to the bioblitz concept and creates an event which is enjoyable and meaningful to scientists, students and community, which achieves a deeper knowledge of the species of this place and encourages you to further observe, learn and record our biodiversity.
Why Survey Panboola Wetlands?
Panboola is an 82 hectare community-owned and managed wetland near Pambula, on the far south coast of New South Wales maintained for its significant coastal wetland and threatened ecological communities as an education and recreational space for the benefit of the community.
The site comprises billabongs, a tidal channel, mud flats and mangroves. It contains SEPP 14 wetland and threatened ecological communities including coastal saltmarsh and freshwater wetlands. Approximately 30 Hectares are utilized as grazing land for dairy cattle providing a perfect demonstration interface between agriculture and conservation. It also adjoins Ben Boyd National Park, and is in close proximity to Pambula Beach and Pambula Lake, a highly regarded oyster growing estuary.
Panboola is particularly interesting for us at this time as our long term “Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness” project, which aims to record as much as we can of the rich biodiversity we have in our region, is now creating species lists for a number of special locations. The bioblitz gave us a lot of information for this locality in a short space of time. It also helped us refine the different survey methods for different types of creatures and helped us train interested community members so that they can add more sightings at other places and times. Over the last 2 years 162 registered contributors have provided over 8,000 moderated records of 1,427 species.
Success of the Panboola Bioblitz
Our Bioblitz covered the area of Panboola wetlands, saltmarsh and grassland, foreshore, river estuary, lake, dunes and bushland, so we had a rich range of ecosystems to explore. The success of our bioblitz depended on how many different species we found, so we needed scientists and naturalists who specialise in all different groups of species, to lead searches for different creatures and plants. Thanks to all who worked with us and shared your passion with others in an event which had a serious intent, but was designed to be relaxed and fun to be part of.
With our experts, we identified species and logged sightings into our databases, which in turn will contribute to the national “Atlas of Living Australia”. This also gave our schools and community the opportunity to participate in genuine scientific surveys. We targeted schools for the Friday and families and friends on Saturday.
Who was there?
Key partners who joined us for the project are Atlas of Living Australia, Landcare, Australian Museum, CSIRO Discovery, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Bournda Environmental Education Centre, Bega Valley Shire Council. We also attracted many others from interested organisations and universities, as well as our friends in local naturalist groups. Sapphire Coast Marine Society, Discovery Centre and Far South Coast Conservation Network.
event co-ordinators: Patrick Tegart & Libby Hepburn
Previous biodiversity surveys at Panboola:
Panboola biodiversity surveys 2011
Panboola is a conservation, restoration, educational and passive recreational and tourism project, embracing the history and diversity of the wetlands within the floodplain.
See our website: panboola.com
and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Panboola?fref=ts
Here are some recently launched local WOODLAND BIRD VIDEOS WITH SOUNDS to help us identify what we see or hear.
These have been shared by Mandi Stevenson of Panboola and NSW Landcare.
Enjoy....
Shrub dwellers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSjXTONuYs4
Ground dwellers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPr0pTx4KSI
Hollow nesters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNIOGwODaR0
Canopy dwellers
Published on 10 Jan 2013
This video was produced for the Communities in Landscapes Project funded by the Australian Government Caring for Our Country program 2009.
Composition by Simon Ferguson (Dunedoo Coolah Landcare Coordinator), supported by Toni McLeish (GBW CMN), and Jacqui Stohl (CSIRO) with many thanks for bird audios from Vicky Powy and Simon Ferguson, for bird images to Grant Brosie, Nick Livanos, Robin Eckerman, David Kleinert, Danielle Littlewood, Paul Randall and Simon Ferguson -- Damon Oliver and Rainer Rehwinkel, Office of Environment and Heritage Queanbeyan and Alex Drew CSIRO for their valuable editorial assistance.
Further Information at: http://cil.landcarensw.org.auwww.gbwcmn.net.au www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/box-gum.html
Or Contact: The Coordinator, Grassy Box Woodland Conservation Management Network, PO Box 733, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620 Ph 02 6229 7119 Fax 02 6229 7001 Mobile 0419 400 309
We are working with the Panboola Wetlands and Heritage management committee because they have already begun an in-depth study of the biodiversity of their place. In this project, we will have the opportunity to repeat biodiversity studies in a well-defined geographical area. In this way, we will be able to observe changes over time.
Panboola is located at Bullara Street, Pambula NSW, on the far south coast of NSW, Australia, between Eden and Merimbula. Following a recent gift of 5 hectares of land, Panboola now covers 82 hectares of floodplain at the bottom of the main street of the town.
Panboola contains:
- freshwater billabongs
- saline areas around the former racecourse
- saltmarsh and mangroves
- plantings of thousands of trees, shrubs and ground covers
- walking and cycle tracks
- tables and seats
This site now contains the data from 57 quarterly bird suveys undertaken here by the Far South Coast Birdwatchers. These surveys take place in the middle of each season.
As well as the bird surveys, this year a Biodiversity survey was undertaken. See the links above to read the detail of the surveys. The way this survey was organised will be the model for other biodiversity surveys in our region. To take part in surveys such as these, you will be expected to undergo training to ensure your skills will make the quality of surveys consistent.