4. GWYDER RIVER SANCTUARY
White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland is listed as a critically endangered ecological community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The ecological community is characterised by a species-rich understorey of native tussock grasses, herbs, and scattered shrubs (where shrub cover comprises less than 30% cover), and a dominance of White Box (Eucalyptus albens) and/or Yellow Box (E. melliodora) and/or Blakely’s Red Gum (E. blakelyi) trees.
This woodland is no longer on the hillsides, it is level country running down to the head of the Gwydir River, and encompasses both sides of the river.
The river is flanked by River Oaks (Casuarina sp.) and runs through rocky outcrops on its way inland to the Murray-Darling system eventually reaching the sea in South Australia.
ABOVE: Blakely’s Red Gum (critically endangered)
REGENT HONEYEATERS VULNERABLE TO EXTINCTION
The number of birds in NSW has declined by 50% since the 1950s, which is a tragic reflection of society’s lack of care for the environment.
It’s estimated that there are only between 250 and 350 Regent Honeyeaters left in the wild.
To help save this species, the NSW Government and Save Our Woodlands are working to maintain a viable population and enhance the habitat for this iconic bird.
Regent honeyeaters (Anthochaera phrygia) mainly inhabit temperate woodlands and open forests of the inland slopes of south-east Australia.
Their habitat was drastically reduced by historical clearing for roads and agriculture, and the remaining habitat is highly fragmented and surrounded by agricultural lands.
Once widely distributed, their rapid decline over the last 30 years has led to their current critically low abundance and rendered them vulnerable to extinction in the wild.
The Western Sawshelled Turtle Myuchelys bellii, known as Bells Turtle, is listed as an endangered species as it is facing a very high risk of extinction in New South Wales in the near future.
There is substantial evidence for continuing declines in habitat quality for Bell’s Turtle.
Much of its habitat consists of rivers running through lands used for livestock grazing.
As the species is confined to high-elevation permanent cold flowing streams, increasing temperatures and altered rainfall patterns associated with climate change will likely have negative impacts.
By fencing off the riparian zone we are preserving this habitat for Bell’s Turtle giving it a place to live and reproduce.
Save Our Woodlands is dedicated to ensuring all these species and more have suitable habitats for their continued survival.
Please donate – every donation – no matter what size helps!
Eastern grey kangaroo with half-grown young.
Black thorn in flower.
A small number of Angophora were in flower, some years the trees are covered in dense white blossoms but this year the flowers are sparse.
Beekeepers leave when the Angophora is flowering because the nectar taints the honey, but other insects don’t seem to mind the nectar as we can see from the photo.
Angophora Flowers
Below: Little Lorikeets and Musk Lorikeets will travel to sample the Angophora nectar.
Some of the area may need to be replanted but perhaps we can rely on regrowth; we will have to wait for our ecologist to give us advice on what to replant.
People tend to think that woodlands are “just bush,” consequently, over 85% of the native woodlands in New South Wales, Australia have been replaced by agriculture.
We hope our supporters will pledge to give $10 per month to help us keep this beautiful area under conservation in perpetuity.
