Victorian Wetland Care Program. Teacher s Resource

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1 Victorian Wetland Care Program Teacher s Resource

2 Contents How to use the Wetland Care Teacher s Resource Equipment and Resources Safety in the Wetland Information on Sale Common Wetlands and Paisley Challis Wetlands List of Classroom Topics Topic 1: Native Plants vs. Weeds Topic 2: Recreation and Litter Topic 3: Ramsar How to use the Wetland Care Teacher s Resource The Victorian Wetland Care Program is designed to be used both in the classroom and in the field, in particular the wetlands of the Sale Common in Gippsland and Paisley Challis in Altona. There are activities for students to undertake in the classroom before and after wetland visits, and activities including a Bird Treasure Hunt for students to undertake during a visit to the wetlands. There is also the option for students to carry out wetland monitoring using photo points, returning to the same wetland over time and recording what changes they observe. This resource has been designed to provide real life, relevant and hands on learning for students to learn about their environment. It is designed to correlate with the required Learning Outcomes for Year 4 students in Science as follows: ACSSU Science Year 4 Science Understanding Biological Sciences This curriculum unit focuses on students making discoveries about living things, including plants and animals and how they depend on each other and the environment within ecosystems such as wetlands. Students in this unit investigate how plants provide shelter for animals; investigate the roles of living things within the environment as producers, consumers or decomposers, and observing, describing and predicting how interactions between the living things may become competitive or mutually beneficial. The Wetland Care program includes three topics to explore in the classroom, to be followed with a Treasure Hunt field activity. This resource is designed to support teachers in delivering the Wetland Care education program, and is accompanied by a Student Field Journal including a Treasure Hunt worksheet. 2 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers

3 Equipment and Resources To carry out the activities in the Wetland Care program, you will need the following: Teachers Resource Digital camera with video function Student Field Journal Treasure Hunt sheet (1 per student) Safety in the Wetland The risk of injury occurring whilst working in the wetland is considered low if the following precautions are undertaken. List of safety wear for students and teachers Sunscreen Hat Insect repellent Water bottle First aid kit Anaphylaxis kit (if needed) Mobile phone (to call if there is an emergency) Risk assessment checklist/considerations Students are informed of rules in the wetlands stay on the trail, walking only, appropriate behaviour, the teacher always walks at the front of the line, don t touch anything unless you are told it is OK. Teachers check that the trail is suitable to use before the lesson, i.e. the trail is not muddy and flooded, no branches across the trail. WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers Wetland Care Program 3

4 Sale Common Wetlands Located south of Sale on the South Gippsland Highway, the Sale Common Wetlands are part of the Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve. This 300 hectare reserve is one of the most westerly parts of the Gippsland lakes system, and is managed by Parks Victoria. More than 70% of the area consists of freshwater marsh, and the remaining land containing River Red Gum woodlands and grassland. The site is internationally listed and is home to an extensive range of waterbirds, kookaburras, wrens and Brushtail and Ringtail possums. A key feature of the Sale Common is the extensive boardwalk which allows the wetlands to be observed at a closer level. Source: park note Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve Parks Victoria August 2012 Paisley Challis Wetlands Paisley Challis Wetlands are in Williamstown North, at the mouth of Kororoit Creek. They are a very popular spot for wading birds, both migratory and resident, and link up with the Altona Coastal Park and the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary. Prior to 2002, the area was characterised by two concrete drains the Paisley Drain, and the Challis Drain. These were used to flush storm water from the industrial areas of North Williamstown into the bay. These drains were pulled out, re-shaped, and planted up around the edges to create the wetland there today. The area was officially opened in 2003 and today is home to many native plants and animals, and provides summer feeding habitat for migratory birds like the Red Necked Stint. Source: Ranger Ramblings February 2013 Hobsons Bay City Council Photo by Hobsons Bay City Council 4 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers

5 Classroom Topics The following topics have been prepared to be explored in the classroom in conjunction with the Treasure Hunt activity. 1. Native Plants vs. Weeds What are 3 common weeds in the Sale Common Wetlands and Paisley Challis Wetlands? What type of plant are they and what is their habitat? What local native plants do these weeds compete with? Compare 3 local plants affected by identified weeds. How does that affect local native animals? What improvements can happen when a wetland is revegetated and weeds controlled? 2. Recreation What sort of recreational activities can you do in the Sale Common Wetlands and Paisley Challis Wetlands? How does recreation benefit from weed control? Don t litter! How everyone benefits when you put your rubbish in the bin, and help clean up your local environment. 3. Ramsar Why are the Sale Common Sale and Paisley Challis Wetlands locally and internationally important? Migratory birds where do they come from, and why do they need healthy wetlands on the other side of the world? What is the Ramsar Convention? Wetland Activity - Treasure Hunt The Treasure Hunt and Wetland Monitoring activities are to be undertaken in the wetland environment. WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers Wetland Care Program 5

6 Topic 1: Native Plants vs. Weeds Activity 1 Topics covered: What are 3 common weeds in the Sale Common Wetlands and Paisley Challis Wetlands? What local native plants do these weeds compete with? Compare 3 local plants affected by identified weeds. What type of plant are they and what is their habitat? How does that affect local wildlife? What improvements can happen when a wetland is revegetated and weeds controlled? Before wetland visit: Students to discuss the 3 local weeds and native plants they compete with. During wetland visit: Students to note if they have seen the native plants and weeds identified in their Field Journals. Also note other plants they can identify and any they can t but would like to know the name of After wetland visit: Students and teachers to identify plants they didn t know the names of. Info and Links: Weed identification tool Native plants Wetland Monitoring During the first wetland visit: Students to form small groups and take photos from set points in the wetland designated by the Teacher E.g. at start, middle and end of boardwalk, capturing the local environment. These photos can be printed out and stuck in the students Field Journals. Make sure you note when and where each photo was taken, and what weeds and native plans can be seen. On following visits: Students to return to the photo points used last time, and take a new set of photos of the wetland. These can then be compared with the last set, and students can note if the same weeds are still present in the wetland, and if they have increased or decreased. How long since the first photo was taken? Has there been any weed control work done in the wetland? Video diary What native plants and weeds did students see during their time in the wetland? Habitat is defined as the natural home of a plant, animal or other organism. Weeds are plants that are introduced from another country or region and damage habitats by out-competing native plants. Native plants are the base of the food chain, and wildlife depend on them not just for food but for shelter and a stable environment. 6 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers

7 NATIVE PLANTS (green box) vs. WEEDS (red box) in the Sale Common Wetlands vs. Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis Willow Salix species Introduced from: Europe PLANT TYPE AND HABITAT The Red Gum and Willow are both large trees that live in the riparian zone - the area along the banks and edges of wetlands and waterways. EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE Willows crowd out native species by growing in thick patches, meaning fewer Red Gums for birds like the Red Wattle Bird and Willie Wag Tail to nest in. Red Gums also have tree hollows, which are very important nesting sites for native birds like parrots and kookaburras. The shallow roots of Willows don t secure the banks of a wetland like the deep roots of a Red Gum. This can lead to soil being washed into the wetland when it rains, eroding the bank and making the water muddy. This can reduce the number of fish in the wetland, which are important food for native birds including the Little Cormorant and migratory birds like the Sharp Tailed Sandpiper. IMPROVEMENTS FROM WEED CONTROL By controlling the spread of Willows and planting native trees like the Red Gum, the wetland habitat will be able to support local wildlife by providing nesting sites and preventing erosion. WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers Wetland Care Program 7

8 vs. Tree Violet Melicytus dentatus Blackberry Rubus fruticosus Introduced from: Europe PLANT TYPE AND HABITAT Tree Violet is a thorny shrub, growing up to 3 m high, that lives on the edges of wetlands and waterways. It has small scented flowers and serrated leaves. Blackberry forms thickets along waterways and wetlands, with spiky canes covering the ground and forming clumps up to 2 m high. EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE Fairy Wrens nest in the thorny branches of Tree Violets, and when Blackberries crowd out native plants they loose their nesting sites. Blackberries also offer shelter for predators like feral cats which prey on wildlife, especially small birds like the Fairy Wren. IMPROVEMENTS FROM WEED CONTROL Reducing and controlling blackberry in wetlands can improve the native vegetation and habitats for wildlife, and give less shelter to predators who target birds like feral cats. vs. Large Bindweed Calystegia sepium Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare Introduced from: Europe PLANT TYPE AND HABITAT Large Bindweed is a creeping vine that grows in damp areas around wetlands and waterways. It is a colonising species, which means it is one of the first plants to move into an area that has been disturbed. Spear Thistle is a tall, spiny thistle with distinctive purple flowers and long leaves covering the ground at the base. It can reach up to 1.5 m high, with leaves up to 45 cm long. 8 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers

9 EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE Spear Thistle crowds out the Large Bindweed, which provides habitat for wildlife like Pacific Black Ducks, by covering the soil in thick, prickly leaves. Ducks and other waterbirds can nest in the cover provided by Large Bindweed, and eat the invertebrates that live in healthy soil and vegetation. The Large Bindweed has long underground stems that get choked out by Spear Thistle. Because the Bindweed and thistle are both colonial species they compete with each other for space. IMPROVEMENTS FROM WEED CONTROL Reducing and controlling spear thistle allows native plants like Large Bindweed to colonise disturbed areas the wetland, providing habitat for wildlife. WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers Wetland Care Program 9

10 NATIVE PLANTS (green box) vs. WEEDS (red box) in the Paisley Challis Wetlands vs. Noon flower Disphyma crassifolium Carpet weed Galenia pubescens var. pubescens Introduced from: Africa PLANT TYPE AND HABITAT Noon flower and Carpet weed are both creeping ground covers that can grow in disturbed and saline sites. Noon flower is an important plant in coastal salt marshes for preventing erosion. EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE Carpet weed grows over and smothers native plants, preventing new growth. Noon flower is an important species for insects and other invertebrates, which native birds like the Red-kneed Dotterel feed on. By covering and out-competing the Noon flower and other native plants, Carpet weed reduces the amount of food available for native birds. IMPROVEMENTS FROM WEED CONTROL Removing and controlling the spread of Carpet weed gives native plants like the Noon flower the chance to re-establish in the wetlands, preventing erosion and providing food for wildlife. vs. Samphire Sarcocornia quinqueflora Spiny rush Juncus acutus Introduced from: Mediterranean PLANT TYPE AND HABITAT Samphire is also known as beaded glasswort. A low-growing ground cover in saltmarsh, 10 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers

11 it has distinctive tube-like stems that can grow up to 50 cm high. Spiny rush is a very invasive weed that occurs in wet and dry areas, and can grow up to 1.5 m high. It grows in thick patches that are impenetrable for wildlife. EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE Spike rush competes for space with Samphire, damaging habitat for the molluscs and other invertebrates the Red-Necked Stint Feeds on. It can also provide habitat for pest species like mice and rats, which feed on native plants and invertebrates, and the eggs of native birds like the Whiskered Tern. Spiny rush can form dense enough thickets to affect water flow and drainage, impacting on wildlife like the Red Necked Stint that rely on regular tidal flows for food, and causing erosion. IMPROVEMENTS FROM WEED CONTROL Reducing and controlling Spiny rush improves the flow of water in wetlands, reestablishing habitat and food sources for native animals and plants like the Samphire. Photo Hobsons Bay City Council vs. Southern sea heath Frankenia pauciflora African boxthorn Lycium ferocissimum Introduced from: Southern Africa PLANT TYPE AND HABITAT Southern sea heath is a low, spreading shrub with small thick leaves and pink or white flowers. It grows in salt marsh areas. African boxthorn is a highly invasive large shrub that grows up to 3 m high. It has long spines and can form dense thickets. It is a common weed in disturbed areas and wetlands. EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE African boxthorn out-competes native plants like the Southern sea heath, leading to degraded habitats. This reduces nesting sites for native birds like Pelicans. Dense patches of boxthorn provide shelter for pest animals and predators like foxes and feral cats, which prey on native birds. It is spread by seed - each bush produces large numbers of orange berries that are eaten and dispersed by birds. The berries are toxic to people. IMPROVEMENTS FROM WEED CONTROL Controlling African boxthorn improves wetland by allowing native plants to re-establish, reducing shelter for pest species and increasing habitat for wildlife. WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers Wetland Care Program 11

12 Activity 1 What sort of recreational activities can you do in the Sale Common Wetlands/Paisley Challis Wetlands? How does recreation benefit from weed control? Classroom discussion: Students to note down wetland recreation activities in their Field Journal. Activities may include: Walking - on trails and boardwalks Bird Watching - bird hides Lookout Students to brainstorm ideas about how activities discussed benefit from fewer weeds. E.g. More native plants supporting native birds to be spotted in bird watching Activity 2 Don t litter! How everyone benefits when you put your rubbish in the bin, and help clean up your local environment. Before wetland visit: Classroom discussion: What type of litter have students noticed this week? Note down in Field Journal. During wetland visit: Students to write down what litter they see. After wetland visit: Classroom discussion: What type of litter did students notice in the wetland? Is it similar to what they have seen outside the wetland e.g. in the street. Note how litter doesn t have to be dropped in the wetland to end up there. Write down responses in Field Journal. Topic 2: Recreation Impacts on wildlife Litter impacts wildlife in many ways: Wildlife eat plastics and other rubbish and become sick and may die. Plastics break down into smaller and smaller pieces, which are easily mistaken for food by wildlife. Wildlife become entangled in rubbish Rubbish chokes out native plants Rubbish breaks down very slowly and can last for years in the environment Students to note what they think the impacts of the litter they saw in the wetlands will be on wildlife. How long does it take for rubbish to break down? Aluminium can Apple core Orange and Banana peel Styrofoam Plastic bags Glass bottle Plastic bottle Plastic coated paper e.g. coffee cups Polyester fabric years 2 months Up to 2 years Never breaks down 10 to 20 years Never breaks down 1 million years 5 years 30 to 40 years What can we do? Always put your rubbish in the bin Recycle, Reuse and Reduce your litter Take part in clean up days, or organise your own - information at the Clean Up Australia link 12 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers

13 Wetland Monitoring First Year Using the photos taken in Topic 1 Native Plants vs. Weeds, students are to note what litter they can see from the monitoring points. Following years On subsequent visits, students should note down what litter they can see, and if there has been any clean up days in the wetland. Is there more or less litter than on the last visit? Video diary What sort of litter did students see in the wetland? Where do they think it came from, and what will they do to reduce litter? Info and links: Resource - Wetland recreation fact sheet files/documents/tmp/pdf/info/values_ recreation_e.pdf Clean Up Australia au/about/about-the-event/year-roundclean-up Recycle, reuse, reduce change_the_way_you_live/recycle_reuse_reduce/ WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers Wetland Care Program 13

14 Activity 1 What is the Ramsar Convention? The Ramsar Convention, also known as the Convention on wetlands of International Importance, was created in 1971 to protect wetlands around the world, especially wetlands that migratory birds like the Sharp tailed Sandpiper and Red-necked Stint rely on for summer feeding grounds. Australia has 65 wetlands listed as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention. Why are the Sale Common Sale and Paisley Challis Wetlands locally and internationally important? Wetlands are an essential part of our environment. As well as providing habitat for plants and animals, they provide clean water for humans and help prevent damage from flooding and storms. The Sale Common and Paisley Challis Wetlands are important habitats for birds and mammals in the local area, and for two birds that travel from the northern hemisphere each summer to feed in the wetlands. The Sharp Tailed Sandpiper is a wading bird that flies to Australia each summer from its nesting grounds in Arctic Siberia. In the Sale Common Wetlands the Sandpiper feeds on molluscs, worms and other invertebrates in the shallow edges of the wetland. They prefer fresh water wetlands, but can be seen on beaches. The Red-necked Stint is another wading bird that flies to Australia from Siberia each year to feed over summer. In the Paisley Challis Wetlands, the tiny Stint feeds on Topic 3: Ramsar invertebrates, molluscs, seeds and plants on tidal mud flats. These birds both nest in Siberia in the northern hemisphere, during the northern summer (April-June). When the summer is over in Siberia, it gets very cold and the birds cannot find enough food. So they fly all the way down to Australia for the southern summer, where they can find abundant food in our healthy wetlands. Before wetland visit: Students to note down what migratory bird can be seen in their local wetland, what type of bill it has (from Beaks and Feet fact sheet) and what type of food it likes to eat. Also to note and discuss what weeds impact on migratory birds (from Native Plants vs. Weeds activity). Info and Links: Sharp Tailed Sandpiper sharp-tailed-sandpiper Red-necked Stint Ramsar Convention Ramsar Fact Sheets The Ramsar Convention: What s It All About? files/documents/library/fs_6_ramsar_ convention.pdf Wetlands - Why Should I care? files/documents/library/factsheet1_ why_should_i_care_0.pdf 14 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers

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16 Wetland Activity -Treasure Hunt Before wetland visit: Students presented with Treasure Hunt work sheet. Discuss the birds on the sheet, what they eat and what type of beaks they have. Discuss what each bird eats, and which birds may compete with each other for food. During wetland visit: Students to mark what birds they see in the wetland from the Treasure Hunt, including the What Bird is That? bird silhouettes on the front (see next page). From the birds with photos, Students to note down what type of beak each bird they see has and what sort of food they think it may eat. After wetland visit: Discuss what birds were seen in the wetland. Did anyone see a migratory bird? Treasure Hunt - Birds, Beaks and Food The birds listed here are on the A3 fold-out Wetland Treasure Hunt Sheet, replicated over the next 3 pages Black swan - blunt ended flat bill for snatching plants in water. A vegetarian that eats algae and plants. Pelican - long wide bill with large throat pouch and hooked end. Eats fish and uses ouch as a net to scoop up prey. Little Pied Cormorant - slender hooked bill. Feeds on freshwater crayfish and other crustaceans taking when diving. Pacific Black Duck- flat bill for dabbling. Omnivorous, feeding mainly on seeds of aquatic plants and occasionally small crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic insects. Whistling Kite - hook beak for snatching up prey and tearing meat from carcasses. Carnivorous, feeding on rabbits, hares, fish, reptiles and carrion. Willie Wagtail - short, pointed beak. Feeds on insects in vegetation, flies quickly, darting after prey. Superb Fairy Wren - short pointed beak. Feeds on insects and other arthropods including spiders. Whiskered Tern - long pointed red beak. Omnivorous, feeding on fish, crustaceans and insects. Feeds by diving into water, skimming over the top of the water to scoop up prey or taking insects in flight. Red kneed Dotterel - short red bill with black tip, legs red from the knees up. Feeds on insects, larvae and seeds, probing the muddy shoreline with its beak. Red Wattlebird - medium length curved bill, used for feeding on nectar from flowers. Feeds on nectar from native flowers, insects and berries. Migratory Birds Sharp tailed Sandpiper (Sale Common) - long, dark brownish-grey narrow beak. Feeds on aquatic insects and larvae, worms, molluscs and crustaceans, wading in the shallows and digging in the mud with its beak for food. Occasionally eats seeds. Red Necked Stint (Paisley Challis) -medium length black bill, slightly curved with bulbous tip. Omnivorous, feeding on seeds, small vertebrates, insects and plants in saltmarshes, also eats gastropods (snails) and crustaceans. Forages in mudflats at low tide. Info and Links: BridLife Australia Info on this page is taken from the Birdlife website 16 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers

17 Name: Wetland Treasure Hunt My local wetland is: Date of first Wetland Visit: WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers Wetland Care Program 17

18 Photo JJ Harrison used under CC Tick the white box if you have seen this bird in the wetland Sharp tailed Sandpiper A migratory bird that visits the Sale Common wetlands Red Necked Stint A migratory bird that visits the Paisley Challis wetlands Red Kneed Dotterel Black Swan 18 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers

19 Little Pied Cormorant Pelican Tick the white box if you have seen this bird in the wetland Whiskered Tern Pacific Black Duck WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers Wetland Care Program 19

20 Tick the white box if you have seen this bird in the wetland Whistling Kite Red Wattlebird Superb Fairy Wren Willie Wagtail 20 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers

21 Notes: WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers Wetland Care Program 21

22 Thank you for taking part in the Wetland Care Program We hope you enjoyed exploring wetlands! 22 Wetland Care Program WetlandCare Australia & Conservation Volunteers