Wildlife of Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens

Wildlife of Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens

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Posted 2022-01-16 by Barry Silkstonefollow


As I walk from the car park to the picnic table by the lake, I hear the twittering sound of wrens hiding in the bushes and reeds. Best not to chase them, rather, sit quietly and wait for the little birds to appear. My strategy works and before too long a male in full breeding plumage hops out of the reeds by the water.



Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens is spread over around 100 hectares. Much of this area consists of quite a steep hillside garden beds and winding paths. I am exploring the lower reaches of the park, which can be accessed from Lampert Road Crafers. This section, in contrast, is quite flat and has a lake, ponds as well as many shady grassed areas.



From the picnic tables, the main pathway takes me across a levee, where I scan the water for aquatic birds, turtles and fish. There is a pair of Pacific Black ducks near the edge as well as several Eurasian Coots and a lone Black Swan feeding in the shallows. However, it is a small lizard that catches my eye as it carefully balances on the leaves of some dense bushes blanketing the sloping edge of the dam.





On the far side of the lake, the path splits and I take the lower, flatter route. To my right is another, smaller lake - more of a pond really. Most of it is covered with water lilies with a patch of open water in the centre. I lean on a fencing rail and watch for movement amongst the carpet of water plants. Luck is with me and I spot an adult Eurasian Coot feeding its chick.



The walk around the lake has been wonderful and I have been lucky enough to encounter a wide variety of birds including fantails, ravens, swallows, kookaburras, rosellas, wrens, coots, magpies and waterfowl to mention just a few. And, I am reliably informed there are often koalas in the massive gums, which are the dominant trees in the gardens.



Now it is time to focus on the smaller animals such rich environments inevitably support. With this in mind, I set the camera to macro and search the flowers, leaf litter and under bark and rocks for insects, spiders, ants, centipedes and other invertebrates crucial to the health of this diverse ecosystem.



Today's walk is over though there are many paths and areas I have not explored. Perhaps next time I will look at the extensive variety of trees and the different animals they support or focus on the native shrubs and creepers that form the understory and their associated fauna. So many possibilities definitely warrant a few more excursions to this lovely Botanic Garden.

Additional notes
This is an easy walk that is quite suitable for families and seniors with marked trails, public toilets, shelters, parking and other facilities nearby.

#adelaide_hills
#animals_wildlife
#crafers
#picnic_spots
#walks
%wnadelaide
187419 - 2023-06-16 02:59:56

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