Our Science Week explored the South Coast’s natural wonders – from Nowra to Ulladulla to Mystery Bay. We explored bushland reserves, looked at fossils and shells on rock platforms and shared our experiences on iNaturalist.
The week kicked off with a lively iNaturalist session in Nowra and then moved on into the beautiful Bomaderry Creek Regional Park. Our expert leaders and presenters entertainedwith stories of their experiences and challenges in the conservation of the endangered Bomaderry Zieria.
We then stepped back 270 million years to the fascinating fossils on the Ulladulla rock platform. These creatures lived in a shallow Gondwana sea close to Antarctica. Their fossilised remains have survived due to the uniquely sheltered conditions at Ulladulla, a rare window into the world of Gondwana.
Then on to Mystery Bay for a Saturday night spotlight walk, led by iNaturalist guru Thomas Mesaglio. Despite threatening rain the weather held and a small group ventured into the forest.
Next morning the Mystery Bay Bioblitz kicked off. This all-day event was attended by 50+ people, signing up for plant, bird and rock platform walks. Our exceptional leaders helped to identify over 250 species in this discrete bushland reserve, some not recorded before in this location.
Over lunch, biologist Susan Rhind engaged participants with a fascinating talk on the endangered Brush-tailed Phascogale. This elusive creature had been seen in Mystery Bay as recently as 2020, and its easy to recognise if you are lucky to spot one – a small mouse-like creature with a magnificent tail that resembles a dunny brush!
Cats are one of the biggest threats to wildlife – Courtney Fink-Downes from Eurobodalla Council urged everyone to help promote sensible cat management and highlighted some of the main challenges faced by Council.
A Big Thank You
to our leaders and partner organisations!
Nowra & Bomaderry Ck
Carla Jackett, Kevin Mills, David Rush, Terry Barratt, Dion Maple, Melinda Norton
Bomaderry Creek Landcare Group, Shoalhaven City Council Bushcare, National Parks Association Milton Branch, NSW NPWS
Ulladulla Fossil Walk
Mike Jefferis
Ulladulla Fossil House
Mystery Bay Bioblitz
Thomas Mesaglio, Jackie Miles, Mike Jefferis, Sharon Pearson, Mandy Anderson, Susan Rhind
Eurobodalla Landcare
To our funding partner Inspiring Australia NSW
whose incredible work supports science across NSW
And to all of the participants who make this worthwhile!
Science Week – By The Numbers:
| iNaturalist Seminar | Bomaderry Creek | Gondwana Coast | Mystery Bay Spotlight | Mystery Bay Bioblitz |
| 40 | 60 | 10 | 14 | 54 |
More Inforrmation:
- BCAL Science Week 2024 Program
- Science Week observations on Budawang Coast Atlas – 1,094 observations of 530 species
