I would like to take the opportunity to thank those who attended the day of the Ptilotus erubescens count on the 12th January doing the hard yard in the actual counting of the flower-heads. Several new points were achieved on the day: 2nd highest number counted = 5696 Flower-heads; first observation of two clumps of semi developed heads; (they are the red ones on the web site). See below for the complete statistics for the day. The ‘Exclude Rabbits only’ count of 847 was below expectations compared with other areas. On reinspection of this area, it would appear by the number of Grey Kangaroo scats (pellets) they grazed the area before the day, so reducing the number of heads.
After forwarding the results of the day, I received this letter from Dr Frank Udovicic, Plant Sciences, National Hebarium of Victoria.
“Dear Stan,
Thanks very much for sending us your latest Ptilotus survey results. You are certainly building up a very comprehensive data set. I showed it to Nevlle Walsh & he was also most interested.
All the best for 2008.
Regards, Frank”.
Since the letter, Nevlle Walsh has suggested that we do an article for the “Victorian Naturalist Magazine” Are there any FOGG members who can help to evaluate all this data and cram it into a small readable /understandable article? It would be so valuable.
I have now obtained the rainfall record from GWM Water for the Wartook Reservoir in the Mt Difficult Basin. These figures have proved very interesting, 1994 to 31 December 2007 = 13 years – the average rainfall for the Wartook Reservior is 795.9mm (31.5″); Wartook Valley = 561.3 mm (22.5″) but in the last 4 months of 2007 Wartook Valley had a slightly better fall than the reservoir.
Wartook Res Wartook Valley
Sept 37.4 mm 60 mm
Oct 53.4 mm 9 mm
Nov 92 mm 89 mm
Dec 23.6 mm 53.5 mm
Total 206.4 mm 211.5 mm
The last 4 months rain fall seems to affect the flower-head production.
Stan Parfett