WA Naturalists' Club

03/06/2026

After the storms of the past weekend, we can probably say that we're now in the Noongar season of Mookaroo. This is known as the fertility season and usually spans June and July.
Moving into Mookaroo, the days become shorter and we get more rain, with an average of 15 wet days per month (let's hope!)
We also have less sunlight, receiving an average of only 6 hours, compared to 12 in January.
We should start to hear frogs calling, as sufficient water accumulates in lakes and ponds for them to breed. Did you know, it’s only the males that call? Those calls can help identify them, as individual frogs can be hard to see, especially some of our tiny ones. Some frogs named for their distinctive call include the Motorbike Frog (see pic by Steve Lofthouse), the Banjo Frog or Pobblebonk and the aptly named Moaning Frog.
The rain awakens the fungi and their fruiting bodies’ appearance shows us just how many live underground year-round. There are many more fungi in Australia than plants and they can be huge, spreading through hectares of soil, yet almost invisible from the surface.
How many kinds of fungi can you see in your garden, local park or bushland reserve? Some pictured here include the Coral fungus (by Eric McCrum) and the Basket fungus.

21/05/2026

Attending the film screening on seeking a National Park - wilbinga.com.au - please go and seek understanding about what is happening, looking to build inclusivity to preserve and conserve nature in the area largely from Friends of Moore River . Arlene VP .

23/04/2026

Next Friday; repairing the damage in our Wheatbelt...

15/04/2026

Don't miss the presentation by Kerry Sanderson next Wednesday evening at UWA, about the WA Parks Foundation and the role of organisations like it in fostering care and protection of our unique environment. Ticket sales support student prizes at the 4 public universities. See https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/events/ for your ticket. (Image Picaninny Creek by Kevin Coate)

08/04/2026

This Friday night - stuff you didn't know about fungi that could change the way we manage land...

We’re only just beginning to understand the complex role fungi play in our unique landscapes. But the more we learn, the more we understand just how dependent we are on fungal diversity.

08/04/2026

This Friday night... fungi fun and learning.
https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/events/roz-hart-on-fungi-for-land/
We’re only just beginning to understand the complex role fungi play in our unique landscapes. But the more we learn, the more we understand just how dependent we are on fungal diversity.

It makes a difference if we understand what fungi do for our ecosystems and how land managers of all walks of life can work together with fungi. This gives us a better handle on what fungi can do for us as well as what we can do for them.

Presenter Roz Hart will talk about recent advances to assist Citizen Scientists to gain a better understanding of the fungi that we coexist with.

We’re only just beginning to understand the complex role fungi play in our unique landscapes. But the more we learn, the more we understand just how dependent we are on fungal diversity.

02/04/2026

Though there are fewer native plants flowering in the season of Djiran, you will see many Banksias bursting into yellow, orange and red flower spikes. Have you seen any birds feeding on these? The tiny Brown Honeyeater lives almost exclusively on nectar and the New Holland Honeyeater and Western Spinebill also love Banksias. The south-west has the highest incidence of bird-pollinated plants (about 15%) and plants pollinated by small mammals like the Honey Possum and Western Pygmy Possum. Have you seen either of these tiny mammals?
Images: Brown Honeyeater on Banksia menziesii at Inglewood Triangle and Honey Possum feeding on Banksia.

31/03/2026

Now we're seeing the start of the Noongar season of DJIRAN - Season of adulthood (around April-May)
This is the season when we transition from the hot, dry weather of Boonaroo to the cool, wet weather of Mookaroo. There are gentle breezes and if you’re up early you might see dew on the grass. The first few rainy days usually bring out snails, sometimes in huge numbers. Common ones are the introduced European Brown Garden Snail and the smaller White Italian Snail. But we also have many native snails, particularly of the genus Bothriembryon, which have slightly conical shells. (This image is an undescribed species of Bothriembryon taken in 2024 at Goodale Sanctuary, by Colin Prickett)

05/02/2026

Excursion: Darwin Day - Snorkelling at Mettams Pool (this Sat 7 Feb, 9am)
Charles Darwin’s birthday, which falls on 12 February, is generally used to highlight Darwin’s contributions to science and to promote science in general. To commemorate his achievements, the Club will head to Mettams Pool for a snorkelling event. You can expect to see marine fishes, see anemones, crabs and sea stars as well as seaweeds and sea grasses.
RSVP required for this event, see https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/events/darwin-day-snorkelling-at-mettams-pool-7-february-2026/

05/02/2026

During Boonaroo, another striking flower that is hard to go past is the female Zamia (Macrozamia riedlei). Being much larger than that of its male counterpart, the huge cones emerge from the centre of the plant with masses of a cotton wool like substance.
As the hot, dry weather continues the seed upon the cones change from green to bright red, indicating they're ripening and becoming more attractive to animals, particularly the emu, that will eat the toxic fleshy outer. (Images: Macrozamia riedlei female (tjunguri), iNaturalist and Macrozamia riedlei fruiting)