Over the years we’ve had many sightings of the elusive platypus across the catchment, so we thought that this years’ Peaks to Points festival would be the perfect occasion try to catch a glimpse of one in the wilds of Oxley Creek.
After a fantastic evening workshop with Ross Pattinson, a platypus expert from Wildlife Queensland our volunteers were ready to face down the 5am winter chill and stake out eight sites accross the catchment, from Salisbury to New Beith.
Unfortunately when we regrouped for a hot breakfast, none of our 20 spotters had been able to see one of the furry critters. We had plenty of birdlife, including pelicans and a passing sea eagle (and many crows who clearly hadn’t attended the workshop where we were told to be quiet and still). The odd turtle, briefly got our hopes up and a wallaby made a guest appearance.
Ross had said that even though we had no luck this time it isn’t an indication that there aren’t platypus in our waterways. Our catchment is large and the platypus can range for many kilometres. The dry conditions may also have had an effect.
Remember that these surveys aren’t just one day a year. You can always take a half hour out of your day to head down to your local freshwater creek. Sit and watch and you might be amazed at what you find. So for the next time we run a platypus survey we’re calling on anyone in the catchment, who has had a recent sighting, to let us know at info@oxleycreekcatchment.org.au or by filling in a sighting form at www.wildlife.org.au.
This event was proudly funded by the Brisbane City Council through a Lord Mayor’s Community, Sustainability and Environment grant