Site reconnaissance: Bushy Park Wetlands & Koomba Park

Today was a site 'recon' day for Leap into Nature Club. I like to check out sites to figure out access, what activities to do with the kids and themes to incorporate for future sessions.  

We visited Dandenong Valley Parklands. Within the Parklands we first visited Bushy Park Wetlands.  Lots of ducks to look at and listen to at the bird hide and it has given me some nifty ideas to do with the kids.

Next up was Koomba Park, one of my sites I surveyed 10 times during my Honours research year... it was fun to be back after 10 years!! We got to listen to one of my favourite frogs calling away, the Eastern Smooth Frog (or Victorian Smooth Froglet)! A frog that breeds in ephemeral wetlands and only during the wet autumn months.

We then had a sad but interesting experience where we jumped off the beaten track and found a dead Sugar Glider :-( ! We could see a nest box in a nearby tree and were trying to understand what might have happened to the poor little Sugar Glider.  I explained Sugar Gliders glide through the air at night from tree to tree.. my daughter thought maybe it had hit its head as it was gliding and died!  

It gave me a chance to talk about the 'circle of life' and show a photo of a Sugar Glider on the Museum Victoria Field Guide database app:  http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/mv-field-guide-app/  Its a great resource while out 'in the field'.  I also followed it up at home and showed her a photo of a Sugar Glider in a field guide and she drew a lovely picture of a happy, alive, girl Sugar Glider with her watching it at night with the stars and moon out.  I love how she has even drawn little claws as she was able to see these features close up!

We had quite an adventurous morning, hope you can join us on LiNC sessions at these great locations.