Winter adventure in Henry Codd Reserve & bikeway, Parkside

You may have noticed the efforts in the suburbs of Adelaide has had many bikeways, walkways and urban parks to provide habitat in the form of native vegetation, particularly understory shrubs. A great example of this extends off the Henry Codd reserve, Parkside is the Malvern-Parkside and Unley East-West bikeways. These bikeways have in recent times undergone redevelopment with native vegetation being planted particularly understory plants. This has provided a fantastic refuge for many bird species in addition to many invertebrates, but how many? and how many species are present? these are questions we would like to answer!

A New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae observed in the park by Stephen Fricker

While these walkways make for a pleasant walk or ride, the important question is what is the effect on local Biodiversity? What is the effect of this kind of development on the invertebrate and vertebrate communities?

Prior to our walk, the most observed species within the Henry Codd Reserve & bikeway, was the New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (above) with 8 observations this remained the most observed species following our efforts. Indeed birds made the eight most observed species in the park. This is to be expected as birds are charismatic and often attract the attention of observers. I found interesting Lepidopteran larvae, a Boisduval's Autumn Moth Oenosandra boisduvalii an amazing moth species that feed on eucalyptus trees and shelters under the bark at the bottom of the trunk. You may recall many of us saw this species on the edge of the St Peters Billabong

Boisduval's Autumn Moth Oenosandra boisduvalii observed in the park by Stephen Fricker.

The efforts made over the weekend increased the observations in the project for the park from 121 to 164 and increased the number of species to 74 an increase of 18 species.

Our observers checking out the walkway.