Jayden Walsh is a Wildlife Ecologist, Educator and Photographer gave an entertaining and informative talk during the monthly OFF meeting on Monday 26 August 2019. His presentation was highlighted with photos from his impressive collection.
Jayden Walsh is a Wildlife Ecologist, Educator and Photographer gave an entertaining and informative talk during the monthly OFF meeting on Monday 26 August 2019. His presentation was highlighted with photos from his impressive collection.
During the talk, he defined reptiles and amphibians, and shared examples of unusual characteristics of the Australian fauna – such as that some Australian frogs don’t have a typical tadpole stage – for example, the gastric-brooding frogs and the Red-crowned Toadlet.
Jayden also gave advice on attracting frogs and lizards to our gardens through the use of ponds in partial or full sun (tree frog tadpoles like warm water). He also suggested some plants that attract insects and provide sheltering bark such as paperbarks, eucalypts as well as the use of rocks, logs, roof-tiles, corrugated iron and pipes for more shelter. Apartment-
dwellers don’t have to miss out – simply adding a lily pad pot on the balcony can be attractive to Peron’s Tree Frogs.
It was emphasised bush rock should not be brought into a garden as its removal from sandstone outcrops has led to a serious decline in the rare Broad-headed Snake that shelters under it in winter. Jayden spends a lot of time looking for reptiles and frogs in the Sydney Basin and has located some rare species through perseverance and familiarity with their habits.