On Saturday 16th May, more than a dozen field naturalists gathered outside the National Museum. The weather was perfect for a leisurely morning wander around the grounds of ANU. We followed a track that passed by plantings of Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and a sweeping line of Brittle Gums (E. mannifera), probably marking the edge of an old track or road. The plantings then began to merge with remnant woodland and grassland. Here we found old-growth Apple Box (E. bridgesiana), Yellow Box (E. melliodora) and Blakely’s Red Gum (E. blakelyi). Along the way, we came across various art works too. We paused at an old lookout with lake views, then continued up the hill to Old Canberra House. This area is now a quiet backwater of the ANU campus, but once the grand old building was a centre of activity. It was built in 1913 as the residence of the first administrator of the Australian Capital Territory, and from 1932 was the official High Commission of the UK for 20 years. Guarding the old gateway were two Ceders of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), planted in 1914.
Scratch marks were found on a tree trunk, thought to be from possums, and we saw some hardy meadow argus butterflies.
The sound track to our walk was a beautiful Grey Butcherbird chorus. Superb Parrots that are often seen in the area were absent, but many other parrot species were there.
Participants enjoyed a relaxing morning, and continued chatting at the Museum café afterwards.
Worryingly, we found an extensive infestation of Khaki weed (Alternanthera pungens) on the lawns surrounding the Museum car park. It was seeding and is easily spread.
– John Stein
