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February 2011 Field Reports by John Cugley KTB Administration Coordinator and other KTB Leaders.
Toad update 21-02-2011
| • | One male toad 110mm pulled out from the pool at The All Seasons Motel 19-02-2011 |
| • | One female toad squashed on the road corner of Dryandra and Wilga Pl 20-02-2011 |
| • | One female toad squashed on the road corner of Dryandra and Mallee Crt 20-02-2011 |
| • | One female toad squashed on the road Dryandra opposite 3A 21-02-2011 |
Toad update 18-02-2011
| • | Report tadpoles and small toads in the M1, near the pump1 (near the Airport). KTB to spray and net. |
Toad update 15-02-2011
| • | I had a phone call from Les (works with Horizon Power) has seen large amounts of breeding around East Kimberley Palms. He has also been busting some of the channels with his daughter every other week. He lives on Blackwood Drive, has not seen any toads there, but has seen some around KI. |
| • | Had a phone call from Danny at EK plumbing. has found breeding in a drain at Mulga Street at the Ranch |
| • | Have picked up a net from Katya that we had lent to her. She is still picking up toads and has seen fresh dead toads daily on the way to work on Casuarina Way. |
Toad update 14-02-2011
| • | Marijke confirmed no toads at Doon Doon Station or community. |
| • | Amie Trust confirmed no toads at Wuggubun Aboriginal community. |
Toad update 13-02-2011
| • | Dr Jim the Rock Doctor. Confirms 6 toads from his property. One male 120mm was caught eating meat ants. Stomach contents contained beetles as well as ants. 8 lungworm parasites found in lungs. |
| • | Isa and Andreas busted along Packsaddle Road up to Ceres Farm. 24 males and 2 females. |
| • | They had a look at the drain at the front of DEC, found only one male toad, a big difference and probably due to regular toad busting by KTB. |
Toad update 12-02-2011
| • | Plenty of toads in the LA caravan park and outbreaks of metamorphs at Dead Horse Spring. |
| • | Toads reported at Mabel Creek. |
Toad Toad update 11-02-2011
| • | Kingston Rest - Met up with Amie and a group of kids along the road and she showed me were they had seen the toads on the road the previous evening. We all had a walk along the side of the road, one of the kids saw a toad way up head, but could not find it again. After searching for a while went back to the cars, Were we meet up with some more people from Wuggabun. We drove down the road slowly and Christy (who was at the aboriginal hostel last year and went out busting with Ben) spotted a toad. It was a female toad 140mm. I did a quick show and tell about toads, and how to pick up etc. We continued down the road slowly, and Christy spotted another toad. This was a male toad 100m. We continued down to the one lane bridge and headed back up the road again. We found another male 100mm just past the parking bay (see Google map for locations) We continued up to Wuggabun, but did not locate any more toads. No toads seen on the road till I got back to Kununurra. I gave out some more brochures and stickers and also played them the male call that I have on my phone. There is some positives from this. One the toads were first seen by one of the young girls the previous evening whilst they were travelling in the car. She had seen Ben present an educational at her school. The involvement of the Hostel has also promoted toad awareness. An example of KTB educational in action. I suspect that the toads are hitch hikers somehow bought down from TFS Kununurra to Kingston Rest. There is a lot of water down that way at the moment. I have not managed to make contact as yet with TFS. |
| • | A report of a dead toad on the road at the front of 4B Wilga Place |
| • | Tim plus Bonny and Kate; Mulligan’s Lagoon; 34 males, 27 females, 1 juv |
Toad update 10-02-2011
| • | From Donna at Lakeview - Seeing a lot more toad activity around here - and in our pool now too. Not every day, but we have been pulling out very small toads so they are probably breeding around here somewhere! All that water lying around the bicycle track is not good either |
| • | Tim from Toll West had a large toad in his backyard about 3 weeks ago - he lives in the clusters in the middle of town |
| • | Toll West have a DEC trap at their yard to collect toads to slow the hitchhikers down. The only thing is that trap does not work as there is too much light ( maybe a good spot to try a calling station) so they just collect the toads in the evening and the DEC come and empty it. It had 2 males and 3 large females in today. |
| • | There have been 2 other toads found at the pub. |
Toad update 07-02-2011
| • | I had a phone call from Amy at the Broome Advertiser, asking for a comment about a toad located on the Broome Road. Apparently it had been reported to the DEC. I have left a message on David Wood’s mobile phone to confirm. The guy that found it was worried about toads coming down the Fitzroy River. I told her to have a look at Google map to get an idea on were toads are at the moment. The toad would likely be a hitchhiker. She asked whether toads would be using the rivers of the Kimberley as a super highway. My comment was toads prefer standing water to fast running water, and usually use roads and tracks to move |
| • | Picked up a female 140mm from Jim the Rock Doctor yesterday. He found it at the front of his place. He has also dispatched 3 toads found next to his place. He has been educating his neighbours about toads. |
| • | Had a phone call from Ertech (the contractors doing the site works for the new Lakeside and Kununurra sub divisions) about metamorphs at some of the drains at their sites. They want confirmation that they were toads. They have been using our brochures for id. There are toads, and on inspection of the area, we talked about control, and they will be spraying them. |
Toad update 06-02-2011
| • | Tim and Karen went out to Molly Springs and made his way back towards town. He stopped off at several locations and did not find any toads till he got to the gravel pit on the corner of Werrio Rd and the Highway. He found four toads here |
| • | Tim then made his way to town via the Pumphouse, a quick drive around town and ended up at the DEC drain. They found 50 male and 6 female toads, the majority were at the DEC drain. |
| • | Tim spoke to someone coming out of Valentines Road, they had been out at Buttons Crossing. They had not seen any toads this time, but have seen some at a previous time. |
Toad update 05-02-2011
| • | Tim led a trip with 4 others to Lake Argyle Road. They got 126 toad, 59 males, 60 females, and 7 juveniles |
Toad update 02-02-2011
| • | Went out to Golden Gate Creek this morning to investigate the report of dead toads along Golden Gate Creek. I only found one toad, but the information of the right area was a bit sketchy. The toad was sitting on the ground the right way up. It was about 500mm away from the water’s edge. It was only recently dead, as it was not dried out. On flipping her over all the insides were eaten out? Looks like a water rat? I took a couple of photos. |
| • | Also lots of tadpole nearby. I did spend some time scooping them out, but will need to be done again. (It is right near the Vic Hwy). I also found toads further along the creek will need to go back with a net and help to get rid of the tadpoles |
Toad up date 01-02-2011
| • | Had a phone call from Barbara Walker. She is also doing as much busting as possible. She has not heard any calling in the past two week. There are metamorphs around the Billabong, but the grass is very thick so access is difficult. Not many toads around the kitchen/caravan, constant busting has reduced their numbers. |
| • | Drove along Valentines Road out to Buttons Crossing. No toads seen at Buttons. One male toad near Valentines/Ivanhoe Road. One very large 150mm female on Valentines Road and one male on Valentines Road just south of Valentines spring. No toads seen at Valentines Spring (all marked on the Google Earth update) |
| • | Had a phone call from a chap reporting that a mate of his was walking along Golden Gate Creek and come across approx 20 dead toads along the creek over a distance of 1km. The toads had no signs of been killed by humans? I will go and have a look in the morning |
| • | Check for breeding along creek system south of Mt Hensmen (near Dingo Springs Community) no signs of breeding noticed |
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