Mistletoe
Bird
Terrick Terrick National Park prortects one of the relatively few areas of undisturbed natural vegetation on the plains of northern Victoria.
This page includes some notes about the Terrick Terrick National Park, its friends Group and other grassland reserves around Mitiamo.
Related pages on site
Bushland Reserves of northern Victoria and southern Riverina NSW
Terrick Terrick National Park
including
Notes on the Friends of Terrick Terrick
Birders atop Mitiamo Rock (Mt Terrick Terrick). Photo: Duncan Turnbull.
Introduction
Better known to locals as Mitiamo Rock, Mt. Terrick is a low granitic outcrop rising above the flat riverine plains at Mitiamo, west of Echuca, in northern Victoria. This hill, and two others, plus flat land surrounding them are covered in bushland but surrounded by flat farmland. Together the grantic outcrops and surrounding open forest formed the core of Terrick Terrick State Park which protected one of the few areas of relatively undisturbed vegetation in northern Victoria.Overgrazing and the extraction of gravel in the past have had adverse impacts upon the areas surrounding the rocky outcrops. Yellow Gum was cut and Callitris Pine favoured. The understorey was depleted. Despite being a reserve for many years, some forestry and grazing continued until late in the twentieth century. Once these activities ceased, the vegetation began to recover but what we see today is quite different from how the area looked 200 years ago. There are more Callitris Pines and more tree thickets. In places, the shrub layer is no more. In other places, the shrub layer is recovering well, young shrubs growing amongst a few very old ones. Some of the original animal inhabitants are now locally extinct. But others, e.g. Echidna, have survived.
The purchase of an adjoining 1262 hectare grazing property ,which was still covered in native grasses and which supported more Plains-wanderers than any area of comparable size in Victoria, plus the largest dunnart colony in Victoria, means the reserve's status was upgraded to a National Park. The recently-acquired property is between the existing State Park and an area east of Bendigo Creek. In Victoria, grassy lowland plain is an endangered ecosystem.
Ms Dorothy Davies lived in this house before it and surrounding grassland
paddocks became a part of the park. Attendees at the annual Friends weekend (first weekend of October) can camp alongside the house. (K Stockwell)The creek area includes Lignum (a thin-leafed shrub which provides protection for small birds) and River Red Gum. The new addition means Terrick Terrick National Park has the largest native grassland area of any Victorian conservation park.
Before the large new addition, this park covered an area of 2,500 hectares. Additions have increased the size to about 3,854 hectares.
The VEAC report on River Red Gum Forests released in July 2008 recommended that a number of indigenous grasslands on the Patho Plain be added a non-contiguous parts of the park. Most of the grasslands were purchased from private owners by DSE over the past few years. If accepted, these additions will mean the National park will increase in area by 3,483 hectares. A further 220 hectares likely to be acquired by the Crown this year (2008) could be added to the park.
The report calls for some small areas of public land which have been cropped illegally to be restored in order to enhance grassland and woodland ecosystems. VEAC also recommends improved fencing for parts of Bendigo (Mt Hope) Creek.
Terrick Terrick National Park protects four distinct habitat areas:
- rocky (granitic) outcrops
- open forest, including White Cyupress Pine woodland
- indigenous grassland plains
- riverine areas (including Bendigo Creek and dams)
There is a different composition of plants and animals in each zone.
Terrick Terrick National Park has Victoria's largest stand of native White Cypress Pine, meaning parts of the park have a European rather than Australian appearance.
Terrick Terrick protects several species of plant which are rare and threatened in the region, e.g. Annual Buttons, Pepper Grass, Bottle Bluebush, Fragrant Leech Orchid, Murray Swainson Pea, Deane's Wattle and Shiny Correa. The Grey Kangaroo, Black Wallaby and Tree Goanna are common here. Threatened or endangered birds likely to be observed include Gilbert's Whistler, Mallee Ringneck, Cockatiel, Diamond Firetail, Peaceful Dove, Eastern Yellow Robin (possibly a hybrid between southern and northern forms) , Southern Whiteface, Grey-crowned Babbler and Brown Tree Creeper (subspecies Victoria). The Black Honeyeater has occasionally been observed. A pair of Painted Honeyeaters recently had a nest in the Park.
Western Gerygone is sometimes observed on the western side of the reserve, rarely elsewhere in the Park.
Both local and Tasmanian forms of Striated Pardalote and Silvereye have been observed in the Park. The local form of Striated Honeyeater has a red spot on the shoulder whereas the Tasmania form has a yellow spot. Identify the Tasmanian form of Silvereye by the rufous (brown) colour on its sides.
Diamond Firetail at Terricks (David Ong)
Access the open forest and rocky outcrop section of the Park from Mitiamo Forest Road, at southern end of park. Pamphlet box at entrance. VicRoads Map 30 E4. Topographic map: Mitiamo-Patho 7725-N 1:50,000 (VicMap).
There is a well-kept picnic ground at the base of Mt Terrick Terrick (Mitiamo Rock) and overnight camping is permitted in a recently relocated camp ground (contact the ranger on 5450 3951 in advance). The camp ground is now separate from, but adjacent to, the day visitor area.
There are no motels or holiday flats in the immediate area. Such accommodation is available, however, in Echuca-Moama, Lockington, Cohuna, Gunbower (Hotel) and elsewhere.
Apart from Mt Terrick Terrick (Mitiamo Rock) itself, few visit this park. But it is worth a visit, especially in Spring when the everlastings are in bloom.
Mt Terrick Terrick illustrates the old saying that what is a mountain in one region may not even be called a hill in another: it is a mere 95 metres high. The "Rock" can be climbed in a few minutes but allows great views across the very flat plains of northern Victoria.
Rock Isotome in rock crevasse, Mt Terrick Terrick (D Ong)Near one of the other granitic outcrops, Reigal Rock, there are some aboriginal wells, both large and small, one of which still has a rock cover lying alongside it! And the cap fits. There are some aboriginal wells on the western side of Mt Terrick Terrick.
Now that cattle grazing has ended and rabbit numbers have fallen, the vegetation is recovering particularly well, there are lots of young pine trees and everlastings are thriving. In places, wattle and hop bush are reappearing. Hakea, Sandalwood, Drooping She-oak and Bulloke are regenerating well on the eastern side of the cemetery.
Unfortunately introduced weeds like Paterson's Curse, Horehound, Wheel Cactus (Prickly Pear), Box Thorn and Capeweed are a problem.
As a management tool, sheep will continue to lightly graze the grasslands area (only) to help keep introduced grasses at bay, to encourage the growth of native grasses and to help ensure that the grassland meets the fastious requirements of the Plains-wanderer.
Plains-wanderer (D Ong)The grassland plain addition was managed by the Davies family on a low-input basis, grazing stock at conservative levels, since the early 1900s until the late 1990s. They had no need to add super phosphate, herbicides and other chemicals. Fortunately for animals such as the Plains-wanderer and the Hooded Scaley-foot, and plants such as Plains Leek-orchid and Annual Buttons, the owners were not tempted by the economic returns supposedly offered by the addition of super phosphate and so forth. Rather, they preferred the conservative approach and enjoyed a unique life-style. No fewer than 27 of the 1200 indigenous plants recorded for the property are of significance. Annual Buttons, which grows on the property and no where else, was believed to be extinct until discovered growing on this property.
The grassland supports the largest known colony of Plains-wanderers in Victoria. The Plains-wanderer is a small bird resembling Button Quail. This is a fastidious bird, demanding native grasses and daisies and grassland tall enough to conceal it from predators. Its plumage offers excellent camouflage. A Deniliquin bird enthusiast, recently sighted 27 Plains-wanderer on the grassland area. Parks Victoria believe that over 100 individuals of this species live within the Park.
Indigenous grasslands at Terrick Terrick (K Stockwell)The park's grassland birds are not prolific in number. Apart from Plains-wanderer, some other birds often observed on the grasslands include Australian (Richards) Pipit, Brown Songlark and Rufous Songlark.
The endangered Hooded Scaley-foot is a legless lizard which grows up to 450mm in length.
The grasslands are home to Victoria's largest colony of Fat-tailed Dunnarts. Dunnarts may rely on a periodic abundance of such insects as locusts to stimulate breeding. A local ecologist believes that locusts and grasshoppers play an inmportant role in the ecosystem and should not sprayed within the park. For more information, check out his Save The Locust site. Many species of birds also feast on locusts and grasshoppers.
The best time for visiting here is Spring. It is usually very hot in summer. In summer and autumn, gaiters are advisable to protect against grass seeds. March Flies can be annoying in autumn. It is wise to avoid walking through high grass: the Brown Snake is found here. A walking circuit could incorporate Mitiamo Rock, Reigal's Rock and Rogers Road.
Xerochrysum bracteatum (D Ong)A 'Friends' group was formed late in 2006 (see below). The Friends Group runs an open weekend in the Park (e.g. the weekend after the AFL Grand Final weekend) in late September or early October each year.
There are a number of grassland reserves in this area, including Terrick Terrick East NCR (corner Tomara Road and Clee Road), Tomara Gilgai NCR, Roslynmead NCR (between Davis and Murray roads), Patho NCR (off Kelly Road), Kotta NCR (alongside Whitfield Road), Pinegrove NCR (alongside Mitiamo-Echuca Road), Warup NCR (alongside Pinegrove Road), Canegrass NCR (off Baxter Road), Millewa NCR (south end of Cantwell Road) and Glassons Grassland.
Visit this area with Echuca Bird Observers and well-known ornithologist Peter Allan ~ check the birding pages to see if an outing is coming up. Check the VNPA Bushwalking and Activities book (bi-annual) for date of next organised bushwalk (if any this half-year) in the Park.
Greenhouse offset scheme may benefit Terricks
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) has received an offer to revegetate about 150 hectares of degraded land within Terrick Terrick National Park. The cost of revegetating parts of Ferris and Riegal paddocks is estimated to be around $250,000 and will be met using greenhouse gas offset monies. Infested with weeds, both paddocks have been ploughed and grazed in the past. Areas where indigenous grasses and shrubs have 'come back well' will not be affected. DSE has offered to help prepare the soil and has ensured that there are negotiations with Parks Victoria, Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park and representatives of the traditional owners. Any works must comply with the Park's Management Plan and should not impinge on grasslands used by the endangered Plains-wanderer.DSE hopes that work can commence before the autumn break either this year or next.
The Friends group, the park grazing manager and the park ranger have suggested that provision be made for ongoing management (weed and pest control) of the revegetated area. Parks Victoria has insufficient resources for this.
In addition, work has commenced on a wildlife corridor across private land to link the main area of forest in the Park to Bendigo Creek in the east and Bullock Creek in the west. March 2008
Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park
by Chris Colborn.
A Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park group has been formed.This Friends organization, with the support of Parks Victoria, seeks to preserve and protect this small gem of a National Park in central northern Victoria near the town of Mitiamo.
Terrick Terrick is an important National Park because it protects some of the last remaining native vegetation of the northern Victorian plains as well as being the habitat of a range of rare and endangered animals. It contains the largest standing White Pine (Cypress-pine) forest in Victoria. It also includes stands of Buloke, Grey and Yellow Box, and a fragmented understorey of remnant woodland plants, such as Hopbush, Gold-dust Wattle and Deane's Wattle.
Significantly, it encompasses remnants of the last remaining native grassland in Northern Victoria. Plants such as Annual Buttons and Plains Leek-orchids, Murray Swainson-pea, and the Red Swainson-pea flourish in the grasslands, while along the Bendigo Creek section other vegetation types such as Lignum swamps and Black Box woodland, with its associated animals, can be found.
Over thirty plant species of conservation significance are found in the Park, including more than twelve that are listed as nationally threatened. Most of the Cypress-pines are over a hundred years old. In the wooded section mammals such as Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Common Brushtail Possums, Swamp Wallaby and several species of bats may be found. Reptiles such as Gould's Sand Monitors and several species of snakes, including the endangered Carpet Python, are to be seen around the fascinating and striking granite outcrops or under the beautiful Cypress-pine woodlands.
Here too, such special birds as Gilbertıs Whistler, Southern Whiteface, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Crested Shrike-tit, Hooded and Red-cap Robins, Painted Button-quail and Australian Ringneck Parrots make their home. Threatened species such as Grey-crowned Babblers and Bush Stone-curlew are also found here. Occasionally rare vagrants turn up too, such as Red-chested Button-quail, Inland Dotterel and Grey Falcon.
Over 170 species of birds have been recorded in the Park. Out on the grassland section unique, beautiful and rare animals are to be found. This is the home of one of the rarest birds in the world, the Plains-wanderer. Here too is found the strikingly marked Hooded Scaly-foot, the small Curl Snake and other lizards such as the Eastern Stone Gecko. A delicate little marsupial, the Fat-tailed Dunnart also makes his home here.
Unusual invertebrates such as the Plainsland Frog Hopper and Gumleaf Grasshopper may be found here too, as well as Wolf Spiders, Centipedes and Scorpions. There is evidence of past Aboriginal occupation which includes midden sites, rock wells, burial sites and scarred trees.
The name Terrick Terrick is of Aboriginal origin, although its meaning is not clear. There is a network of roads that take you through the wooded section of the Park. Maps and further information on the Park can be obtained from the local ranger in charge, Mark Tscharke. He is based at Kerang, and can be contacted on (03) 5450 3951. Interested members of the public are invited to become members of the Friends Group and support this special Park.
The Friends of Terricks plan to run a special weekend each Spring where there will be talks and activities. Various outings are also planned for throughout the year.
Projects are being set up to survey the Parkıs fauna and flora, and volunteers will be needed for these activities. A bi-annual Newsletter is to be published.
Membership is $10 per annum. An application form for membership and further details can be obtained either from the Friends of Terricks Secretary Simon Starr or from the Convener Fred Belli (e-mail fbelli at bordernet. com. au phone 03 5455 7410). Or, simply send name and address and subscription to the Secretary.
From time to time, the group prepares newsletters containing information about a Friends weekend in October, some notes about bird and plant sightings and lots more. Australian residents who wish a copy of the latest newsletter and/or wish to join the Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park should contact the Secretary, 106 Marfleets Road PYRAMID HILL Victoria 3575. At the time of preparing this, the annual membership fee was $10.
Other nearby grassland reserves
The VEAC draft proposals paper (July 2007) recommends that those grasslands marked with a * be discontiguous parts of Terrick Terrick National Park. The draft report recommends that sheep be used as a management tool to protect ecological qualities and ensure optimal conditions for the endangered Plains-wanderer.
* Canegrass Swamp ~ a small indigenous grassland reserve off Baxter Road, west of Echuca
* Glassons Grassland ~ owned by the Trust for Nature, this indigenous grassland is located south-east of Terricks. Locals help manage the property and use sheep as a management tool to keep weeds at bay and to help maintain optimal conditions for Plains-wanderer. Direct enquiries to Trust for Nature (Mr Eris O'Brien).
* Kotta NCR
Kotta NCR is a 226 hectare grassland reserve alongside Whitfield Road Kotta (West of Echuca). It adjoins Glassons Grassland (which is owned by Trust for Nature and managed for the Trust by local naturalists) and privately-owned convenant-protected indigenous grassland. It has been reserved to help protect the endangered Plains Wanderer, Fat-tailed Dunnart and endangered indigenous grasses.* Patho Native Flora Reserve and NCR
Patho Flora Reserve and NCR is a small area (75ha) of native grassland west of Echuca. Because most of the indigenous grassland which covered the northern plains have been lost, this is an important reserve. It is treeless. Parks Victoria recently acquired adjoining native grassland to add to the reserve. A nearby lignum swamp may offer better birding opportunities. Location: Kelly Road, off Tomara Road, VicRoads Map 30 H3.* Pinegrove NCR ~ a small area (38ha) of endangered northern plains grassland alongside the Mitiamo-Echuca Road. Gilgaes and natural drainage lines are still present.
* Roslynmead NCR ~ indigenous grassland at Roslymead (Patho Plain).
*Terrick Terrick East NCR ~ a 212 hectare grassland reserve at the corner of Tomara and Clee Roads, east of Terrick Terrick N.P. It not only provide suitable habitat for the endangered Plains Wanderer but also contains populations of two nationally threatened plants: Chariot Wheels and Slender Darling Pea. Some birds uncommon in the area are sometimes observed here. In November 2007 Inland Dotterels, Banded Lapwing and Australian Pratincoles were observed in this reserve.
Australian Pratincole at Terricks East (D Ong)*The Meadows Wildlife Reserve
* Tomara Gilgais NCR ~ 336 hectares of endangered northern plains grassland south of Terrick Terrick East NCR. Plains wanderer and Brolga have been observed on the grassland which features some significant flora, including Umbrella Wattle, Spiny Lignum and Yakka Grass.
* Wanurp NCR ~ a 120 hectare indigenous grassland reserve alongside Pinegrove Road, west of Echuca. Known habitat for Bush Stone Curlew.
Bush Stone Curlew (K Stockwell)Terrick Terrick National Park
Northern Victoria & Southern Riverina Conservation and Environment Site
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