Flora, fauna and recreational images and information
In the Park today
Send in images of what you’ve seen in the park of late and we’ll pop them in.
We also have some articles about the park from local newspapers and other organisations.
3/1/2024 Owlet-nightjar sighting
An Owlet-nightjar was observed roosting during the day in the entrance to a bird box in the backyard of a bush next to Woowookarung, Rob took some photos of this shy resident who is now on the Wooky Bird List.
20/12/23 Stubble Quail sighting
Our keen-eyed FoCC secretary, Jeff, spotted this Stubble Quail and 4 chicks by the side of Dozed Track, near Recreation Rd, and snapped this shot – you can see the circled chicks only with careful inspection.
20/12/23 Butterflies in abundance
With recent rains and spring flowers, conditions have been ideal for butterflies. Get hold of a copy of our Indigenous Insects of Southern Ballarat pamphlet and see how many you can identify! I took these two pictures on Bakers Rd and thought they were two distinct species but with some help from David L and Peter K, found that they are both Common Brown – female above, male below.
19/4/23 The Bunny Trail
3/12/22 Rachael sent in this lovely image of a koala mum and joey on Bakers Rd. Hope we get to see more images like this in the future!
6/7/22 A new seat along the Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail!
Make your way up to the Wallaby Walk Back at the top of the trail, and have a rest on this well designed seat, recently installed by Mitch and Rory from Parks Vic. Awesome!
29/6/22 Friends have been sending in more fungi photos! Fantastic fungi, photos by Bob
28/6/22 Some of the members of the Woowookarung biosphere seen this week. Fungi and Birds. Photos by Rob
25/6/22 Courier Article “Woowookarung wins major award”
23/6/22 Courier Article “Push for a national Koala Protection Act”
8/1/22 Spotted by Paul in Greenhaven estate next to Woowookarung
11/11/21 Ballarat Times article by Edwina Williams
20/10/21 Courier Article by Rochelle Kirkham
17/10/21 On the Wildflower Walk
16/10/21 – Wildflower Walk
15 August ABC – Off Track
Koala habitat study, Phytophthora studies and numerous Federation University studies.
10. The development and launching of the Park Plan in 2018. The restoration principles of the plan were exhibited at “The Australian Pavilion Biennale Architetture 2018 in Venice
11. The ongoing celebration of the Park by annual wildflower walks, mining relic walks, backyard bird counts, the hosting of leading authors such as Bruce Pascoe and hopefully Sean Dooley in September
Below: From The Courier June 26 2021 by Melanie Whelan
Volunteers quietly getting things done, improving our shared spaces… Well done!
Channel 9 News 23/4/21
17/3/21 Woowookarung RP. Image credit: Rob
Courier article by Roger Thomas who identified it for me and popped it in the paper! It was about 15cm long!
28/2/21 A chubby looking koala in Canadian (image credit: Matt)
23/1/21 Image Credit Jeff
“Watering the trees”
The trees and shrubs were raised and planted by volunteers early last year and planted in Spring 2020. The trees and shrubs were placed to compliment the soon to be constructed Dementia-friendly Forest and Sensory Trail.
13/1/21 Image Credit Rob L.
Dementia Trail: Blue-winged Parrot
Woowookarung is being visited by little Blue-Winged Parrots at the moment. Their breeding season is from Oct – Jan, when they nest in a small hollow and lay 4-6 eggs which take about 3 weeks to hatch. After they care for their young for a month they head off north for another year, going as far north as southern Queensland and west to SA. If you walk quietly up the Dementia Trail to the top end where there is a 4WD bog hole, you may see several pairs, often feeding on the ground or having a drink or bath in the water.
8/1/21 Image Credit Kathleen N.
Buninyong: Satin Flycatcher, Grey Fan-tail
10/1/21 Image credit Rob
Central Woowookarung Blue-Tongue Lizard
Undated Image credit Kathleen N.
Eastern Spinebill, Echidna, Frog, King Parrot (Buninyong in Dec) and Kookaburras
21/12/20 Image credit: Joel
Christmas came early for this keen birder! FoCC’s beloved Powerful Owl was sighted this evening in an undisclosed location in Mt Helen. Three Powerful Owls to be precise! Two juvenile owls and (likely) a parent owl. Trilling (begging vocalisations) and head-bobbing were characterful antics on display. Meanwhile, the adult owl showcased its long and broad wings as it flew majestically with stealthy silence! What a treat! 
7 May 2018 – Central Woowookarung
Land Crayfish
Roger Thomas wrote an article in the Courier on May 25th about a Land Crayfish chimney seen in Wombat Forest – this 6cm chimney was seen in Mt Clear in the park in March 2017. Read his article here.
Southern Water Skink in Canadian Regional Park
In April 2017, 2 adult and 2 juveniles were found under a board in Canadian Regional Park. The adults were about 20cm long. Females give birth to litters of up to 8 young. The skinks feed on invertebrates, small frogs and other skinks.