Celebrating 30 years of wetland conservation

Volunteers with the Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park (FOY) have been caring for and rehabilitating biodiversity across Yellagonga Regional Park for more than 30 years! They do amazing work to protect the wildlife and flora and encourage biodiversity within our natural areas.

What started as a small residents group motivated to rehabilitate the old farming lands in 1990, the group has now grown to over 100 casual and 40 weekly volunteers that participate in the rehabilitation of Yellagonga Regional Park every single week! The group is a not-for-profit and non-government conservation organisation with the mission of ensuring long-term environmental sustainability with compatible human use.

FOY not only undertakes a remarkable effort to introduce more Indigenous flora for the nourishment of wildlife throughout Yellagonga Regional Park; but also to enhance the area’s biodiversity.

Achieving 30 years of environmental protection

Over the years, the FOY have achieved a huge amount to protect the natural area. Since their beginning in the 1990s, the group has consistently removed countless invasive and non-native flora planted during European settlement and farming days, such as Canna Lilys, Pepper Trees, Olive Trees and Castor Oil Bushes.

In 2010, bat boxes were installed all across Yellagonga Regional Park by the group, some of which you might see installed on trees as you walk around the Regional Park today! In 2018 for their 25th Anniversary, the group received a grant and certificate of appreciation from the Major of the City of Joondalup. In 2019 the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) granted the group funding to install nine ‘cockatubes’ throughout the park which provide homes for the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo. All these great achievements were reflected on and celebrated at their recent 30th birthday celebration.

The Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park have shared that even their many smaller milestones make them proud. They dedicate their brilliant work to their volunteers that help improve biodiversity and vegetation condition by planting native species and removing weeds.

Saving turtles

FOY have recently joined the Saving our Snake-necked Turtle program to protect the turtles in the Yellagonga wetlands. Recent studies have shown that female turtles are often killed while trying to nest, and very few juveniles survive each nesting season. Because of this, the turtle population in the Yellagonga wetlands is declining.

As a part of the Saving our Snake-necked Turtle program, the FOY will patrol the Yellagonga wetlands over Spring and protect nesting females and their nests, as well as logging data using the TurtleSAT App.

Turtles prefer to dig their nests and lay their eggs in more natural areas, surrounded by native plants. While travelling to their nest location, they would normally seek shelter from predators, like birds, under the cover of native vegetation. However, some areas around the Yellagonga wetlands were cleared for farming in the past and are now open grassed parks. FOY actively replant and reforest sections of the Regional Park, which provides nesting locations for turtles, as well as providing shelter from predators for female turtles and their hatchlings.

Turtles bury their eggs on land, usually near wetlands in the warmer months. The eggs hatch several months later, and the babies make their way to the water where they begin their lives. Unfortunately, nesting turtles leave a scent trail which attracts foxes, and they dig up the eggs. Turtle eggs and hatchlings are also vulnerable to uncontained domestic pets, humans walking/cycling through bushland areas and other wildlife.

FOY works alongside the 1Million Turtle Program and the Saving our Snake-necked Turtles (SOSNT) teams to promote awareness of vulnerable species and try to protect the turtles from becoming a threatened or endangered species. The group uses the TurtleSAT app to record where the nests are and report nests that have been destroyed. This year, the group is supported by the Cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo, the DBCA and SOSNT to start a nest protection program.

Turtles are more likely to nest in dense flora close to the water’s edge, so the group also conducts planting closer to the lake to encourage turtles to stick to the area rather than journeying through risky open grassed areas or across roads.

Everyone can become a Citizen Scientist! You can help protect the Southwestern snake-necked turtles by downloading the TurtleSAT App and record any sightings or damaged nests that you see. The data you provide will give a meaningful record and can be used to highlight the problem and to help save our turtles.

Emerging threats to our wetlands
FOY advocates for the Park in decision-making processes and educates the community about the area to protect and conserve it. Yellagonga Regional Park is an important area for environmental conservation and biodiversity. Some of the threats to Yellagonga Regional Park include that local fauna are lacking food sources and safe nesting places. FOY conducts revegetation to provide more food and nesting habitat for native fauna.

Water levels are rising in the lake, which is causing the paper bark trees (Melaleucas) to uproot as they are no longer having a dry period over summer. The uprise in water levels is due to deforestation and suburban sprawl north of the regional park with the underground aquifer diverting its water to our lakes. FOY have begun to plant paper bark trees further back from the water’s edge to begin the revegetation process.

Feral animals such as foxes and cats are preying upon native animals in the Park. Animals native to the area, such as swamp hens, Quendas, Southwestern snake-necked turtles, ground-nesting water birds, Bobtail lizards, Goannas, Rakali and snakes are becoming threatened and are at risk of extinction, partly due to predation from these animals. The Cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo and DBCA conduct regular fox control in the Park to reduce the number of foxes.

How can you help?

• Plant locally native species in your garden that will provide food and habitat for fauna.
• Allow spaces, such as rockeries, for reptiles to live safely in your garden.
• Switch to environmentally friendly ways to fertilize and weed your garden and consider using home-made environmentally friendly fertilizers such your own home compost system or hand weeding methods.
• Consider using rodenticide-free baits and chemical-free, humane options against pests to avoid second generation poisoning.
• Keep your dog on a leash at all times and keep cats enclosed on your property to prevent negative impacts to native fauna.
• If you see feral animals in the regional park, download the free app ‘feralscan’ to record your sighting. The app is nationwide, which helps researchers to gather further data to feral animal locations and populations.
• Pick up rubbish and don’t litter. You could aim to take 3 pieces of additional rubbish with you when you leave any natural area – it all makes a difference!
• Get involved with your local environment group to help reduce weeds, improve biodiversity and revegetate areas, as well as raising awareness and showing that people care!

The Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park welcome people of all ages and abilities to their workdays. It is an opportunity to meet new people, exercise and enjoy nature. The team shares knowledge and experiences and will train anyone new to the group. There are many opportunities to volunteer and make a difference. The Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park have made a great difference to the Park over the last 30 years, and more volunteers will help them continue their amazing work!