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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.wanaturalists.org.au
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Western Australian Naturalists Club
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TZID:Australia/Perth
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DTSTART:20250101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Perth:20260703T191500
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Perth:20260703T210000
DTSTAMP:20260701T050108Z
CREATED:20260615T084046Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T050108Z
UID:10000740-1783106100-1783112400@www.wanaturalists.org.au
SUMMARY:Xanthorrhoea and Kingia: iconic grasstrees
DESCRIPTION:What Xanthorrhea is that? Or is it a Kingia?\n\nBack in 2020\, presenters Geoff and Linda\, along with other Western Botanical ecological consultancy staff\, noticed significant variation in Xanthorrhoea (Grasstrees) while undertaking surveys in the eastern wheatbelt.  When they investigated Xanthorrhoea nana\, they found three forms that were difficult to distinguish\, so they began taking notes\, specimens and DNA samples.  This led to observations of other species elsewhere in the south-west of WA and Central Australia\, expanding their collections and developing a better understanding of the variation within the genus. With assistance from the WA Herbarium and other researchers\, they are working towards a revision of the Xanthorrhoea genus in WA.\nGeoff Cockerton has been working with WA native flora since 1979\, commencing while at university\, initially as a native seed supplier and since then as a botanical consultant\, now working at Western Botanical consultancy.\nLinda Dalgliesh has worked as an ecologist in WA and Qld for the past 20 years and has skills in zoology and botany.\nAfter the main presentation there will be a short focus on Botswana with Diana Papenfus.
URL:https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/events/meeting-speaker-tbc/
LOCATION:Hew Roberts LT\, Nedlands Lecture Theatre\, Clifton St.\, Nedlands
CATEGORIES:General Meeting,Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/files/2026/06/Linda-Dalgliesh-and-Geoff-Cockerton.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Perth:20260710T191500
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Perth:20260710T213000
DTSTAMP:20260701T045845Z
CREATED:20260603T065014Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T045845Z
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SUMMARY:Lois Gearing on the Naretha Bluebonnet Parrot
DESCRIPTION:Lois Gearing will talk about the little-known Naretha Bluebonnet Parrot \nNote: This event will not be held in our usual venue. It has been changed to Zig-Zig Seminar Room\, 50 Railway Road\, Kalamunda\n\nNote: no RSVP required.\n\n \n\nTopic:\n\nThe Naretha Bluebonnet (Northiella narethae) is one of Australia’s least-known parrots — and one of the very last to be discovered\, formally described as recently as 1921. Even its name carries deep meaning: narethae is derived from the local Indigenous name for saltbush\, a vital and lifesaving food source in the remote and often hostile country this parrot inhabits. \nThis remarkable species is confined to the Myall belt of Western and South Australia\, on the fringe of the Nullarbor Plain — a landscape characterised by vast distances\, saline soils\, bluebush and saltbush\, and very few trees. It is a land where survival itself seems improbable\, yet the Naretha Bluebonnet has evolved to endure and persist. \nFor a time\, agricultural development across parts of this region inadvertently benefited the species by providing more reliable sources of water\, and flocks once numbered in the hundreds. However\, other landscape changes have since made survival far more challenging. Gone are the days of flocks of 400\, and populations have declined significantly\, particularly in Western Australia. \nIn the 1990s\, the then Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) established a pioneering captive breeding program in partnership with private aviculturists — a novel and forward-thinking initiative for Western Australia. As part of this program\, surplus birds were made available to the public through CALM-run auctions. These auctions not only helped support the program\, but also played a critical role in raising awareness of a parrot that\, until then\, very few people knew existed — or that it lived in WA at all. \nIt was through one of these CALM auctions that Lois and Wayne Gearing first came to meet the Naretha Bluebonnet and began what has become a decades-long commitment to the species\, not as owners\, but as guardians. Their involvement has spanned both intensive avicultural work and time spent in the bird’s remote homelands — landscapes that leave one asking how any creature survives there\, let alone breeds successfully. \nToday\, the greatest threat facing the Naretha Bluebonnet is the loss of nesting habitat. Suitable nesting trees are few and far between\, and many of the mature Allocasuarina pauper trees — relied upon for nesting hollows — are now splitting and collapsing with age. Regeneration of younger trees is minimal or absent. Without active intervention\, the lack of nesting trees places this resilient little parrot at serious risk of extinction. \nAs of 2026\, there are no Naretha Bluebonnets held in any zoos or wildlife parks in Australia. \nThis presentation explores the ecology of the Naretha Bluebonnet\, the harsh and beautiful landscapes it inhabits\, and the plants and trees essential to its survival — and tells the story of a small\, tough Australian battler that urgently needs our understanding\, advocacy and help. \n\n\nPlus:\n\nFocus/ Boffins talk – Mike and Rachel Green will give a talk on the Spotted Bowerbird. \n“Nature road show”. Members and visitors are encouraged to bring items to place on the display table or to send photographs to the MC in advance\, e.g. a sample flower\, an insect\, and so on – anything of natural history interest that has legally been obtained. If you wish to show a photograph\, please email it\, no later than the Wednesday before the meeting\, to our MC for this night\, and she/he will include it on her PowerPoint slides. We have a dedicated email for this purpose natclub@webco.com.au\nThing of the month / Things coming up next month: These two presentations are about things in nature happening this month and things coming up\, so if you have any photos or information\, send them to: natclub@webco.com.au\nDoor prizes: You could also be the lucky winner of a door prize. We make sure there are prizes for both members and visitors.\nRaffle: We will have a great raffle  – please raid your piggy bank for a bit more cash\, $5 for 3 tickets.\n\nTime: Please come at 7.15pm or earlier if you wish\, for a 7.30pm start as we start promptly. We are open from 6.45pm. We finish formal proceedings no later than 9.30pm.\nDonation: All this for only a donation of $3 per person for adult members ($0 for child members)\, and $5 per adult visitor and $1 per visiting child to help with the costs of running the club\, venue hire\, insurance and so on.  We do not have EFTPOS facilities yet.\nEntrance: It is a condition of entry that everyone signs in on arrival\, thank you.\nParking: Free parking in streets nearby.\nWheelchair access: available.\nToilets: around the corner from the seminar room.\nBookings: No bookings required.\nCOVID19: Even though restrictions have eased\, we will still encourage members and visitors to take precautions and please do not attend if unwell.
URL:https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/events/lois-gearing-2/
LOCATION:ZigZag Seminar Room\, 50 Railway Road\, Kalamunda
CATEGORIES:General Meeting,Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/files/2026/02/zanthus-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Bradley Cox":MAILTO:bradleywcox@outlook.com
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Perth:20260721T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Perth:20260721T213000
DTSTAMP:20260701T043812Z
CREATED:20260621T080105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T043812Z
UID:10000741-1784662200-1784669400@www.wanaturalists.org.au
SUMMARY:NSB: Highlights of the 2026 Notley
DESCRIPTION:What is the connection between the Lake Magenta Nature Reserve and the Nats Club? What is Spongolite?  Where is the Snail Trail?  Which native plant does the Bremer Bay Brewing Company uses to flavour its gin? Want to know the answers\, then this meeting is for you. \nThe 2026 Notley was a little different to previous years. Find out why\, then learn about and view photos of what we found on our guided tours of Lake Magenta Nature Reserve and Fitzgerald River National Park. Also learn about the wildlife of the Wellstead estuary and Native Dog peninsula at Bremer Bay..
URL:https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/events/nsb-highlights-of-the-2026-notley/
LOCATION:Undercroft Bridge Club\, Ron Chamberlain Dr\, Duncraig\, Western Australia\, Australia
CATEGORIES:General Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/files/2026/06/IMG_5252-1-scaled.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Willy Dadour (NSB Chair)":MAILTO:natsnorthernbranch@gmail.com
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