EEK!

Some of the living things that you find in running streams aren't all that cute.

We found this leech in a spring just near Running Stream.

Leeches love nothing better than to suck your blood. They don't hurt you because they use a natural  anesthetic which means that you can't feel them when they latch on to you. They simply fall off when they've had their fill but you can just pull them off or use salt which they hate the taste off. But because they also secrete an anticoagulant enzyme into your blood stream, which makes your blood flow freely and not coagulate (or clot and stop), it means that blood often keeps flowing after the leech is removed.

All this means that you don't want to get them on you if you can avoid it. They really are quite revolting!

Have you had an experience with leeches? If so, let us know!

P.S four more sleeps until Christmas kids!

I SPY

I spy with my little eye something beginning with 's'.

Can you guess what it is??? Every day it brings us one step closer to Christmas which is now only nine  sleeps away!!

We've had so much rain lately that all the streams are running fast and filling up all the dams. At night you can really hear the chorus of frogs singing their hearts out with joy.

But  I wonder if those storm clouds will clear by Christmas?

What are your Christmas wishes?

I know that last year, one Puggles Club member wanted a tortoise for Christmas and Santa delivered one to his doorstep! Can you guess what happened to him???

DISCOVERING, DIVINING AND DEFENDING

Puggles Club members were out in force last Sunday to mark the start of National Water Week. http://www.nationalwaterweek.org.au/index.php 


Gathering at the Running Stream, these cool kids inspected the water way and were delighted to discover a freshwater spring nearby, bubbling up from underground. Hudson had stumbled upon the spring two years ago and after a short trek upstream, he found it again and dug it out with his hand so that the other children could see how it worked.


Huddie's Spring is surrounded by little mint plants making the water that flows from it very delicious. It's just one of over one hundred springs in the area. In fact, the mountain is a bit like a fountain! 


Puggles Club members also had a fascinating lesson in divining or dousing for water. Trevor gave them each a wire wand which they held in one hand (keeping their thumbs off the metal) while walking across the paddock and asking the question; "where is good quality permanent underground running water?". At one spot all the wands moved across their chests indicating where the water was and which way it was flowing. It really was like magic! 

The kids then joined members and friends of the Running Stream Water Users Association for a picnic on the banks of the Running Stream to Defend Our Water. 

Water is the most important thing on Earth. It covers three quarters of the planet but only 1% of that water is drinkable. We need fresh clean water to live because our bodies are largely made up of water. Babies are 77% water! Old people are 50% water. So we need to make sure nothing damages our precious water systems.

What are some of things we need water for?

CHANGE OF VENUE

HI PUGGLES!

We've had to make a last minute change to our meeting place tomorrow. Don't worry, it's not too far away. Just down Cherry Tree Hill at the Running Stream Hall.

From there we will go to the junction of the two tributaries of the Running Stream for a picnic and some platypus spotting.

Same time: 12 noon
Different place: Running Stream Hall

See you there!

RSWUA LAUNCHES ‘PUGGLES CLUB’!

The Running Stream Water Users Association is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and we’re kicking off the festivities with the launch of the Puggles Club, a special sub-branch of the Association for kids!

The Puggles Club is a cool gang of kids learning about running streams and all the amazing creatures that play in them.

We all know how important running streams are, not just for us humans but for all living creatures. So we’re inviting young people to join us in our mission to protect them.

We’ve created an online activity area where club members can post comments and send in information about the many different animals they see in their own creeks and streams (http://pugglesclub.blogspot.com).

We’re also planning an excursion to the actual Running Stream above the village of Running Stream at the Gateway to Central NSW where we hope to spot elusive platypus and their baby puggles! Teaming up with the Association’s participation in the Lock The Gate Alliance’s National Day of Action to Defend Our Water, this excursion aims to highlight the valuable role that water plays in our lives.

Families are invited to join us at ‘Morven Park’, 6216 Castlereagh Highway, Cherry Tree Hill at 12 noon on Sunday Oct. 16th for a picnic at the source of Running Steam.

Please let us know if you and your family would like to join in the fun by calling Nell on 0413 746909 or Chrissie on 63588 531.

Looking forward to welcoming you all on board!

 

Here's a pic from our last excursion!

Posted for Nell

WATER FACTS

1. WATER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ON EARTH
2. WATER COVERS 3/4 OF THE PLANET
3. ONLY 1% IS DRINKABLE
4. WE NEED CLEAN FRESH WATER TO LIVE BECAUSE OUR BODIES ARE LARGELY MAKE UP OF WATER:
- Babies are 77% water
- Grown men are 65% water
- grown women are 58% water
- old people are 50% water
5. WATER IS MADE UP OF 2 HYDROGEN MOLECULES AND 1 OXYGEN MOLECULE = H2O
6. IT CAN BE LIQUID, SOLID (ICE) OR GAS (STEAM/VAPOUR)

QUESTION: What sort of things do we need water for?

Science Day at Ilford Public School

Puggles Club members recently joined students from Ilford, Glen Alice and Sofala for Science Day activities at Ilford School. In small groups we thought about how we are all water users and discussed where our water comes from and the importance of water in relation to ourselves and the local ecology. We looked at topographical maps to see how our communities are linked by water and the kids told stories about their local rivers, creeks, springs and dams... including a number of platypus sightings! Then some fabulous pictures were drawn of favourite water places and/or favourite water animals. Here are a few of them .....

 

 

By Mel, Year 5/6 Glen Alice                                                      By Austin, Year 3/4 Sofala

 

By Gina, K-2 Ilford

CARING FOR CREEKS

There are lots of kids caring for creeks all over Australia. This is a drawing from some kids at Camp Kedron who are looking after Werreandra Creek in the Kuringai National Park.

What sorts of things are they doing to look after their creek?

Can you spot the platypus?

There's another group of people caring for all the creeks of Ingleside which is also on the edge of Kuringai National Park.

There's another platypus in this creek. Can you spot it?

What other creatures can you see living in this creek?

Which side of the creek would you rather live on?

Can you draw a picture of your favorite creek and send it to us? If you can, we'll put it up on the Puggles Club blog! Send it to nell@themovies.com.au

Happy drawing!

Carwell Creek

This is Carwell Creek after rain.

*what can you hear?

*What flowers are blooming now?

CAPS, ANYONE?

Gina and her dad Gav are modeling our excellent Running Stream Water Users Association caps which feature a cute platypus on the logo. They only cost $15.00 each ($20.00 if you want to buy a membership as well), and all proceeds go towards funding the work of the Association. So if you'd like to place an order for one, email nell@themovies.com.au and we'll get one out to you asap.
Keep Running Streams Running!

THE FIRST PUGGLES EXCURSION

A bunch of cool kids and their extended families went on an expedition to see if they could spot some platypuses. First stop was Running Stream, just behind Foxwood Farm Cafe at Running Stream.

Savvy was leading and she wrote this story:

The baby red kangaroo belonged to Glenys who runs the Foxwood Farm Cafe. It's name is Boomer.

After our exploration of Running Stream we went to Cunningham's Creek on the other side of the mountain to see if we could spot any platypus there. Augie is Savvy's older brother and he wrote this story:

Cunningham's Creek flows through Hunter and Frank's place and they have a really cool spot in a tree by the creek which is perfect for platypus spotting. It is now the official Puggles Club Headquarters. Here's what it looks like:

Because it was mid winter, we think that most of the platypuses and their baby puggles were hiding in burrows in the creek bank. We're going to try again in springtime on September the 17th. Stay tuned for more details. Hopefully you'll be able to join us then and help us find a platypus or two!

A PLATYPUS IS A PARADOX

This is a drawing of a platypus by an artist called Eugene von Guerard. It was done way back in 1854 (that's 157 years ago kids!) and the title of the work is 'Billed Animal - Ornithorhynchus paradoxus'.  This was the first scientific name given to this strange creature that has a bill like a duck and a tail like a beaver. "Ornithorhynchus" means "bird snout" in Greek and "Paradoxus" comes from the word "paradox" which means something that is hard to believe but true - just like the platypus! Later on, the name was officially changed to 'Ornithorhynchus anatinus' which means "bird snout duck-like".

We're going to go looking for a platypus or two in the Running Stream this Sunday (June 12). So if you want to join us, come and meet up at 4pm at Foxwood Farm Café, Running Stream. Platypus are very shy so we're going to have to be very quiet. There'll be a prize for the best platypus spotter! If you can't make it, don't worry. We'll take some photos and tell you all about it here on the Puggles Club Blog next Monday. We might even do some drawings too, just like Eugene's!

HANGING OUT WITH THE FRUIT BATS

Thousands of fruit bats (Little Red Flying Foxes) came to visit Coco Creek in February 2008. They stayed for a month.

In the daytime they would hang upside down in the tall river oaks, squealing and squabbling amongst themselves. At dusk they would fly off silently into Wollemi National Park to feed on the nectar and pollen of flowering Bloodwood trees. Then before dawn they would fly back again to their roost at Coco Creek.

I tried to count them as they flew off one night, there were about ten thousand of them. After a month they all disappeared off somewhere else, don’t know where.

Flying foxes have a good sense of direction and they follow along water courses to find their way around.

Their favourite food is pollen and nectar from eucalpyt trees, although they sometimes do raid fruit orchards.

Do you know another name for a flying fox roost?

EASTER BUNNIES!

It's Easter and that mean lots of hot cross buns and chocolate! And sometimes you'll even find chocolate shaped in the form of a rabbit. Why? Because Easter is a celebration of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, a time when plants bloom and baby animals are born. Rabbits have lots and lots of babies so they are a symbol of spring and fertility and Easter time.

Rabbits are an introduced species in Australia but they like to drink at running streams too. They've got lovely soft fur.

What do you think we should have as a symbol of Easter in Australia, given that it is Autumn time for us?

Are you having an Easter egg hunt in your backyard? If so, let us know how many eggs you collect!

YABBY-DABBY-DOO

When you go yabbying you should always throw back yabbies with eggs or small yabbies. It helps preserve the species as they can breed or grow up to be caught again or feed a platypus. A yabbie's eggs are small black spheres underneath the tail. The yabbies will be trying to curl up their tail to protect their eggs.

1. What is the minimum size you should catch a yabby at?

2. Where do yabbies go when a dam or creek dries up?

ELVERS IS IN THE HOUSE!

This crazy creature is a baby eel, otherwise known as an elver. He and his buddies swim up running streams all along the east coast of Australia. But they never make it across the Great Dividing Range. It's too steep. And besides, they have to swim all the way back out to sea when they grow up into big eels.

So this means that there are elvers and eels in Running Stream, which flows east, but not in Cunninghams Creek which flows west, even though they are very close to each other. Incredible!

What other streams have eels in them?

COCO CREEK IN FLOOD

Last December Coco Creek in Capertee Valley came down in flood. Here is a picture of the raging torrent of water.

Sometimes in drought the creek is completely dry. Wombats have their burrows along the banks. Small fish and frogs live in the water and I once saw an eel. There are a few snakes, tortoises and echidnas around. Wallabies come to drink here.

Did you know that eels only live in running streams that connect to the ocean? Coco Creek runs into the Capertee River, which eventually connects to the Hawkesbury River, and then the ocean.

Do you know what baby eels are called?

HUNTER'S PUGGLE FACT FILE

Thanks to Hunter Forbes for this fantastic fact file!

It really is amazing to discover that the platypus lays eggs AND suckles its baby's with breast milk. No wonder the scientists refused to believe it at first.

And it's also incredible to think that they are venemous!

Does anyone know which ones are?

What part of this unique animal is venemous?

PIPPINELLA

We are getting lots of visits from a female king parrot who likes to drink from the nearby stream. We can tell she is a girl because of the lovely green feathers on her head (the male king parrot has a striking red head with green wings).

We have decided to name her Pippinella.

This was the name of the main character in the book 'Doctor Doolittle and the Green Canary' written by Hugh Lofting way back in 1924.

Pippinella had many adventures before she met Doctor Doolittle, a very kind man who could talk to animals. She told the good Doctor all about her amazing life's journey and in one chapter she recounts her time in a coal mine, just before she was rescued by a very wealthy lady. Click here to read it Green Canary 7.pdf

Of course, parrots are very different to canaries. They are much bigger, for a start, and like to climb about on branches whereas canaries don't. They also like to be handled if they are tamed. Female canaries do not sing the beautiful songs that parrots often do but Pippinnella was a rare exception to this rule.

Do you have king parrots in your garden?

Can you tell us anything about them?

WHAT IS A PUGGLE?

A puggle is the affectionate name given to a baby platypus.
It is also the name of a cross between a pug dog and a beagle.

These adorable puggles are twins.

What do you think their names should be?

WISHING YOU WELL

Did you know that there is a wishing well on Cherry Tree Hill? It is tucked in under the Castlereagh Highway and fresh water trickles into it from a nearby spring that seeps through the rocks.

Back in 1848 it was just a small hole dug out of the earth to provide water for thirsty people crossing this part of the Great Dividing Range by horse and cart. In 1879 the well was enlarged to provide water "for man and beast".

What sort of men and beasts do you think might have drunk from this well?

We wish the wishing well well and hope it continues to be clean and healthy!

What is your wish?

MEET SWEETIE

Sweetie is a long-necked tortoise. Isn't she cute?! She was found on the road in Clandulla where she was in danger of being squashed! So we rescued her and released her back into the wild in Gang Gang Gully.

Where do you think she is now? Did she go up to the spring that feeds this stream on the top of Mt. Vincent? Or did she go downstream to Carwell Creek and on into the Cudgegong River?

Question #1: What towns does the Cudgegong River flow through?

Question #2: Is the water fresher upstream or downstream?

LISTEN TO THE RUNNING STREAM

Click here to hear Coco Creek trickling through the Capertee Valley (the 2nd largest river valley in the world after the Grand Canyon!).

You can also hear some of the creatures that live here:

1. Pobblebonk frogs

2. Fantailed Cuckoos

Vicky Powys recorded these sounds on her property and she says; "There are river oaks along the creek and a natural rocky habitat. Hope it stays that way."

Thanks Vicki!

WHAT DO PLATYPUS LOVE?

Running Streams!

Amazing fact #1:

Platypus lay eggs and suckle their young. This makes them one of only two families of monotremes in the world!

Question #1:

What is the other monotreme?

Question #2:

What can't you do in this running stream?