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?