Added: 11/06/2006 |
Rare Species Found in Fitzgerald River NPFitzgerald River NP is also home to 20% of the plant species in Western Australia. The unique plants growing in this area are mainly due to the type of soil and landforms found there. The Barrens has a landscape of coastal hills and some very unusual landforms. The rich vegetation in this park provides food for other animals and birds from this region.
Over 1800 beautiful and unique species of flowers, along with different mosses, fungi, and plants that grow on rocks, have been seen and recorded on Fitzgerald River NP. The unique plants growing in this area remain here because of the type of soil and landforms found there.
An area in Fitzgerald River National Park is known as the Barrens. The Barrens has a landscape of coastal hills and some very unusual landforms. There are also plants growing here that are found nowhere else in the world.
One very beautiful plant was in 1847 observed and named by a British botanist. He was so inspired and impressed by its beauty he named it after his Queen. He named the plant Hakea victoria, or royal hakea. There are sixty-two different plant species that are unique to this area alone. There is another forty-eight different plant species that are more or less unique to the Fitzgerald River NP. From the months of August to November, most of these flowers are in full bloom. However, throughout the year, the rest of the flowers will bloom at one time or another. This is good new for the honeyeater and the honey possums that depend on these plants for a constant supply of food. The rich vegetation in this park provides food for other animals and birds from this region.
While nineteen native animals make this park home, the officials of Fitzgerald River NP take pride in their efforts of conserving the animals that are mainly found in this area. There have already some species that have been rediscovered after they were thought to be extinct. One of these rediscovered animals is the dibbler.
The dibbler, a marsupial, was thought to be extinct until 1967, when it was rediscovered again. The heath rat, also thought to be extinct was rediscovered again in live traps set in Fitzgerald River National Park. The ground parrot is a bird that nests on the ground, and only goes in the air for one half hour, twice a day to call out to other birds. It used to be found in more parts of Western Australia, but now is an endangered bird found exclusively in Fitzgerald River NP. How did these animals and birds become so endangered?
After Europeans started to settle into this area, they brought with them animals that are more predatory. They also started clearing vegetation. In addition, controlled burning has added to the decline of some very rare birds and animals. Fitzgerald River National Park also holds some opportunities for whale watching.
Each year, at Point Ann, from the months of July to the early part of November, you can find southern right whales in this area as they come in to calf. There is a specially built platform there designed for whale watching. It is not unusual to see forty whales in one day swimming close to shore. That includes both mothers and their very active calves. There are whale-watching cruises also being offered from different places around.
Not only is it important to preserve this park as a refuge for rare plants and animals, this park is also world renowned as a World Biosphere Reserve. Fitzgerald River NP is also known as one of the last wilderness areas in the south. When visiting this park, plan on doing some fishing, canoeing, walking, sightseeing and photography. Bring plenty of film for your camera because you never know when you will come upon a rare species of one sort or another. Have a great trip.
Article comments:
No comments for this article yet. Post your comment now!
