"Ride on Mary Kayak & Bike Bush Adventures"
Along the "Bird Trails of Cooloola"
About "Ride on Mary Kayak & Bike Bush Adventures"
“Ride On Mary” offers over a 100 kms of waterways to explore. From flat water to grade 1-2 rapids, your Host Ian will find you a stretch of water to suit,
with safety gear supplied. Benefit from Ian's extensive local knowledge of the river systems, including updates on river flows and heights.
Guided Kayak Tours are also available with a Qualified Instructor on hand. This offer includes Basic Kayak & Safety Instruction,
with an Ecological Tour of Beautiful Yabba Creek.
For your comfort, an accommodation & Kayak Package is also offered.
(Your Hosts, Ian & Hayley Harling)
(For Origin of "Yabba" Place Name & others, Click on Highlighted Text)
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Enjoy the magical, invigorating experience of a Dawn Chorus on the water accompanied by the tinkling call of the Bell Miner, or the peace of an evenings’ Sunset.
Marvel at the orange and blue flash of the Azure Kingfisher skimming fast and low over the waters’ surface giving its’ shrill whistle,
or perching, bobbing its’ head, before diving for prey of small fish, crustaceans and insects.
Photography –
Bell Miner - Kev Bowring
Azure Kingfisher - B & V O’Leary
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Marvel at the orange and blue flash of the Azure Kingfisher skimming fast and low over the waters’ surface giving its’ shrill whistle,
or perching, bobbing its’ head, before diving for prey of small fish, crustaceans and insects.
Photography –
Bell Miner - Kev Bowring
Azure Kingfisher - B & V O’Leary
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Mountain Biking
Whether your preference be road, forest, downhill, single track or cross country, you'll find the Mary Valley has it all!
“Ride On Marys” bike hire includes mountain bikes, comprehensive maps of tracks for all levels and styles, and safety gear,
with a Drop Off and Pick up Service for hired kayaks and bikes. This service is also available for those with their own kayaks and bikes.
Photography -
Paradise Riflebird (Male) - R.Monks (Birds Queensland)
Wompoo Fruit Dove - A. Nielsen
White-eared Monarch - A. Nielsen
Noisy Pitta - B & V O'Leary
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Whether your preference be road, forest, downhill, single track or cross country, you'll find the Mary Valley has it all!
“Ride On Marys” bike hire includes mountain bikes, comprehensive maps of tracks for all levels and styles, and safety gear,
with a Drop Off and Pick up Service for hired kayaks and bikes. This service is also available for those with their own kayaks and bikes.
Photography -
Paradise Riflebird (Male) - R.Monks (Birds Queensland)
Wompoo Fruit Dove - A. Nielsen
White-eared Monarch - A. Nielsen
Noisy Pitta - B & V O'Leary
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While enjoying your “Ride on Mary” Experience, consider the vegetation lining the banks of the Waterway as you do.
This vegetation is “Riparian”, a term applied to any vegetation lining a dam, river, stream, lake, or shoreline
In fact, any Wetland!
(The Great Barrier Reef is a Wetland!)
Yes, the Waterway you are travelling along is a Wetland!
Wetlands are habitats that are temporarily or permanently covered by water, being natural or artificial.
Wetlands are habitats that are temporarily or permanently covered by water, being natural or artificial.
Wetlands slow water flowing from higher ground
(Photo Courtesy of Julie Fauser)
(Photo Courtesy of Julie Fauser)
Wetlands act as settling ponds, trapping sediment
They are filters for pollutants
Wetlands are rich in a great variety of lifeforms!
Paddle quietly, and watch for Mary River Icons
They are filters for pollutants
Wetlands are rich in a great variety of lifeforms!
Paddle quietly, and watch for Mary River Icons
Mary River Cod - (Image Courtesy of J. McDonald) Mary River Turtle - (Image Courtesy of MRCCC)
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You may even see a Platypus!
The Importance of Riparian Zones -
A Well Established Riparian Zone will -
A Well Established Riparian Zone will -
Stabilise the Waterway Bank, minimising Erosion.
Act as a filter preventing Pollutants & Sediment from entering the Waterway.
Regulate Water Temperature through shade created from overhanging vegetation.
(Image Courtesy of MRCCC)
Act as a filter preventing Pollutants & Sediment from entering the Waterway.
Regulate Water Temperature through shade created from overhanging vegetation.
(Image Courtesy of MRCCC)
Bank Undercuts develop in a well established Riparian Zone, providing shelter & breeding Sites for Fish & Frog Species.
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Right - Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus); (Endangered)
Left - Great Barred Frog (Mixophyes fasciolatus) (Images Courtesy of Eva Ford, MRCCC) |
Provide food for Fish & other Aquatic Fauna through fallen insects, fruit, & plant matter, eg pollen & flower parts.
Fallen leaves, twigs, branches, bark etc sink & decompose through the action of Aquatic Worms & other Benthic Fauna,
providing food & nutrients for further Aquatic Fauna; & Flora too such as Algae & other Aquatic Plants.
(Image Courtesy of Neil Armstrong ANGFA Queensland)
Fallen leaves, twigs, branches, bark etc sink & decompose through the action of Aquatic Worms & other Benthic Fauna,
providing food & nutrients for further Aquatic Fauna; & Flora too such as Algae & other Aquatic Plants.
(Image Courtesy of Neil Armstrong ANGFA Queensland)
Fallen branches, limbs & trunks create “Snags”, so important for shelter & breeding of Fish, Shrimp, Yabbies etc; (Including the Mary River Cod!),
& roosting Sites for turtles and birds such as Cormorants & Kingfishers.
(Image Courtesy of MRCCC)
& roosting Sites for turtles and birds such as Cormorants & Kingfishers.
(Image Courtesy of MRCCC)
Mary River Cod - (Image Courtesy of J. McDonald)
Azure Kingfisher - (Image Courtesy of B & V O'Leary)
Well established Riparian Zones provide essential Corridors for Birds & other Terrestrial Fauna!
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HEALTHY WATERWAYS ARE VITAL TO OUR EXISTENCE!
WE DRINK FROM THEM – FROM THEM WE DRAW WATER FOR OUR CROPS & STOCK
WE FISH THEM – WE USE THEM FOR RECREATION
IN THEM EXISTS A MYRIAD OF LIFE! KEEP THEM COOL, CLEAN & RUNNING FREE!
HOW CAN WE DO THIS?
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HEALTHY WATERWAYS - URBAN & RURAL ENVIRONMENTS
Exclude stock from waterways by establishing fencing & off-stream watering points
Do not be excessive in your use of water from streams for irrigation
Retain or re-establish native riparian vegetation & eliminate exotic vegetation
Retain snags (fallen logs etc) in streams, or replace these if absent
Use “Best Practices” to avoid erosion & subsequent siltation & turbidity of adjacent waterways when
preparing ground for crops, & establish paved or rock strewn crossings for stock & vehicles
Do not allow fertiliser residues, herbicides, pesticides, or animal effluent to enter streams
When building weirs, install a fish ladder
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WE DRINK FROM THEM – FROM THEM WE DRAW WATER FOR OUR CROPS & STOCK
WE FISH THEM – WE USE THEM FOR RECREATION
IN THEM EXISTS A MYRIAD OF LIFE! KEEP THEM COOL, CLEAN & RUNNING FREE!
HOW CAN WE DO THIS?
____________________________________________________________________________________
HEALTHY WATERWAYS - URBAN & RURAL ENVIRONMENTS
Exclude stock from waterways by establishing fencing & off-stream watering points
Do not be excessive in your use of water from streams for irrigation
Retain or re-establish native riparian vegetation & eliminate exotic vegetation
Retain snags (fallen logs etc) in streams, or replace these if absent
Use “Best Practices” to avoid erosion & subsequent siltation & turbidity of adjacent waterways when
preparing ground for crops, & establish paved or rock strewn crossings for stock & vehicles
Do not allow fertiliser residues, herbicides, pesticides, or animal effluent to enter streams
When building weirs, install a fish ladder
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(Image Courtesy of Julie Fauser)
HEALTHY WATERWAYS – METROPOLITAN REGIONS
DO NOT WASH YOUR CAR ON ROADWAYS OR WHERE THE WASH CAN ENTER DRAINS
Use bio-degradable detergents
USE PROVEN ENVIRONMENTALY FRIENDLY HERBICIDES & PESTICIDES
& WHERE ABLE, USE MANUAL WEED CONTROL METHODS
Do not flush oil, paints, turpentine or other contaminants down drains
WHEN CAMPING OR SPENDING A DAY IN THE BUSH, DO NOT USE DETERGENTS IN STREAMS
DO NOT USE 4WDS IN STREAM BEDS (EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT FLOWING)
WHEN BOATING, OBSERVE SPEED RESTRICTIONS & POWER BOAT EXCLUSION ZONES
Secure your rubbish; do not allow litter to enter waterways
Do not introduce exotic fish or aquatic vegetation into streams
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Left - Mary River Cod -
(Image Courtesy of J. McDonald) Right - Mary River Turtle - (Image Courtesy of MRCCC) Remember us & the others! |
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(For Origin of Mary Place Name & others, Click on Highlighted Text)
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Your Birding Experience –
Often, Birds are more readily observed from the water while Boating or Kayaking. They seem to recognise the craft with its’ passengers as one, not a possible threat as they would with a person on foot. (Horse riders often speak of having a similar experience with Birds while enjoying their pastime.)
Birds come down to the waters’ edge at early morning or dusk to drink or bathe, though this activity may occur at any time of day.
Riparian environments provide a great attraction for insects, (especially in the warmer months), these providing a plentiful supply of food for Birds at this time, while of course you have the best of both worlds with a range of aquatic and terrestrial species to be encountered.
Remember, as an added bonus to your Mary Valley experience, “Ride on Mary” offers Mountain Biking as well!
Stop a while for a Snack or Picnic as you ride through our Mary Valley, listen and observe, you will find that we have many more Bird species
to offer than what we list here!
(A good pair of Binoculars will enhance your Birding experience!)
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To Print Out the Brochure “Ride on Mary – Kayak & Bike Bush Adventures” Click Here
Please follow “Birdwatching Ethics” as you enjoy your Adventure
Click here to view “The Ethics of Birdwatching”
Among the variety of Bird Species you may encounter are – Azure Kingfisher, Pacific Black Duck, Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Eurasian Coot, Australasian Grebe, Rainbow Bee-eater, (watch for its’ nest burrows in sandy banks), Red-browed Finch, Variegated Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Welcome Swallow, Bell Miner, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta, White-eared Monarch, New Holland Honeyeater,
Scarlet Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin
For “Some Birds of “Ride on Mary – Kayak & Bike Bush Adventures” Click Here
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Often, Birds are more readily observed from the water while Boating or Kayaking. They seem to recognise the craft with its’ passengers as one, not a possible threat as they would with a person on foot. (Horse riders often speak of having a similar experience with Birds while enjoying their pastime.)
Birds come down to the waters’ edge at early morning or dusk to drink or bathe, though this activity may occur at any time of day.
Riparian environments provide a great attraction for insects, (especially in the warmer months), these providing a plentiful supply of food for Birds at this time, while of course you have the best of both worlds with a range of aquatic and terrestrial species to be encountered.
Remember, as an added bonus to your Mary Valley experience, “Ride on Mary” offers Mountain Biking as well!
Stop a while for a Snack or Picnic as you ride through our Mary Valley, listen and observe, you will find that we have many more Bird species
to offer than what we list here!
(A good pair of Binoculars will enhance your Birding experience!)
____________________________________________________
To Print Out the Brochure “Ride on Mary – Kayak & Bike Bush Adventures” Click Here
Please follow “Birdwatching Ethics” as you enjoy your Adventure
Click here to view “The Ethics of Birdwatching”
Among the variety of Bird Species you may encounter are – Azure Kingfisher, Pacific Black Duck, Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Eurasian Coot, Australasian Grebe, Rainbow Bee-eater, (watch for its’ nest burrows in sandy banks), Red-browed Finch, Variegated Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Welcome Swallow, Bell Miner, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta, White-eared Monarch, New Holland Honeyeater,
Scarlet Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin
For “Some Birds of “Ride on Mary – Kayak & Bike Bush Adventures” Click Here
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Watch out for these Gems too as you Paddle or Bike through the Beautiful Mary Valley with
“Ride on Mary – Kayak & Bike Bush Adventures!!
“Ride on Mary – Kayak & Bike Bush Adventures!!
The Richmond Birdwing Butterfly, (Ornithoptera richmondia), was once common from the Clarence River in northern New South Wales to the Mary River
in Queensland. It is closely related to the larger Cairns Birdwing, which occurs from near Mackay to north of Cooktown
in Queensland. It is closely related to the larger Cairns Birdwing, which occurs from near Mackay to north of Cooktown
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Left & Right - Richmond Birdwing
(Male) taking nectar from Buddlea (Exotic species) (Images courtesy of Richard Bull) RCBN Many Exotic flower garden plants are a nectar source for adult Butterflies, though make sure they do not have pest potential. |
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These Exotics will provide a necessary supplement to your chosen Native flower garden species, few of which provide the extended flowering
periods given by Exotics. Choose Native Butterfly larval foodplants local to your area, (your local Landcare group will help with this)
Richmond Birdwing larvae, (caterpillars), only feed on two rainforest vine species – Pararistolochia praevenosa (occurring in lowland and coastal rainforests), and Pararistolochia laheyana, occurring only at high altitudes in the rainforests of the Queensland/New South Wales border ranges
periods given by Exotics. Choose Native Butterfly larval foodplants local to your area, (your local Landcare group will help with this)
Richmond Birdwing larvae, (caterpillars), only feed on two rainforest vine species – Pararistolochia praevenosa (occurring in lowland and coastal rainforests), and Pararistolochia laheyana, occurring only at high altitudes in the rainforests of the Queensland/New South Wales border ranges
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Developing instars, (stages), of Richmond Birdwing larvae. Left - (Image courtesy of Richard Bull) RCBN
Middle & chrysalid to Right - (Images courtesy of Linda Hansbauer) RCBN
Extensive clearing of rainforests in southeastern Queensland and northern New South Wales has resulted in less than 1% of the original rainforest remaining With the loss of food for their larvae, the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly is now extinct from two thirds of its' original range, while the remaining
populations are very fragmented. For further information, visit http://wildlife.org.au/richmond-birdwing-butterfly/
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Do you live within the Richmond Birdwing Butterflies range?
If so, you can help bring back this beautiful butterfly by growing Richmond Birdwing vines in your backyard or property.
Dutchman’s Pipe Vine – the ‘fatal attraction’
BEWARE – There is an introduced species of vine, Aristolochia elegans, commonly known as the Dutchman’s Pipe. The female Birdwing butterfly is tricked into laying her eggs on the leaves of this Exotic by its' scent, which is similar to that of the Native species of Birdwing vine. However, the leaves of the Dutchman’s Pipe Vine are toxic to the caterpillars, and by feeding on these they die. Please remove this vine from your garden if it is present.
What you can do –
Retain remnant Rainforest
Remove invasive weeds (especially the introduced Dutchman’s Pipe)
Plant the Richmond Birdwings’ larval foodplants (Aristolochia species)
Create corridors linking remnant Rainforest
Tell your friends of the Richmond Birdwing and its’ plight
For details regarding "Birdwing Vine" availability, contact your local Land or Rivercare group
If you wish to become involved further in this beautiful Butterflies recovery, visit http://wildlife.org.au/richmond-birdwing-conservation-network/
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Middle & chrysalid to Right - (Images courtesy of Linda Hansbauer) RCBN
Extensive clearing of rainforests in southeastern Queensland and northern New South Wales has resulted in less than 1% of the original rainforest remaining With the loss of food for their larvae, the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly is now extinct from two thirds of its' original range, while the remaining
populations are very fragmented. For further information, visit http://wildlife.org.au/richmond-birdwing-butterfly/
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you live within the Richmond Birdwing Butterflies range?
If so, you can help bring back this beautiful butterfly by growing Richmond Birdwing vines in your backyard or property.
Dutchman’s Pipe Vine – the ‘fatal attraction’
BEWARE – There is an introduced species of vine, Aristolochia elegans, commonly known as the Dutchman’s Pipe. The female Birdwing butterfly is tricked into laying her eggs on the leaves of this Exotic by its' scent, which is similar to that of the Native species of Birdwing vine. However, the leaves of the Dutchman’s Pipe Vine are toxic to the caterpillars, and by feeding on these they die. Please remove this vine from your garden if it is present.
What you can do –
Retain remnant Rainforest
Remove invasive weeds (especially the introduced Dutchman’s Pipe)
Plant the Richmond Birdwings’ larval foodplants (Aristolochia species)
Create corridors linking remnant Rainforest
Tell your friends of the Richmond Birdwing and its’ plight
For details regarding "Birdwing Vine" availability, contact your local Land or Rivercare group
If you wish to become involved further in this beautiful Butterflies recovery, visit http://wildlife.org.au/richmond-birdwing-conservation-network/
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“With “Ride on Mary”, you are paddling along the most important of Habitats, for our Waterways are the Arteries of our Environment!”
Enjoy your Experience!
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Enjoy your Experience!
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Click on Ruth to “Fly” you to “Ride on Mary Bike & Kayak Bush Adventures”
