Hey snake! Smile for the camera
Many people shudder at the thought of snakes — but not our photographer. He's always looking for photo opportunities with the harmless snakes around Calamvale Creek.
So imagine his excitement when he stepped out his door and found this beautiful little geen tree snake looking at him from the top of a paling fence.
Common tree snakes are not venomous, and even if they bite you they won't injure you much, because they have no fangs. Read more about tree snakes on our tree snakes page.
What's on this website?
This site features birds and animals living in a small wetlands system in Brisbane, Australia.
The system consists of constructed and natural wetlands, and a creek that local residents call Calamvale Creek.
Small wildfowl habitats like the Calamvale wetlands provide a valuable refuge, and a retreat for visiting water birds from other wetlands. The creek is a permanent home for many eastern water skinks and water dragons (pictured below).
Calamvale Creek is part of the Golden Pond wetland system in the Brisbane suburb of Calamvale, 17 kilometres south of Brisbane city. It relies on stormwater runoff to refresh the ponds and small lagoons.
The system runs through only a few blocks in the middle of a thriving suburb, and is unusual in that the constructed wetlands are dominated by water lilies, aquatic creepers, and submerged pond weeds, rather than emergent sedges, rushes or reeds.
In their own words
We have allowed many of the critters to tell their story in their own words (well, with a little help from a human writer). We hope this will especially interest students, and may encourage schools to instigate projects that help their students grow up with a love of nature and a lifelong fascination of wetland wildlife.
We will also show you photos documenting changes in the history of the Golden Pond wetlands system, point out research showing that mosquitoes are not a problem from the wetlands, and we will describe the “treatment train” designed to improve water quality in the wetlands and creek.
Attention local teachers
Teachers — we may be able to provide an expert to speak to your students about the wetlands and creek, advise the best months to visit, or run activities for them. Email us for information at creeklife@gmail.com.
— Robert Doolan