Bio-calendar July

Pre-Spring

(mid July to the end of August)

July marks the transition from winter to pre-spring. By mid July temperatures are beginning to rise, the flowering of wattles is underway and many plants and animals have commenced their reproductive cycle. Under the European calendar July is still regarded as being winter, but the new growth seen on plants and much activity for animals is a true indication that by mid July the seasons have in fact changed for many plants and animals.

Rainfall starts to replenish waterways and many species of freshwater fish begin their spawning cycle.

The following list provides an insight to various life stages for some of the native plants and animals in Victoria during July, of course there will be some variation across different areas of the State.  Please contact SWIFFT so we can add to the list.

Threatened Fauna

• Australian Mudfish Galaxias cleaveri; midway through spawning season which lasts from June until the end of August
• Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis; flocking on large open wetlands.
• Barking Owl Ninox connivens; commencement of breeding season.
• Brolga Grus rubicunda; pairs established for the start of the breeding season.
• Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa; middle of birthing season which runs from June to early August.
• Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii; commencement of preferred breeding season.
• Fat-tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata; commence breeding in July through to February.
• Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata cucullata; start of breeding season in July which continues to November, usually with 2-3 broods.
• Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae; passing through Victorian waters on northward migration.
• Powerful Owl Ninox strenua; latter part of breeding season – chicks hatching.
• Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus; mating June and July.
• Southern Right Whale Eubalaena australis, over-wintering in Bass Strait, females birthing in selected coastal waters.
• Spot-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculates; last month of breeding season.
• Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura; movement from the Southwest to more northern latitudes during winter.
• Swamp Antechinus Antechinus minimus; females giving birth July – August.
• Variegated Pygmy Perch Nannoperca variegate; commencement of spawning season from mid July.
• White-footed Dunnart Sminthopsis leucopus; start of breeding season through to August

Threatened Flora

• Fragrant Leek-orchid Prasophyllum suaveolens; emergence of a single leaf marks the start of the growing season.
• Jumping-jack Wattle Acacia enterocarpa; flowering.
• Spiny Rice-flower Pimelea spinescens ssp. Spinescens; in flower (since April).
• Wimmera Rice-flower Pimelea spinescens subsp. pubiflora; flowering during winter.

Other native flora & fauna

Fauna

• Grey Fantail breeding time begins.

Flora

• Swamp Gum, Long-leaved Box, Grey Box, Blue Gum and Yellow Gum are in flower, providing a valuable food source for honeyeaters possums and gliders.
• Golden Wattle Acacia ppycnantha; flowers start appearing.
• Spreading Wattle Acacia genistifolia; in flower.
• Tall Greenhood Pterostylis melagramma and Nodding Greenhood Pterostylis nutans; flowering at Linton.

 Contact SWIFFT so we can add to the list.