Bio-calendar November

Early Summer

(November to late January)

November marks the start of early summer with some warm to hot days in areas of Victoria. Native grasses are in flower across the Volcanic Plains, butterflies are active and birds are feeding their young with fledglings preparing to leave the nest. The waters in Bass Strait are warming, providing stimulus for migrating whales.

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

Threatened fauna

• Australian Mudfish Galaxias cleaveri, migration to the sea is over by the end of the month.
• Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis, dispersal to deep freshwater wetlands for commencement of breeding season.
• Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus, arrives in feeding grounds off Portland and remains through to May.
• Common Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus schreibersii, females congregate at maternity caves to give birth to a single young in December – January.
• Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii, final month of preferred breeding season.
• Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana, by mid November they are active in the hottest part of the day.
• Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis, egg laying season over by the end of the month.
• Heath Mouse Pseudomys shortridgei, commencement of breeding season.
• Southern Right Whale Eubalaena australis, last month in Victorian waters, migration to Antarctica underway.
• Variegated Pygmy Perch Nannoperca variegata, breeding season completed by mid month.

Threatened flora

• Basalt Rustyhood Pterostylis basaltica, early summer flowering, from November through to January.
• Button Wrinklewort Rutidosis leptorhynchoides, peak flowering period early summer, November to December.
• Fragrant Leek-orchid Prasophyllum suaveolens, last month of flowering since September
• Gorae Leek-orchid Prasophyllum diversiflorum, early to late summer flowering commencing November finishing February.
• Grampians Rice-flower Pimelea pagophila, last month of flowering.
• Mellblom's Spider-orchid Caladenia hastata, flowering finished by end of the month.
• Metallic Sun-orchid Thelymitra epipactoides, last month of flowering.
• Salt-lake Tussock-grass Poa sallacustris, Early summer flowering, 4-6 flower spikelets from November to January.

Other native flora & fauna

Fauna

• Bats
  • Gould's Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus gouldi; giving birth to one or two young (Nov-Dec).
  • Gould's Wattle Bat Chalinolobus gouldii; start of birthing to two young (Nov-Dec).
  • Inland Broad-nosed Bat Scotorepens balstoni; giving birth to one or two young (Oct-Nov).
  • Lesser Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi; giving birth to one or two young (Oct-Nov).
  • Little Forest Bat Vespadelus vulturnus; giving birth to one young (Nov-Dec).
  • Southern Forest Bat Vespadelus regulus; giving birth to one young (Nov-Dec).

• Koala; giving birth to cubs (Nov-Jan).

Flora

• Moonah; start of flowering in coastal areas.
• Victorian Christmas Bush;  start of flowering.

• Please contact SWIFFT so we can add to the list.