Piney Lakes Reserve

Head out to Piney Lakes Reserve to enjoy a journey through the banksia woodland. Explore the wonders of the woodland using StoryMaps as your guide. Immerse yourself in nature and discover the incredible diversity of plants and animals that call this place home.

This journey is part of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ StoryMaps, helping you to discover amazing places right across Western Australia.

This StoryMap is located at Piney Lakes Reserve approximately 13km south of Perth City. With banksia woodland, open grass areas and wetlands, Piney Lakes is a great place to explore.

Track length: 1.4km

Duration:  1 hour

Suggested fitness level: moderate

Track accessibility: This trail is comprised of sand tracks and paved pathways. It is not suitable for prams and wheelchairs.  

Bring: Hat, water bottle, sunscreen, weather appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes.

Stay on the track: Please protect the bushland by staying on the track.

Amenities: Parking and toilets near Piney Lakes Sensory Playground on Murdoch Drive. To start the trail head towards Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre.

Please use this map as a reference only. While we have tried hard to make this journey as accurate as possible, unfortunately the map will not geo locate you. Use land marks visible on this map to help you navigate, such as roads, lakes and pathways.

While on your walk, make sure to keep an eye out for Piney Lake Environmental Education Centre's Climate Watch Trail information boards!

Although there are many native animals in the reserve, Piney Lakes is also home to many introduced species such as rabbits. Rabbits arrived in Australia with the first fleet in the 18th century and very quickly spread and became a problem. These mammals can spread diseases, quickly graze through native plants and compete with local species for food and shelter.

Despite ongoing pest management efforts by the City of Melville, you can find plenty of rabbit evidence along the trail, especially in sandy areas. You may be able to spot their distinctive, small, round droppings, entrances to their underground warrens and little holes left behind after they have foraged for food. Unfortunately, the rabbit is competing with our own native forager, the southern brown bandicoot for food. Finding diggings created by rabbits or bandicoots provides an insight as to which species is thriving better in the reserve. As rabbits are able to breed very quickly and have large litters, their numbers are more likely to expand and overrun the bandicoots. Rabbit and native bandicoot diggings may look very similar when first spotted, however there are a couple of distinctions so you can tell which mammal has been foraging in the area. Rabbit diggings are usually wider as they have a lager, broader foot and face. They also tend to leave behind little pellet presents (or ‘scats’) on the pile of dirt removed from the hole. Bandicoot diggings are more likely to be narrower as they shove their long, pointy nose into the ground and pellets are generally absent from their pile. 

Pets, such as cats and dogs, are frequent visitors to the reserve from the surrounding residential areas. Responsible pet ownership such as walking your dog on a leash and keeping your cats indoors is critical to protecting native wildlife. Pets which have the opportunity to roam free through Piney Lakes can injure or kill birds, lizards, frogs and small mammals.

Activity @ Piney Lakes: Keep an eye out for diggings on the trail, especially in the sandy areas. Are you finding more rabbit or bandicoot holes? What do you think this means?

Activity @ home: Help keep native wildlife safe by walking your dogs on a leash through bushland areas and keeping your cat indoors or in your garden. It is also important to not release pet fish into wetlands or unwanted rabbits into the bush.

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site A; Marri

The sandy soil type along this trail is known as ‘Karrakatta Sands’. Like much of the Swan Coastal Plain, the soils at Piney Lakes are very low in nutrients and have poor water-holding capacity. This means that the plants that grow here need to be well adapted to these conditions. 

Banksias are one type that are particularly well adapted to nutrient poor soils. All Banksias possess ‘proteoid’ or cluster roots that increase the availability of nutrients to the plant. The Banksia species you see along this trail are predominantly Firewood banksia (Banksia menziesii) and Candlestick banksia (Banksia attenuata). A banksia’s life cycle begins with a floral spike on a mature tree. These floral spikes are made up of hundreds of small flowers. Some of these flowers are pollinated usually by birds or insects and then a woody fruit (or follicle) forms. These woody fruits look a little like pine cones and protect the developing seed(s). During the hot season or following fire, these fruits dry out and the seed pods open. Seeds may be eaten and dispersed by animals or blow away in the wind. Once the seeds reach soil they can germinate, eventually growing into a mature tree and so the lifecycle continues.

Another common plant species along this trail is the Woolly Bush (Adenanthos cygnorum). Woolly Bush is often referred to as coloniser or ‘pioneer species’. These plants are fast growers and provide shade which in turn creates a micro-climate at soil level. Dense vegetation can work to insulate the soil, increase relative air humidity and reduce air and soil temperature variability, which can in turn enhance the recruitment (or germination) of other seeds in the soil’s seed back

All native plants species play a critical role in the functioning of the habitat along this trail. In addition to providing shade and encouraging recruitment, plants are the primary food source of a variety of insects, birds and mammals. 

Activity @ Piney Lakes: Place your hand on the sand underneath a Woolly bush and feel the temperature of the soil. Then place your hand on the ground in a non-shaded area. Compare the temperatures and think about how that might influence plant growth and seed germination. 

Action @ Home: Why not choose native plants for your gardens at home? You can grow species which will thrive in your soil, they will help you save water once established and they will attract insects and birds to your garden. Find out more about WA native plants from  Apace Nursery .

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site B; Native wisteria

By tuning out of the hustle and bustle of traffic, you open up your senses to a whole new world. There are many birds to be found in Piney Lakes Reserve and while some of them might be small or hard to find, if you sit quietly and listen you will be surprised at how many birds you can hear.

The pretty bird calls that we hear may just be noise to us, but did you know that these sounds are how the birds communicate. One species of bird can make multiple sounds with different meanings. It could be a warning call, calling for a mate or a chick calling for food. 

There are many bird species at Piney Lakes reserve. Tiny bush birds hiding away in the vegetation, large birds of prey soaring above or water birds swimming in the lakes. Some of the common species you may see include; a variety of honeyeaters, nankeen kestrels, whistling kites, red-tailed black cockatoos, pardalotes, wrens and wattlebirds.

Two of the more common honeyeater species in the reserve are the New Holland and white-cheeked honeyeaters. At first glance, these small yellow, black and white birds may look similar, but you can easily differentiate between the two by looking for the white facial markings on the white-cheeked species.

Activity @ Piney Lakes: Find a nice spot to sit quietly for a few minutes. How many different bird calls can you hear?

Activity @ home: Create a bird bath to put in your garden which will attract local birds. Make sure to place your bird garden next to some plants and in a place where you can view it.

Quenda is the Noongar name for the southern brown bandicoot. These adorable little marsupials can be found throughout the bushland areas of the reserve but they are quite shy. Quendas are marsupials, so the females have a pouch which they raise their joeys in. They have sharp claws which, along with their long, pointed nose, help them dig in the soil for insects, fungi and plant tubers.

Unfortunately, they are commonly mistaken for rats which leads to them being accidentally harmed. Bandicoots have a heavier, thicker build and their tails are a lot shorter compared to a rats. Some quenda have even lost their tails in fights with other bandicoots.

Commonly seen at dusk or dawn, they forage in swamp, banksia and jarrah woodlands. During the day they nest underneath dense vegetation, such as grass trees, which they line with soft materials. Some have even been known to use old rabbit warrens.

Quenda are considered ecosystem engineers. The disruption to the soil they cause while digging for food influences nutrient cycling and water infiltration in the soil turnover. These practices facilitate seedling germination, survival and growth and they also influence litter decomposition creating a healthier environment. Each individual quenda can turnover almost 4 tonnes of soil yearly! 

Activity @ Piney Lakes: Grass tree skirts provide excellent nesting habitat for quenda. Can you find any evidence of them pushing aside the skirts or any of their diggings around in the sandy areas?

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site C; Bobtail & white-cheeked honeyeaters

Flowers bloom in all colours of the rainbow and they play a vital role in plant life cycles. Their bright colours and unusual shapes attract pollinators to the plant to aid in reproduction. Pollinating animals or the wind, move pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part which then promotes fruit and seed growth.

The colour of the flower is more important than you may think. Animals may see colours differently to us, but the vibrant colour of flowers attracts pollinators to certain species. For example, many bird species prefer to collect nectar from red flowers, while bees will head for the white and blue flowers. 

Activity @ Piney Lakes: Are there any flowers blooming around you? Can you see any insects or birds pollinating them?

Action @ home: Plant native species in your gardens to attract pollinators. By providing flowers for insects and birds, you are helping the environment grow and stay healthy as they can carry pollen from your garden to the bush to help woodlands grow.

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site D; Native buttercups

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site E; Snake-necked turtle

There are a whole range of creatures that live in the lakes, wetlands and garden and bush areas of Piney Lakes Reserve. With the decrease of natural wetlands due to bore water usage, climate change and the introduction of water-intensive pine trees, this artificial wetland was created to provide important refuge for many animal species.

Southwestern snake-necked turtles, or the oblong turtle, are a common site in this artificial lake. If you stand at the end of the gazebo and look down, you may be able to see them swimming between reeds or popping their noses up out of the water to breathe. While the lake provides an important feeding resource for these reptiles, the surrounding sandy soils are critical for the females. They make their way out of the water and dig a hole in which they will lay 2-16 eggs. The hatchlings will then dig their way out and find their way back to the water.

These turtles are usually shy creatures, however you may notice them coming up to the surface and swimming towards the edge of the rotunda when humans are around. This is a conditioned response, due to them being fed by people. Feeding turtles is actually quite unhealthy for the turtles and the wetland eco-system. These reptiles can feed themselves and there is plenty of food in the wetland for them to eat.

While turtles, frogs and birds are things we can enjoy observing around the reserve, it is very important that we respect these animals and their environment. An easy way to do this, is by never leaving rubbish around and not feeding any of the animals. Rubbish can injure or kill wildlife, animals can get stuck inside a can or plastic bag, smaller pieces of litter may be ingested, and chemical pollution can poison some species, so please make sure your rubbish finds its way to a bin. Feeding native wildlife bread or other human food products can make animals very sick. Not only do animals not get the important nutrients they need to survive, but they may become reliant on this artificial food source, meaning they won’t be able to source their own food. 

Another human impact on wetlands is the releasing of pet fish. When fish are no longer wanted at home, some people will release them into water areas near their home. This is not responsible and can harm the environment. Introduced fish can compete with native animals such as turtles for food and they will eat frog eggs, reducing the number of tadpoles each season. If you no longer want your pet, don’t dump it, pass it to a friend or family member or take it to your local pet shop or aquarium, they will give you tips on how to responsibly dispose of your pet. 

Activity @ Piney Lakes: Can you see any rubbish in or around the artificial wetland? How do you think it may impact the native wildlife?

Action @ home: whenever you visit a park, make sure you don’t leave your rubbish behind. Place it in a bin, or if there is none available, put it into your bag or pocket and throw it out when you get home. 

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site F; WA Christmas tree

Walking along the trail, you may notice a few honkey nuts littering the ground. These have fallen from the marri trees and are a woody fruit that protects the seeds.

Different types of cockatoos and parrots that live here or visit the area, love to grab the honkey nuts and use their sharp beaks to tear open the hard fruit and eat the yummy seeds inside. Even though the birds may eat many of the seeds, by opening the fruit they are releasing the seeds which drop to the ground and will potentially grow into another marri tree. You can use the chewed honkey nuts to tell you which parrots or cockatoos have been having a feed by looking at the markings left behind.

Forest red-tailed black cockatoos are very messy and will destroy the fruit from the top down. You will notice they leave large lower beak marks around the honkey nut and tear away the top section. Twenty-eights prefer the fresh, green honkey nuts and will eat them from the bottom; they will only remove the flesh of the fruits. Carnaby’s cockatoos have a similar style to the forest red-tail. They will tear away the top section of the fruit (a much smaller section compared to the red-tail’s) and they will leave smaller lower beak marks around the honkey nut. You can have a closer look at the markings on this  identification chart .

Activity @ Piney Lakes: How many chewed honkey nuts can you find? Can you match any to the birds who may eat the seeds?

Action @ home: Use the Western Australian Museum chewed honkey nut identification chart (link above) at another local park and see if there are any different cockatoos or parrots eating the seeds from honkey nuts.

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site G; Carnaby's cockatoo

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site H; Victorian tea tree & splendid fairy-wren

Imagine being on this journey with the leaf litter being so deep it was taller than you! That is what the world would be like if fungi and detritivores were not around.

Detritivores are invertebrates such as earth worms, beetles, millipedes and flies. These critters, along with fungi, feed on dead plant and animal matter. By breaking down this dead and decaying matter, the decomposers recycle nutrients back into the environment. These nutrients are then taken up by plants which helps them grow.

Detritivores can be found all throughout the woodland and swampland. Under rocks and logs, amongst the leaf litter or even camouflaging in the bark or leaves of a tree. In winter, when there has been rain, fungi will start to pop up. As fungi cannot move around like the invertebrates can, they need to make sure they have found some good decaying matter to survive off of. This is why you will find a lot of fungi on dead logs, in the leaf litter and sometimes even on trees.

You may notice many dead logs around. These are left for a very important reason, they provided habitat! Invertebrates and reptiles call these logs homes, finding shelter in the small hollows or gaps and keeping them safe from predators and humans. On a nice sunny day, you may even spot a skink sunning itself on a log.

Activity @ Piney Lakes: Have a close look at the logs and ground around you, can you spot any organisms or fungi who eat organic matter? 

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site I; Motorbike frog & moaning frog

Piney Lakes Reserve is a place of teaching for the traditional owners, the Whadjuk Noongar people who share their immense knowledge on plants, such as how they can be used for food and medicine, with their children. Aboriginal women performed ceremonies, discussed women’s business and took young boys through their level one initiation, making this reserve a significant Aboriginal women’s site.

The trail leading up the path is the Bidi Katitjiny Aboriginal women’s trail and is designed to pass on cultural knowledge and practices from the traditional Whadjuk Noongar people to visitors. This pathway of knowledge promotes and reflects the unique relationship Noongar people have with this land. Piney Lakes Reserve was utilised throughout the year over the six Noongar seasons.

The Noongar six seasons are:

Birak (December to January)

Bunuru (February to March)

Djeran (April to May)

Makuru (June to July)

Djilba (August to September)

Kambarang (October to November)

Head along the Bidi Katitjiny to discover more about this historical and important site and make sure to stop and each six season sign to learn more. Download the trail brochure  here .

Activity @ Piney Lakes: Detour through to Bidi Katitjiny trail and see if you can find which of the Noongar six seasons your birthday is in. What is something you learnt about this season?

Action @ Home: Do you know the Aboriginal name for the suburb or town where you live? If you don’t you can find out  here .

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site J; Willie wagtail & Australian magpie

Many animals rely on trees for nesting and shelter. Whether they rest on the branches or curl up in a hollow, the type of nesting area is very important. Unfortunately, due to previous land clearing, many of the big, old trees which provide great hollows have been removed. City of Melville have installed many nesting boxes throughout the reserve to provide much needed habitat.

Habitat boxes such as cockatoo tubes and bat boxes, mimic natural tree hollows. This provides the threatened red-tailed black cockatoos and Carnaby’s cockatoos with a safe shelter to nest and raise their young. 

Microbats can be seen flying around of an evening as they emerge from their boxes to hunt for insects. Being a nocturnal species, the nesting boxes provide a safe, dark environment for them to roost in during the day. If you stand underneath one and look directly up, you may even be able to see the tiny bats hanging upside down!

Although the ideal tree for placing nesting boxes are native tree species, such as eucalypts, many of the boxes have been places in introduced pine trees as they fill a role in the ecosystem which is currently not filled by tall, native options.

Activity @ Piney Lakes: How many nesting boxes can you see in this area? Are any of them being used?

Activity @ home: Create or buy your own nesting boxes for birds, bats or even insects in your own backyard.  Here  are a few tips to help you.

Look out for Climate Watch Board Site K; Rainbow bee-eaters

Thank you for joining us on our natures wonders StoryMap. We hope you enjoyed your walk through the forest and discovered more about beautiful Beelu National Park.

Remember that all the natural things you found on your journey belong in the forest and it is important to leave them behind as they will help the environment.

Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre have provided some fantastic online environmental education resources. You can check them out  here .