Wildlife springs to life

Samantha Healy
August 30, 2009 12:00am

THE animals are stirring – and the unseasonal early start to spring is the reason.

Record heat over the past two weeks has been an end of winter wake-up call for everything from snakes to ants.

University of Queensland zoology expert Dr David Booth said the sudden rise in daily maximums and overnight minimums had fast-tracked the behaviour of a number of species.

"We are seeing distinctly summer behaviour in some species, particularly reptiles," Dr Booth said.

"The next time we get some rain I would expect to see a flurry of breeding activity in the animal kingdom."

Gold Coast snake catcher Tony Harrison said snakes are out searching for a mate one month earlier than normal.

"My catch is three times the average," he said.

University of Queensland shark expert Professor Shaun Collin said warmer weather could lead to an increase in shark activity.

"If it stays warm and the water warms, we might see more bait fish in the water and an increase in shark feeding," he said.

Hervey Bay Whale Watch manager Sarah Perry said humpback calves had arrived in the Bay a week earlier than normal, with the warmer temperatures providing perfect nursing grounds for newborns.

"Normally we don't get calves in the Bay until early to mid-September," she said.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary's Matt Hingley said male koalas were also on the move, looking for female koalas.

He said there were signs bee hive activity and wombat mating rituals had started early.

Queensland Museum entomology curator Dr Chris Lambkin said there have been out-of-season insect swarms.

"The heat has broken the hibernation for some insects, with swarms of thrips and parasitic wasps reported recently," she said.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25999329-3102,00.html