Shackle Road Self Guided Drive - Stop 6 - SA

Stop 6 - Bullock Waterhole
Look closely at the plants and shrubs in this area. The reeds and heaths found here are common in areas where the soil is poorly drained or swampy. As you continue your journey you may recognise these areas by the light green foliage of swamp wattle (Acacia retinodes).
The soil in these waterlogged areas is nutrient poor but plants have adapted to the conditions. The common heath (Epacris impressa) has formed an association with a root fungus, which assists the plant and nutrient uptake in exchange for sugars obtained from its roots. If you look carefully in spring and summer you may see the delicate fairies apron (Utricularia dichotoma), a small single-stemmed plant about ankle height with two purple petals. This plant, like the sundews with their sticky leaves, supplements its nutrient intake by trapping insects.
Fairies aprons belong to the bladderwort family and possess modified leaves or ‘bladders’ which are suction traps.
An enticing aroma near the bladder entrance attracts small insects. When the insects touch a sensitive hair, a door flies open, sucking the insect inside the bladder. The door immediately closes and the plant digests the insect. Thankfully these plants are not people sized!
At the end of the short trail is a natural spring. In 1907 this waterhole was used by bullocks during the construction of a telephone line that connected Cape du Couedic to Cape Borda and Kingscote. Please stay on the trail to conserve this fragile habitat.
Many native animals use the waterhole as a watering point.
Can you determine which animals have visited by their tracks and scats?
The New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) is common here and gregarious flocks are often seen. Careful observers may spot a brown falcon (Falco berigora), patiently perched on mallee branches or soaring overhead.