Nest Box Monitoring Workshop, 8 March 2011
Posted on 15 March, 2011 by Connecting Country
Sixty people including a sizable contingent of children attended the Connecting Country’s Nest Box Monitoring Workshop in Campbells Creek on 8th March. The evening was a great success with lots of audience participation during the formal sessions and animated conversation during supper and after the workshop had finished.
Audience at nest box workshop. Photo: Bronwyn Silver
The workshop began with a talk by Peter Johnson, Senior Biodiversity Office, DSE, who has been monitoring phascogales around Bendigo, Ballarat and Kinglake Ranges for 10 years. Peter gave a comprehensive account of phascogales covering identification, habitat, behaviour and the importance of tree hollows for nesting. He pointed out that females require a minimum of 100 ha each to survive and that 25 females constitutes a viable population. Thus a miniumum of 2500 ha is necessary to support a phascogale population. He also discussed current threats to phascogale populations posed by land fragmentation, conversion to small holdings, firewood collection and loss of large of trees.
Brush-tailed Phascogale. Photo: Mike Grinter
Miles Geldard, a local landholder who has made 400 nest boxes for Connecting Country, was the second speaker. He outlined the extensive research that has backed up his approach to nest box construction and detailed the design and materials used for the next boxes.
Miles Geldard with two nest boxes. Photo: Bronwyn Silver
Bryan McMullan, Connecting Country Project Officer, then described how landholders can be involved in monitoring the use of nest boxes by phascogales and other species. He explained that the optimum time for monitoring phascogales is March and April and the process takes about 45 minutes. Monitors need to be set up with torches 10 minutes before dusk and continue monitoring for at least half an hour after susnset. Nest box data sheets which give a clear explanation of all that is required to undertake monitoring can be accessed here. In addition, Bryan will be examining 300 nest boxes and reporting on habitiation over the next months. You can contact Bryan on Monday and Tuesdays at Connecting Country on 5472 1594 or email bryan@connectingcountry.org.au for further information.
Bryan McMullan, Connecting Country Project Worker. Photo: Bronwyn Silver
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