Our nest box program – 2016 surveys coming soon
Posted on 27 March, 2016 by Connecting Country
In 2009, Connecting Country launched its first major project which was to protect and enhance habitat for the threatened Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa), an arboreal marsupial known to occur in the local area. A significant undertaking during 2010 and 2011 as part of this was to install approximately 450 nest boxes at 150 locations, mostly on private landholdings throughout the Mount Alexander Region. Many boxes were also installed at sites that had been restored by Landcare groups.
One of many groups of Sugar Gliders seen during the 2014 surveys
With the landholders’ permission and support, we then undertook monitoring of the majority of these boxes in 2011, 2012 and 2014. A report on the results of this monitoring program so far is provided in the following document (CLICK HERE). In summary, we found Brush-tailed Phascogales at a relatively good proportion of the locations (~30% in both 2012 and 2014) and also an increasingly abundant Sugar Glider occurrence within the boxes (65%, 75% and then 85% across the three sequential survey periods).
In April and May 2016, we are undertaking our fourth set of nest box surveys. Our aim this time – again with the permission of the landholders – is to survey ALL 450 boxes! This will include many nest boxes that have not been formally checked since they were installed 5-6 years ago. [If you have one or more sets of nest boxes on your property, we’ll be in touch soon to seek permission to undertake a monitoring check of them]. These surveys will be undertaken by Connecting Country staff, with assistance from volunteers and Landcare representatives.
We are also very fortunate this year to have a scientist undertaking a portion of her field studies at our nest box locations.
“Hello – my name is Jess Lawton and I’m a PhD candidate at La Trobe University. For my project I’m focusing on the conservation biology and landscape ecology of the Brush-tailed Phascogale. There is strong evidence that this species is declining in Victoria. A number of processes are likely to have led to this decline, including habitat loss, reduction in the size of habitat patches, and increased patch isolation. For my project, I will investigate the relevance of these factors to the distribution of this species in the Mount Alexander region. My study will use two data sets; 1) existing data from ‘Connecting Country’ from nest box surveys that span from 2010-2016; and 2) a new data set to be obtained in 2016 by using remote cameras at a subset of these nest box sites. Using these two approaches will add depth to the study and also enable us to compare the use of these two methods as a monitoring tool for this species.
An example of the camera and bait survey setup. Photo by Jessica Lawton.
I will use remote cameras at 50 of Connecting Country’s existing nest box sites to survey for the Brush-tailed Phascogale. There will be two cameras at each site. These cameras will be set facing downwards (and will therefore have a small field of view), and attached to a tree 150 cm above the ground. Camera sites will be baited with a mix of tuna oil, peanut butter, vanilla essence and linseed oil. This lure will be enclosed in a PVC pipe, and secured to the ground with a tent peg. These surveys will be undertaken to coincide with Connecting Country’s nest box surveys in April and May 2016, a time of year when the species will be particularly active. I will use this data on occurrence of the Brush-tailed Phascogale to determine the factors that influence the distribution of this species, with particular attention given to habitat patch size and isolation. I will also carry out rapid vegetation assessments at each site to measure aspects of habitat structure, such as variation in tree sizes. I hypothesise that the Brush-tailed Phascogale will be more likely occur in larger forest patches, and more connected patches, than in patches that are smaller and more isolated. Results from this project will guide future restoration actions by Connecting Country and be useful to other groups with similar objectives. The study will improve conservation management of the Brush-tailed Phascogale through its range, and improve our understanding of patterns of species occurrence in modified landscapes more broadly.”
Please let us know if you are interested in assisting as a volunteer with the nest box checks and/or Jessica’s field studies (info@connectingcountry.org.au). For volunteers, it doesn’t involve climbing trees or ladders, or handling animals. It does involve some walking, data recording and assisting with carrying of equipment. You’ll also get to see some interesting local landscapes, and learn a lot about our unique marsupial fauna species.
Further updates on the nest box monitoring program will be provided throughout April and May. (For further info on our nest box program, see our previous blog on nest boxes – click here – and also the monitoring page of our website – click here).
Phascogale seen with wildlife camera. Photo by Jessica Lawton.
Happy to assist with your nest box program, 2016 surveys or in any other way possible. Love your work!