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Ankita Unnikrishnan, u7147717 What is a nest box? A nest box is a man-made wooden enclosure which is designed to mimic the habitat of species that rely on hollows for survival. It helps to provide a space to nest and … Continue reading
U6946040 / Braedy Jaugietis / Words: 540
How would you feel if your local neighbourhood had no trees, no parks or play spaces… Not only would it look pretty desolate, but your mental health would deteriorate and many native species would feel fragmented, lost and without a habitat.
One of the main goals in biodiversity conservation is to complement existing natural landscapes and native vegetation with sustainable urban designs and developments. In order to accommodate a growing population, Australian governments are increasingly pressured to make more land available for housing. However, this is a considerable risk to biodiversity, as urban expansion is one of the largest drivers of biodiversity loss due to habitat clearing. This presents a challenge to land planners who aim to balance urban development, social values and biodiversity conservation. If planned effectively, urban landscapes are able to coincide harmoniously with natural landscapes without significant environmental degradation.
I had the opportunity of completing a day of work experience at Ginninderry – a prime example of one of the most environmentally sustainable suburbs in Australia. Based in Canberra, the development aims to implement a number of sustainable urban designs and strategies whilst balancing the biodiversity values of the fragile box gum grassy woodland it sits on. I participated in tree and shrub planting in their urban parks – which have been found to improve the mental wellbeing of people who spend time in these green spaces.
One of the major features of Ginninderry is their retention of mature eucalypt trees throughout the landscape. In a traditional development setting, there is typically pressure to remove trees to maximise the number of housing blocks that can be sold. However, Ginninderry have taken an approach to retain a large number of mature trees, each one with a different biodiversity ‘treatment’ assigned to them such as mowing, mulching or planting around trees. Mature trees have the ability to support a number of native species within urban environments.
Not only does Ginninderry retain trees – they have also planted a large mixture of native and exotic trees and shrubs along nature strips and within parks. These plantings, once mature, will provide a greater foliage height diversity in all canopy levels, providing more shelter for small native birds and discouraging hyper-aggressive nectivorous birds that displace native species.
Ginninderry have planned and designed a sustainable urban system to meet the demands of a growing population whilst also balancing biodiversity values. Residents should be proud to live in a community that values the urban green landscape and the benefits it provides. Perhaps we should take a leaf out of Ginninderry’s tree and encourage governments to invest in more green infrastructure – as demonstrated, green urban spaces provide many benefits such as promoting biodiversity and cultural/aesthetic values, protecting the community from climate change, improving air quality and reducing the urban heat island effect. Going forward, Ginninderry will be an exemplary project for new developments in our growing population.
By Divya LaBrooy (u7243494)
My work experience involved partaking in an annual Echidna sweep which took place at Mulligan’s Flat Nature Reserve.
An Outdoor Laboratory:
Mulligan’s Flat is a crucial area for wildlife and ecological monitoring. Spanning over 1200 hectares, it is the largest intact assemblage of critically endangered Yellow Box–Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland. This area is surrounded by a fence, which allows researchers to monitor environmental conditions without the impact of pests and predators, like feral cats, foxes, rabbits, over abundant native species like the Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). Enjoying a decrease in competition and predation from pest species, the wildlife at Mulligan’s Flat has thrived. This has enabled experiments for the reintroduction of locally extinct species, like the Eastern Bettong (Bettongia gaimardi). Additionally, researchers have used the opportunity to establish baseline data conditions for other species, like the short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), which suffered from knowledge gaps regarding average population dynamics prior to European Settlement
Figure 1: A puggle found near the predator-proof fence at Mulligan’s Flat. Source: Divya LaBrooy original photography.
Puggles and puddles:
This year saw uncharacteristic amounts of rainfall for August, and as a result, the grass at Mulligan’s Fat was in abundance. This created literal obstacles for volunteers like me, who needed to search through tall vegetation and avoid puddles simultaneously – not to mention the isolated hailstorm!
Figure 2: An isolated hailstorm at Mulligan’s Flat during the Echidna sweep. Source: Divya LaBrooy original photography.
After a debrief and assembling into enclosure sections, volunteers wading through thickets in groups of approximately 8 – 10. Forming lines about 10m apart, we searched for Echidnas at different locations across the sanctuary. When an Echidna was spotted, it was marked with nail polish to identify individuals. Additional data, like size, location, time, and enclosure was also recorded. The same process was then repeated the next week to generate a statistical analysis of population demographics for 2022.
Figure 3: A puggle walking through leaf litter at Mulligan’s Flat, red nail polish indicates the individual. Source: Divya LaBrooy original photography.
Monitoring viable populations is crucial to informing conservation efforts in areas where populations may be struggling. Furthermore, long-term monitoring of the population at Mulligan’s Flat allows scientists to identify any potential risks to numbers if a large increase or decrease is found from the yearly audit. This can then inform adaptive management to stabilise the impact.
Stoics in disguise:
Citizen scientists are integral aspects of wildlife monitoring at Mulligan’s Flat. Given limited resources and funding, community drives like the Echidna sweep inform, include, and utilise the public for conservation. Volunteers are invaluable to large scale monitoring events, without them giving their time and effort, results like this would be impossible. The altruistic values from community members ensures that scientists have the best data available to inform their adaptive management and monitoring efforts. To get involved with volunteering opportunities, visit ParkCare ACT and check out new opportunity listings!
References
Batson, W., Fletcher, D., Portas, T., Crisp, H., Ryan, S., Wimpenny, C., Gordon, I. and Manning, A., 2016. Re-introduction of eastern bettong to a critically endangered woodland habitat in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Global Re-introduction Perspectives, pp.172-177.
ParkCare ACT [Online]. 2022. Parks and Conservation Service Available: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/7baf50be-3b65-4dd3-
Parsons, A.W., Goforth, C., Costello, R. and Kays, R., 2018. The value of citizen science for ecological monitoring of mammals. PeerJ, 6, p.e4536.
RISMILLER, P. D. & MCKELVEY, M. W. 2000. Frequency of Breeding and Recruitment in the Short-Beaked Echidna, Tachyglossus Aculeatus. Journal of Mammalogy, 81, 1-17.
SHORTHOUSE, D. J., IGLESIAS, D., JEFFRESS, S., LANE, S., MILLS, P., WOODBRIDGE, G., MCINTYRE, S. & MANNING, A. D. 2012. The ‘making of’the Mulligans Flat–Goorooyarroo experimental restoration project. Ecological Management & Restoration, 13, 112-125.
STENHOUSE, A., PERRY, T., GRÜTZNER, F., LEWIS, M. & KOH, L. P. 2021. EchidnaCSI–improving monitoring of a cryptic species at continental scale using citizen science. Global Ecology and Conservation, 28, e01626.
By taking part in the removal of weeds and planting of native shrubs in the new Ginninderry development, we helped to conserve habitat in the green spaces of a suburban community.
By Luke Gordon (u6390583)
An accelerating problem worldwide
The growth of urban land globally can’t stop, won’t stop. Worldwide, urban space has increased from approximately 1.84 percent in 1985, to 3 percent in 2014. In Australia, our urban footprint is increasing at double the average rate of other developed nations, and 30 percent of listed threatened species overlap with urban land. Although this expansion has meant more homes, businesses and infrastructure to support them, it has also meant the decline of threatened ecological communities and the species that call them home.
In Canberra, new urban development tends to have negative impacts on threatened ecological communities such as the Box-Gum Grassy Woodland and Natural Temperate Grassland, and threatened species such as the Golden Sun Moth, and Superb Parrot.
Urban expansion doesn’t just threaten native ecological communities by replacing them, it also threatens them by bringing them into contact with the invasive vegetation of exotic grass mixes used by local governments. These exotic weeds stifle the growth of natives by outcompeting them for space, water, nutrients and sunlight.
Considering that population growth is unlikely to subside, and that subsequent urban expansion is not halting any time soon either, developers and government need to find a way to conserve habitat and build better for biodiversity. The new Ginninderry development west of Belconnen ACT by Riverview Projects Pty Ltd, may hold part of the answer.
Habitat conservation in Ginninderry’s urban green space
Preserving green space with high levels of biodiversity in our urban areas has been shown to have a plethora of co-benefits for human health. Physically, they decrease air, noise and water pollution. And mentally, they reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Furthermore, by conserving native habitat in our urban green spaces, we can reduce the fragmentation of native ecological communities and species populations. It’s truly a win-win scenario.
In Ginninderry, there has been an active effort to preserve the local ecological community. For example, 80 percent of existing mature trees were retained in Strathnairn, Ginninderry’s first suburb, as opposed to the usual 25-50 percent of similar sized developments.
Riverview’s landscapers, Cia Landscape and Colour, collaborated with researchers of the ANU in establishing two alternative treatments to traditional “park-like” management for their green spaces. The first alternative comprised of mulching under a large eucalypt with organised planting of native, non-endemic ground cover. The second alternative comprised of restoring the local Box-Gum Grassy Woodland by scraping the nutrient rich topsoil, and planting endemic ground cover. This was done to evaluate the potential benefits differing conservation park management could have on biodiversity, society, and the economy.
Our role was to remove weeds established from the urban vegetation matrix, and subsequently plant native shrubs in a site undergoing treatment three. With the time available, I think we were quite successful!
It takes a strong will and ongoing learning to reconcile urban development and biodiversity conservation, and Ginninderry is shining a light for others to follow.
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u6949325
It is not often you get the opportunity to see rare animals long gone from your local landscape beyond the confines of a local zoo, or walk amongst undisturbed woods in proximity to suburbia. Luckily, I had the chance to combine both while surveying reintroduced curlews within Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary (MFWS).
Bush-stone curlew in flight. Photo credit: David Cunningham
No branches in the bush! Australia’s woodland crisis
Eucalyptus woodlands of south-eastern Australia are some of the most highly modified ecosystems, due to their fertile and flat landscapes. Box-gum grassy woodland has had over 90% of its original extent destroyed, and remaining patches are isolated and damaged. Even unassuming components, such as wood, are essential for woodland health, but are overexploited and damaged by us. Coarse woody debris (CWD) provides habitat and resources for many organisms, and its removal drives declines of biodiversity.
The loss of grassy woodlands impacts the quirky bush-stone curlew (Burhinus grallarius). This enigmatic bird is quite unlike any other. With cryptic plumage and motionless behavior mimicking a branch, curlews rely on CWD to forage, roost, and avoid detection by predators.
Curlew laying down in stiff position to mimic a branch. Photo provided by author.
Once widespread across the mainland, the loss of grassy woodlands in the south-eastern states have caused declines in curlew numbers and range. The last sighting of a wild curlew in the ACT occurred in 1970, and they are classified as locally extinct. The removal of CWD has increased predation of the birds by introduced predators, particularly the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), which easily detect and find their vulnerable eggs and chicks.
curlew nest with cryptic eggs. Photo credit: Shoshana Rapley
Caged conservation?
With 22.8km of predator-proof fencing, MFWS is a safe-haven for a critically endangered ecological community, as well as a research forefront for the reintroduction of locally extinct critters. Several other successful species reintroductions have occurred here, including the eastern bettong (Bettongia giamardi) and eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus).
Over half of all reintroduction attempts fail to establish populations, largely due to lack of knowledge about threatened animals. Of 8 curlew translocation attempts, the sole successful project occurred here at MFWS, from 2014 to the current day. This species is cryptic and highly mobile, so determining curlew presence and continued breeding within MFWS continued is essential for continued success of this project.
The survey
The main goal of this survey was to determine a robust population estimate of the curlews, and find any new arrivals. Pairs of volunteers set off in the morning, when the curlews are roosting, to survey distinct polygons within the sanctuary using the map below. The curlews are identified by leg tags, flags, radio packs, or in the case of those recently born within the sanctuary, no artificial markers. Survey efforts were focused around wooded areas with plenty of CWD. GPS coordinates and curlew sightings were made using the Avenza Maps app.
Curlew survey polygons of MFWS. Map provided by Shoshana Rapley. Tracks and curlew locations in zones 7 & 9 by Author.
Once a curlew was spotted, the ID, GPS coordinates and time were recorded. While I struggled to identify reintroduced individuals, I found a branch-posing individual with no leg tags, indicating that the curlews continue breeding successfully within the sanctuary! The population estimate obtained by this experience show the success of this reintroduction, and inform other projects how curlew reintroductions can succeed.
I would like to thank Shoshana Rapley for facilitating this work experience, and for detailing her charge in reintroducing curlews.
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Curlew with leg tag. Photo credit: Julie Clark
References
Anson, J.R., 2018. Predator proofing for conservation: an AWC perspective. Australian Zoologist, 39(2), pp.352-358.
Department of Environment and Conservation NSW. 2006. ‘NSW Recovery Plan for the Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius’. DEC, Sydney.
Bennett, V.A., Doerr, V.A., Doerr, E.D., Manning, A.D., Lindenmayer, D.B. and Yoon, H.J., 2013. ‘Causes of reintroduction failure of the brown treecreeper: Implications for ecosystem restoration’. Austral Ecology, 38(6), pp.700-712.
Kemp, L. Roshier, D., 2016. ‘A trial of release protocols for re-introduction of the bush stone-curlew to southern Australia’. Global re-introduction perspectives, pp.117-122.
Killey, P., Mcelhinny, C., Rayner, I.A.N. and Wood, J., 2010. Modelling fallen branch volumes in a temperate eucalypt woodland: implications for large senescent trees and benchmark loads of coarse woody debris. Austral Ecology, 35(8), pp.956-968.
Rapely, S. 2020. ‘Spatial ecology informs reintroduction tactics for warabin (Burhinus grallarius; bush stone-curlew)’. [Honours thesis]. Australian National University, Canberra. Accessed with author permission.
Kylie Kiu – u6425641 – Word Count: 548
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of volunteering at the National Zoo and Aquarium (NZA). I was able to interact with many animals while I assisted the Zookeeper around with their daily tasks (including feeding animals, cleaning their enclosures and preparing their food).
Located near Scrivener Dam, NZA is home to over 65 species of animals. They offer a variety of experiences for all ages, from causal visits to school excursions, and close encounters with the animals. The work done as a volunteer is only a small contribution to the larger efforts that the Zookeepers at NZA do to conserve animal biodiversity.
We recently welcomed 2 red pandas to the NZA. Listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, direct drivers to their population decline includes habitat loss and susceptibility to diseases.
The loss of their habitat and food source is a result of deforestation (for clear land and harvest resources). Red panda populations are at further risk as they often occur in fragmented patches in small numbers. Many individuals are susceptible to diseases and bacterial infections, in both in-situ and ex-situ conservation, further putting their populating at risk.
The cuteness factors of red pandas make them ideal for conservation education and raising awareness at the NZA and other zoos. A trip to the zoos installs biodiversity values in visitors and provide valuable conservation education. The NZA also contributes to the Red Panda Network who are doing valuable research, restoration and protection of wild Red Pandas.
The NZA has a family of 5 smart and playful otters, but trust me when I say their poop stinks!! Luckily for them, they’re very cute so I’ll happily clean up after them.
Asian-clawed otters are listed as vulnerable and face habitat loss through aquatic ecosystem damage and pollution. If you’ve ever seen an otter dive in the water, you may notice a trail of bubbles behind them. This is caused by the release of the air trapped between their two-coat layers. Unfortunately, they are also being killed for the illegal trade of their fur pelts or hunted as pests by local farmers.
Ex-situ conservation at the NZA contributes to otter breeding, with the birth of Bal and Pai’s 3 offspring (Basil, Chester and Josey).
Although they may look scary, Souda and Ashaki are just like any cat – they love basking in the sun and minding their own business!
While they’re classified as of least concern, serval populations in the wild face still face habitat loss from urban developments, resulting in further habitat fragmented and degradation. Males and females are often segregated in separate ranges, and come together to breed. Thus, fragmented patches make it harder for males and females to navigate and find each other.
The NZA contributes to regional serval breeding programs and donates to further conservation programs that are focused on conserving other Big Cat species who are vulnerable and endangered.
While it may be controversial, zoos are contributing to animal conservation through ex-situ conservation, breeding programs and education. I’ve learnt so much from this experience, and I would defiantly recommend visiting the NZA if you haven’t done so already.
I’d like to say thank you to all the zookeepers who I’ve worked with over the past few weeks, not just for sharing your knowledge but also your enthusiasm for animal conservation.
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As urban populations skyrocket and urban areas expand outwards important habitat and biodiversity will be lost. In Australia the habitat of over 30% of our threatened species overlaps with urban areas, which means new developments pose a huge threat to our more vulnerable species.
Canberra’s population is predicted to double by 2050, and as it grows new developments will push further and further into surrounding native grasslands, that are home to both the Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana) – Endangered in the ACT- and the Pink-tailed Legless Lizard (Aprasia parapulchella) – Vulnerable in the ACT. These Box gum grassy woodlands (BGGW) have already lost 90 to 95% of its pre-European distribution, so it can’t really take much more – it listed as Critically Endangered nationally. Its location right on our doorstep means urban developments around the city have an important role to play in its conservation.
Source: Environment.act.gov.au
Urbanisation usually means removing most of the existing native vegetation and, in the green spaces that do remain, replacing it with more aesthetic European plants and grasses. This new ecosystem creates an unsuitable habitat for our native species and often allows invasive species to thrive.
Ginninderry is a new suburb of North Canberra located on the ACT/NSW border, they aim to set an international example to other new sustainable developments. During the development 81% of mature trees were retained and, in a partnership with the ANU, they have devised 3 possible treatments for small ecological parks to conserve biodiversity around the trees. The first is the traditional European style management, which was employed when trees were near major roads. The second treatment was the mass planting of mid-storey shrubs and grasses, while the third was removing the nutrient rich topsoil and attempting to re-establish the endemic BGGW. In both new logs are introduced and coarsy woody debris retained.
While the retention of mature trees is definitely a positive for biodiversity, its not quite clear yet whether these parks will have an impact and to create a conservation corridor between larger remnant patches or habitat and increased biodiversity. The ideas behind them are sound, with coarse woody debris and native shrubs both being critical structural components of BGGW and having positive correlations with species richness and abundance of small native birds and insects. However, it has been found that remnant patches in urban spaces must be over 50 hectares to retain urban-sensitive vegetation or threatened species, which these definitely are not. While this is a step in the right direction, we have yet to see how successful the parks will be. The retention of the mature trees is already a huge positive though, as in nearby developments roughly only 26% are retained.
Because Ginninderry is still in development these parks are still being created. In early October a group of us students made the trek to Ginninderry for our work experience, with the intention of planting some of these shrubs, only to be met with torrential rain and be sent home with our tails between our legs. We still got a fantastic tour from Matthew Frawley, Ginninderry’s Urban Design and Landscape Manager though!
In the early 20th century, the Sydney-born developer Henry Halloran drafted grand plans for a new suburb to be built with more than a thousand new plots. He called it Environa. However, before his grand plans could come to fruition, the Great Depression struck, and his plans went bust. Now, nearly one hundred years later, Halloran’s descendants manage the land.
When we arrived, we were greeted by David Larcombe, one of the proprietors of the land. On this property, he, his sister, and the rest of their family oversee the management the 400-ha Wandiyali-Environa Conservation Area and multiple other pieces of remnant vegetation along with a cattle herd 200-head strong. During our work experience trip, we helped remove plastic tree guards from native shrubs in one of the remnant patches of vegetation. They had been planted to establish a midstory to provide habitat to small birds within one of the protected vegetation patches. However, the conservation efforts are much more complex than this. To finance the Wandiyali-Environa Restoration Trust, they have sold bits of the original swaths of the property to developers, including the suburb development that we had gotten lost in previously and the Poplar innovation precinct. The conservation is also financed through biodiversity offsets credits financed by these developments. They were also able to create a predator-proof fence around the conservation area, due to grant from the Commonwealth government, with the hopes of making it a biodiversity haven
To prevent precipitous decline of biodiversity, researchers have found that we need to ensure that 44 percent of terrestrial land is ecologically sound. Considering that more than 60 percent of Australia is privately owned, it becomes clear that protecting public lands is not enough. The most recent IPBES report emphasizes that multilevel governance initiatives that incorporate private landholders are key in the fight to protect biodiversity. What we do in our backyards matters just as much as the management done in the national parks. We cannot create a conservation system that adequately protects biodiversity without working with private landholders. The report also outlines that economic pressures are one of the biggest indirect drivers of biodiversity loss. This site is an interesting case study of how economic development can fund biodiversity conservation
What we do in our backyards matters just as much as the management done in our national and state parks
At the top of a hill, Larcombe showed us his grand project during the covid lockdown: a large living sculpture of fallen debris that wrapped around the base of a grand eucalyptus tree and connected it to its offspring that stood less than a metre tall. David asked us to take a moment to breath and take it all in. From that spot, it was easy to see Canberra and the surrounding bushland sprawling beneath.
In some ways Larcombe is realising the all-encompassing goals of his ancestor, but in other ways he is not. It is very likely that biodiversity conservation was one of the last things on Halloran’s mind. Faced with the ecological crises of today, we find that sociocultural values which have previously fuelled biodiversity decline are changing and economic development can be used to benefit biodiversity.
By u7243052
William Holt – u6954919
Frogtober is upon us once again!
Each October, FrogWatch ACT, let by the Ginninderra Catchment Group, leads a community based amphibian monitoring program, identifying levels of abundance and species richness of amphibians within the wetlands of the ACT and surrounding areas. FrogWatch ACT has continued to grow since its establishment in 2002, this being its 20th anniversary! (Osborne & Evans, 2007). How positively ribeting!
Training time
My training included a swift learning of data collection and surveying methods, at HQ just next door to the Jerrabomberra Wetlands. Most importantly, volunteers are given a brief introduction to the identification of different frog calls, so that when in the field, species can be identified and differentiated, and also the abundance of that species can be recorded (Osborne & Evans, 2007). These surveys, and the audio recordings taken with them, build an ongoing insight into the health of amphibian populations in the varying types of wetlands within the ACT, allowing researchers and simple enthusiasts alike to analyse year on year how the region’s amphibians are coping with growing external environmental pressures upon biodiversity.
The ‘Mowing Menace‘
In terms of my contribution, I took surveys in and around the small creek running through Norgrove Park in Kingston, ACT. This area provides a good insight into how amphibians are coping in more urban areas, and what factors may influence them prospering there. In recent times, the FrogWatch surveys have begun to take council mowing patterns into account in the ACT’s public wetlands areas. A correlation between the proximity of mowed grass to the shoreline of the pond or waterway, and the abundance of amphibians found in that area has been shown in recent times (Woodford & Meyer, 2003). This indicates that areas that may be ‘over-mowed’ may actually be harming frog populations. Therefore, with surveyors monitoring the level of mowing while measuring amphibian presence, advice to the government and land managers could be made in the future to influence change, further helping our amphibian amigos!
Significance of community surveying
All of these surveys provide researchers and land managers with a more comprehensive picture of amphibian populations within the area. This is especially poignant amid the ongoing fight against the chytrid fungus epidemic, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, that has ravaged amphibian populations severely in Australia and abroad since before FrogWatch’s inception, and continues to do so (Stockwell et al., 2008). Gaining further insight into what areas may be flourishing, and what areas/ ecosystems may be languishing, could give researchers greater pointers into how and where intervention could be made in seeing these species (Westgate et al., 2015), including the ACT’s own beloved Northern Corroboree Frog, Pseudophryne corroboree, survive further into the 21st century and beyond.
As community led data collection and surveying becomes more common worldwide, a greater link between communities and governmental land managers can be forged (Westgate et al., 2015), hopefully generating a future in which all members of our communities can support biodiversity conservation, and greater steps can be made in making sure that surveying and research can make real differences in how management practices are undertook.
Photos and media have been redacted due to lack of blog media storage space at this time.
Reference List:
Click to access 2009_Frogwatch_Report.pdf
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140973
Eric Kitazato-Mu – u7129226
Did you know that since European settlement, more than 80% of koala habitat has been lost? Habitat destruction, bushfires, and road accidents are only some of the major drivers of significant population decline of the koala species. Since February 2022, the koala species has been listed as ‘ENDANGERED’ in ACT under the EPBC Act and many organisations now aim to conserve the iconic Australian species.
IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING KOALAS
Other ANU students and I were very fortunate to work with the park rangers at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve to care and monitor for some of the remaining koalas in Australia. About 100ha in size, the reserve is home to a wide range of animal species including kangaroos, wallabies, potoroos, platypus, and of course the endangered koalas. The reserve is enclosed with an animal proof fence to allow for a feral-predator free habitat where the park rangers aim to monitor and conserve the habitat of these animals.
During my experience at the Tidbinbilla Nature reserve, I learnt a lot of things. Surveying koalas is not an easy task. Keeping a record of how many koalas there are in the reserve is a very important in order to keep track of koala presence and distribution. Ensuring that the population of koalas in the reserve does not exceed the carrying capacity is very important as this could lead to catastrophic consequences including the decline of the koala population. Unfortunately, finding these koalas are very difficult as they tend to lie very high up in the trees. Therefore, detecting koala manure and tracks is a very big indication of where they are. During my time inside the reserve, I was only able to find one koala!
We also helped clean the koala enclosure inside the reserve. It was to my shock that koalas are very picky eaters, as they only eat 50 of the 800 eucalypt plant species. We were responsible for changing the plants inside the enclosure, as well as cleaning up the manure and other debris on the ground. It was such hard work; it just shows how much the rangers care for the koalas in the reserve.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
The Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve are always looking for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to help take part in conservation activities inside the reserve. Known as ParkCare, it is also a great way to meet people and be out in the natural environment.
CONCLUSION
After my wonderful experience surveying and taking care of the koalas at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, I have broadened my understanding of the importance of conserving biodiversity and the hard work that is put into taking care of endangered animals.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A big thank you to the park rangers at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve that took time out of their day to facilitate this amazing experience.
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Biodiversity Conservation 