Since the Cudlee Creek bushfires in 2019, the URTLG has delivered several bushfire recovery projects on 22 sites across the fire scar. During 2021, 17 properties had two or more varieties of artificial nest boxes installed as part of their projects. We communicated with the local NPWS Ecologist to find out what were the preferred species we should focus our nest boxes on and this included:

  • Pygmy possum/Antechinus,
  • Common and Ringtail possum,
  • Kookaburra,
  • Wood duck,
  • Owlet-nightjar and
  • Pardalote

The Gumeracha and Tea Tree Gully Men’s Shed volunteers made all of the boxes and Philip Cornish and Jacob Kloppe (Save our Wildlife Foundation Inc) installed them during 2020 and 2021.

The URTLG have recently applied for a Hills & Fleurieu Grassroots Grant to provide us with an opportunity to revisit some of the properties to check and record what (if anything) has (or is) utilising the refuge. This will help guide our future projects and identify if installing artificial nest boxes is a viable and worthwhile activity.

If we are successful, we hope to deliver a community education session post-survey to share our results.

WATCH THIS SPACE…..

Have you noticed any critters using a nest box on your property?  If so, please send us a photo.    Can you see the tenants using this box?