Build a home for wildlife

IF YOU’D like to help birds and small animals thrive on your property, a free workshop this weekend will show you one way to do so – by building a nestbox.

While animals like phascogales and possums like to live in hollow bearing trees, these hollows are typically only found in trees exceeding 100 years in age.

That’s where nestboxes come in, providing a substitute while trees develop.

Roger Macraild from the Moorabool Landcare Network, which is running the workshop from 10am to 12.30 pm on Saturday, said that when placed correctly, nestboxes could keep animals warm in winter, and cool in summer.

“We’ve engaged Brad Blake from ProCon Pest and Wildlife Management, who’s very experienced with nestbox creation and installation,” Mr Macraild said.

“He comes with a wealth of experience and ability. He’ll be giving us a rundown on the theory of why we’re using nestboxes, the characteristics of nestboxes that make them effective and useful.

“We’ll have examples there, we’ll put some together, and we’re thinking about actually putting some up around the nursery where we’re hosting the workshop.”

The main motivation to hold the event locally, Mr Macraild said, is the low number of hollow trees locally.

“The Grow West project’s been working in this landscape between the Brisbane Ranges National Park and the Lerderderg, doing revegetation efforts, over the last 20 years,” he said.

“Given a tree requires about 100 years to develop, those trees aren’t there yet. Though we’ve developed those forage resources a lot of those animals would need, they don’t have the nesting there to persist long-term.

“So really, we’re working to improve that Grow West habitat, and make it more functional.”

The workshop will be held on Saturday 8 June at the Moorabool Landcare Network Nursery at 1327 Glenmore Road, Glenmore.

For more information and to register attendance for free, visit bit.ly/3Ktz1cR.