Fauna Monitoring

The start of our fauna monitoring journey was through a DELWP funded project investigating threatened fauna in the Moorabool Shire. The network has been promoting the cause of threatened species of the Moorabool Shire and the role of Landcare, community groups and individuals in helping to protect them and their habitat. 

Running from April to November 2017, 6 motion sensitive infrared cameras were deployed across 12 private properties and public reserves. Almost half of the cameras were set up using a custom tree mount the rest at ground level. We identified 18 species; Agile Antechinus, Black Rat, Common Brushtail Possum, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Echidna, Red Fox, Grey Shrike Thrush, House Mouse, Koala, Feral Pig, Rabbit, Red Wattlebird, Ringtail Possum, Sugar Glider, Superb Fairy Wren, Swamp Wallaby, White-throated Treecreeper and Wombat.

Tree mounted cameras detected 9 species, with the Agile Antechinus, Koala, Sugar Gliders and 3 bird species only being detected with this mounting style. Ground level cameras detected 12 species (1 bird). On private property 16 species (4 introduced) were detected and 12 (1 introduced) on reserves, so the number of native species on each property type was similar, showing that private properties can play an extremely valuable role as habitat for native species if appropriately managed.

Now that the funded project has ended, the Landcare Network is seeking expressions of interest from landholders in the shire who are interested to know what fauna lives on their property. Landholders will need to assist with the deploying of the cameras, which will be put out for 3 weeks at a time. Please contact facilitator@mln.org.au if you are interested.

The Moorabool Landcare Network acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government in funding this project.

Along the way we've found -