Bandicoots, Birds and Eco-restoration program at Balijup farm near Cranbrook 16-2- Jan 2020
This Green Skills camp involved four days of Bandicoot and fauna trapping and other environmental monitoring on Balijup, a special property forming part of the Gondwana Link conservation program.
14 participants worked with wildlife biologist Andy McCreery, Alisia Lampropoulos, & Basil Schur of Green Skills and others on a range of citizen science monitoring activities at and near Balijup farm including bandicoot re-trapping,bird surveying ( with Andrew Dickinson), woodland cockatoo hollow survey & Sanctuary fence maintenance. Thanks to Aunty Carol Petterson, Noongar elder, for participating and for the enthusiastic support of the Balijup owners, Alan Hordacre, Anne Vanderbyl and Richard Hordacre.
The 111ha Sanctuary was launched in May 2015 with Bandicoots ( Quenda), re introduced into the enclosure from whiich foxes and cats are excluded.A
This project was supported by the WA Government’s State NRM program and the Koorabup Trust. It also formed part of the Festival of Birds and Biodiversity 2020, supported by Lotterywest, Great Southern Development Commission, BirdLife WA and Green Skills
A Quenda ( Southern Brown Bandicoot) about to be released after capture, tagging and measuring.
100 cage traps were set out in the 111 ha fenced Sanctuary enclosure
Capturing and carefully handling the fauna caught
Group processing and measuring animals before release
University students getting experience handling native fauna
Releasing a Quenda
A Brush tailed Possum about to be released after capture
Brush tailed phascogale – first one caught and photographed at the Balijup Sanctuary. Very exciting !
Sarah and Andrew doing a standard bird survey
Anne Vandberbyl ( one of the Co owners of Balijup) brought out scones, cream and home made jam for the hungry team!
Participants on the Cockatoo nesting hollow survey of the wandoo and Jarrah trees
Setting up a wildlife detecting camera in the Sanctuary
Sanctuary Fence maintenance work
Eco-restoration visit to Green Skills and Greening Australian revegetation sites on the Sandiland farm near Kendenup
Visit to the Green Skills bird hideA fam at Lake Matilda, near Kendenup
Aunty Carol Pettersen, Noongar elder, sharing her knowledge, including about sandalwood nuts as valuable bushtucker food
Spotlighting excercise near Lake Nunijup during the event
Ecorestoration visit to the Martagallup Pony Club lake wetland restoration site and constructed islands.
Group enjoying watermelon brought up by Alan Hordacre and partner Kylie.
The group in the Sanctuary about to embark on a Cockatoo nesting hollow survey of the wandoo and Jarrah treas