Ed Thexton reports on the latest in nest box technology, including new methods to deter Indian mynas and other raiders. Photo: ABC By Ed Thexton
WHY bother building a nest box? Nest boxes are constructed tree hollows. Tree hollows take at least 50 years to form naturally. Bass Coast has very few old hollow-bearing trees as only five per cent of the shire remains uncleared. This affects the 50 local species of birds and mammals evolved to use hollows for breeding.
Last Saturday the South Gippsland Conservation Society held a bird nest box workshop at the excellent Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club, the first in a series to develop a greater understanding of biodiversity management in the time of biodiversity crisis.
WHY bother building a nest box? Nest boxes are constructed tree hollows. Tree hollows take at least 50 years to form naturally. Bass Coast has very few old hollow-bearing trees as only five per cent of the shire remains uncleared. This affects the 50 local species of birds and mammals evolved to use hollows for breeding.
Last Saturday the South Gippsland Conservation Society held a bird nest box workshop at the excellent Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club, the first in a series to develop a greater understanding of biodiversity management in the time of biodiversity crisis.
We drew on the experience of locals from SGCS, Birdlife Australia and Landcare. The day was led by Peter Wiltshire, senior ranger of 35 years at the Darebin Parklands, assisted by Michael Mann, fabricator in chief and collaborator of 13 years in nest box design and placement. Please go to the recent ABC Gardening Australia segment to see for yourself. Our own fabricator team from the Inverloch and Wonthaggi Men’s Shed came to learn from the makers of their trials and tribulations.
Unwelcome sight: a common myna has taken over this nesting box to lay her own eggs. How hard can it be to design, fabricate, place and manage a nest box? Just one example gives an insight. The common myna (Indian myna), that very common, black-headed, brown bird with the white wing flash that deftly negotiates cars all day long, is a robust, pugnacious species of high intelligence. It is also an exotic or introduced bird that likes nothing more than a nest box to breed in. They do not cohabit; they kill native birds that try to use their box. They break the eggs, throw out the young, physically attack the adults.
Peter and Michael detailed their many and varied attempts to design and site nest boxes to keep out common mynas, starlings, bees and ants and preserve the boxes for natives at the Darebin Parklands over the 13 years. It’s a work in progress. Along the way they have developed a telescopic Bluetooth-linked monitoring camera to use in their inspection program, which involves inspection every three weeks for eight months. Their 160 boxes have an 80 per cent occupancy rate of desired species. This is just another example of how persistence and consistency is one of the cornerstones of successful conservation management.
Peter and Michael detailed their many and varied attempts to design and site nest boxes to keep out common mynas, starlings, bees and ants and preserve the boxes for natives at the Darebin Parklands over the 13 years. It’s a work in progress. Along the way they have developed a telescopic Bluetooth-linked monitoring camera to use in their inspection program, which involves inspection every three weeks for eight months. Their 160 boxes have an 80 per cent occupancy rate of desired species. This is just another example of how persistence and consistency is one of the cornerstones of successful conservation management.
We seek to build on their experiences and will begin modestly with an initial placement of 30 nest boxes and monitor their progress.
Our nest box program is just one aspect of our unfolding and developing conservation leadership program. The natural world is the core of Inverloch and South Gippsland. We understand that it will not and cannot persist without an active program of promotion and development.
The South Gippsland Conservation Society is a multifaceted group that calls on a broad range of skill sets. Whether you moved here yesterday or your family has been here for generations, we need you! Please make yourself known at the Bunurong Environment Centre in Inverloch and talk to our friendly and informative volunteers. The biodiversity crisis is real and the time for action is now.
Ed Thexton is president of the South Gippsland Conservation Society.
Our nest box program is just one aspect of our unfolding and developing conservation leadership program. The natural world is the core of Inverloch and South Gippsland. We understand that it will not and cannot persist without an active program of promotion and development.
The South Gippsland Conservation Society is a multifaceted group that calls on a broad range of skill sets. Whether you moved here yesterday or your family has been here for generations, we need you! Please make yourself known at the Bunurong Environment Centre in Inverloch and talk to our friendly and informative volunteers. The biodiversity crisis is real and the time for action is now.
Ed Thexton is president of the South Gippsland Conservation Society.
Peter Wiltshire led a walk along the Ayr Creek in Inverloch where some of the nesting boxes will be placed. Photo: John Cuttriss