Cheeky Cave Chuditch

Chuditch (also known as Western Quolls or native cats) are a rare and unusual sight in the wheatbelt, but thanks to Wheatbelt NRM's Healthy Bushland project, we are starting to uncover some of the secrets of where and when chuditch are active in the Wheatbelt.

This footage above was captured by Mike Griffiths, who placed a remote camera in a rocky cave near Boyagin Nature Reserve in the Shire of Beverley.

Remote cameras are digital video cameras inside a waterproof case, connected to a motion sensing device. When animals pass by the senor, the camera is triggered and the video begins recording. The black and white movie is produced by the infra-red lights used by the cameras during the evening hours.

Remote cameras have been placed in bushland all across the wheatbelt to assist with understanding which animals are found where.

In this case, a chuditch was recorded using this rocky cave to forage for food such as insects and small animals.

Chuditch's use caves, hollow logs and other shelter (even rooves of houses!) as a den, emerging in the evening to look for food.

Litters are born between May and September, and stay in the mothers pouch for about nine weeks.

Home ranges in WA can be between 55 - 120 hectres in size and are vigorously defended.

Chuditch are threatened by injury from vecicles, predation by foxes and raptors and illegal shooting (chudich are particularly keen on eating chickens - if they can get them!).

Because of these threats, Chuditch are listed on the EPBC Act (1999) as Vulnerable - which means they are a protected species.

If you think you have seen a chuditch or want to know how you can encourage them in your area, contact Wheatbelt NRM on info@wheatbeltnrm.org.au or leave a post.

Red Card for Foxes in Kellerberrin

A team of landholders from north Kellerberrin has claimed victory in a local feral pest hunt.

 

The Red Card for the Red Fox program aims to coordinate community action for better control of feral foxes, cats and rabbits, and has been underway across the central Wheatbelt during March and April.

The shoot, organised by the Kellerberrin Shire, was held in March and April, over two weekends.

 

Wheatbelt NRM sponsored the Highest Points Trophy and the community BBQ as part of the Caring for Our Country Program. Wheatbelt NRM’s Regional Landcare Facilitator Mick Davis said eight teams competed from around Kellerberrin district.

“Because of the combined effort, 328 foxes were culled along with 22 cats and 72 rabbits,” Mick said. 

The winning team was North Kellerberrin, made up of Andrew Cox (North Kellerberrin), Brian Wilkins (Doodlakine), Bryce Wilkins (North Kellerberrin) and Ben Chandler (South Doodlakine), who tallied 61 foxes and four cats.

“These events are a more effective way of controlling feral animals,” Mick Davis said. "Foxes and cats prey on our native wildlife, which often includes threatened or rare species"

"Without active feral control like the Red Card program, species like the Black-flanked Rock Wallaby, which live in the Kellerberrin District would already be extinct"

Photo by Phil Lewis, WWF

Landholder Ben Chandler from south Doodlakine, who was part of the winning team, said the event helped get more people involved.

“It makes it easy, usually if you go out fox shooting it’s only a couple of hours by yourself,” Ben Chandler said. “But when you have an event like the Red Card program, it gives you a motivation to all get together.

“Otherwise you would never get together and shoot so many foxes.”

If you are interested in becomming involved in the Red Card for the Red Fox program, contact Mick on 0428 969 096 or mdavis@wheatbeltnrm.org.au

Or, visit the Red Card website at  http://www.redcard.net.au/

Skinks - Renovation Rescue!!

Early this afternoon a family of threatened skinks from WA's wheatbelt got an emergency house renovation!

In a collaborative effort, Wheatbelt NRM, WWF Australia, Department of Environment and Conservation Central Wheatbelt District staff and members of the community relocated the family to a safe location nearby.

The skinks were living in a wood pile which was destined for destruction, until a local farmer noticed them living there.

With the help of Wheatbelt NRM's Noongar Budjar Trainee's Judd Davis and Brandon Colbung, Phil Lewis and the rest of the Healthy Bushland team helped dismantle the woodpile and capture the skinks.

'They were pretty lively' said Brandon, who uncovered the first skink 'but we got them all eventually.'

While the skinks' house was being re-located, the reptiles were measured by Natasha Moore from Department of Environment and Conservation Central Wheatbelt District and Dr James Haberfield from Balcatta Vet Hospital, then fitted with microchips to enable the family to be identified in the future.

Monitoring will continue at the new residence to confirm the family are happy in their new location.

'Although the threat to these unique animals is reduced, they still have to contend with cats, foxes and harsh conditions - so ongoing monitoring after the translocation is important' says Mick Davis, Wheatbelt NRM's Regional Landcare Facilitator.

'However, given the fighting spirit (shown in the image below) and stewardship by the local landholder, it is expected the skinks will do well in their new home.'

Find out more about projects to protect and manage western spiny-tailed skinks (funded by Wheatbelt NRM and the Australian Governments Caring For Our Country program) on the WWF-Australia BLOG.

Learn more about Wheatbelt NRM's Biodiversity Program at www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au

Wheatbelt NRM Takes Biodiversity Conservation Global!

Since it's launch in June 2010, Wheatbelt NRM's Biodiversity Blog has been spreading the word about what's happening in the Avon's backyard to the rest of the globe!

But have you ever wondered who else is listening and watching what's happening here...?

A review of the visitor summary shows that about half of our 3000 visitors so far have been from Australia, while another quarter that amount are from the United States.

Pie chart of this blog's audience composition

Fully one fifth of our visitors are from farther afield -India, France and Italy to name a few. They log-in from across the globe to look at great photos and read interesting stories about what's going on in places like Toodyay, Mukindudin or Corrigin. Or to find our more about our projects to protect threatened species or control Weeds of National Significance (WONS).

Map of this Blog's audience from around the globe!

The strong interest from around the globe in Wheatbelt NRM's Biodiversity Program's projects and the plants and animals they protect is testament to the hard work and passion our community and it's many groups community puts towards sustaining our natural heritage.

High value hay grown in a 'backyard' paddock protected by remnant vegetation

By working with our community to protect it's natural heritage, Wheatbelt NRM is also helping to buffer our agricultural industries from the effects of climate change and variable seasonal influences. We are proud to be working at a local level and having a truly global impact!

Wheateblt NRM wold like to say a big HELLO (Ola! Guten Tag! привет! Bonjour!)  to our global audience - and invite you all back again sometime soon to see that 'There's a lot happening in our backyard!'

Atlas of Living Australia Tool Update

For anyone in Australia wishing to find out more about what plants and animals are in their area, the Atlas of Living Australia Search Tool is an excellent resource.

The Atlas allows registered users to search any place in Australia for details for known records of plants and animals, with detailed species information and links to additional info. All for free!




Above is an example of the output of a search done within a 5km radius of Merredin, WA, showing a total of 236 species of flora and fauna from around 30 different locations, from just this one area.

Users can also query individual records, identify collectors and download a summary file for reference.