Fauna at Five Corners
Fauna at Five Corners
Gwymac Inc was looking to host an Information Day and Field Trip to Nullamanna's private nature reserve called Five Corners to raise awareness of the value of conducting your own nature surveys and the fun of becoming a 'Citizen Scientist'.
Making a Difference -
LLCI031-049
The issue
There is a general lack of appreciation for the value of fauna surveys and for simply making observations in our natural environment. This project aimed to improve the knowledge and understanding of ecosystem services provided by natural resources and to enhance landcarer's abilities to use digital recording Apps, direct and indirect observational techniques, the use of survey equipment, how to conduct a fauna survey legally and the value of being a Citizen Scientist.
The solution
Gwymac applied to the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Small Community Grants program and were able to secure funds to run a two day event including a nocturnal evening. Gwymac delivered the workshop/field trip at Five Corners in Nullamanna, north west of Inverell with a local Zoologist and Environmental Educator on the topic 'Introduction to Fauna Surveys' - what you can do legally and the importance of completing surveys. The workshop also hosted a Citizen Scientist who had discovered the Peacock Spider, a Citizen Scientist who's observations of Bush Turkeys have now been picked up by a University to study further and BirdLife Australia talked on how to conduct bird surveys and look for Regent Honeyeaters. The project also included a nocturnal evening at Five Corners, a Science Walk and a screening evening in Glen Innes of the award winning documentary 'Maratus'.
The impact
Participants improved their ability to identify wildlife and to transform their own monitoring techniques as a result of the presentations during the event. More than 50 people attended the weekend and most participants indicated that they would implement changes as a result of the workshop, some of which included changing techniques for observing wildlife, improving the accuracy of their bird recording data and creating more habitat vegetation on their properties. Participants also learned when the best times of the day and night were to monitor certain native species of animals and birds which will assist with improving the accuracy of recorded data.
Key facts
- Fauna surveys can be conducted at varying levels of detail with variable levels of experience.
- Peacock Spiders are amazingly small!
- Citizen Scientists are major contributors to environmental research.