27 November 2024
We are very fortunate to have a population of the threatened Squirrel Gliders living in the local area. There have been several historic sightings around the Dadswell’s Bridge and Deep Lead areas. However, it is not known how many there are or where critical habitat is located.
During mid-November, Project Platypus field crew members Lee Parry and Connor Beven teamed up with ecologist, Chris Pocknee from the Central Victorian Biolinks Alliance to search for Squirrel Gliders. During six nights, the team eagerly spotted and identified possum and glider species with the assistance of thermal detecting night scopes, binoculars and cameras. A total of 17km of roadsides and reserves were surveyed in the Dadswell’s Bridge and Ledcourt areas near Stawell.
The survey revealed one new location where the Squirrel Gliders live in the area. This is a very positive result as every location provides a better understanding of how many gliders there are in the local population and which areas should be a focus for protection. The single new location of Squirrel Gliders illustrates that the species is still rare in our area and that protection is critical to ensure the survival of the population.
The surveys also revealed a high abundance of Sugar Gliders, Ring Tail and Common Brush Tail possums in the area. This indicated that there is very good habitat quality with plenty of nesting hollows and food for gliders and possums.
The surveys are part of an ongoing project that has been funded through generous local donations and major donation and support from The Handbury Foundation and Ace Radio. It is part of a collaborative partnership with the Glideways program lead from Central Victoria.
Mark McLean
Manager