Volunteer!

24 - 28 November 2008

Southern Atherton Tablelands - Ringtail Crossing Nature Refuge

 

Project will depart from Cairns

The Southern Atherton Tablelands, Upper Barron district contains the largest remnant rainforest patch outside the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.  Covering about 1,000 hectares the forest provides critical habitat for the endangered southern cassowary, rare Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo, and the 3 rare ringtail possums - lemuroid, green and Herbert River.  It also contains a number of rare and threatened plant species. 

 Volunteers on this project will be assisting Nature Refuge landholders to build the eco-resilience of their properties by controlling invasive weed species such as bramble, lantana and wild tobacco, removing old barbed wire fences and preparing sites for planting. These activities will help to create habitat in former pastures and develop wildlife corridors. Activities will also include base line data collection to assist the monitoring program – this will include night spotlighting surveys for ringtail possums, and bird counts during the day.  These species counts which also provide an opportunity to see the rarer possums and unique nightlife of an upland rainforest Accommodation will be in cottages

 

 

2 - 6 February 2009

Southern Atherton Tablelands – Cloudland Nature Refuge

 

Project will depart from Cairns

The Southern Atherton Tablelands, Upper Barron district contains the largest remnant rainforest patch outside the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.  Covering about 1,000 hectares the forest provides critical habitat for the endangered southern cassowary, rare Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo, and the 3 rare ringtail possums - lemuroid, green and Herbert River.  It also contains a number of rare and threatened plant species. 

 

This project is based up on the Atherton Tablelands in the Wet Tropics Bioregion, in a relatively recently declared Nature Refuge that is being restored to re-establish an important wildlife connection between remnant upland rainforest patches.  Volunteers will have the opportunity to expand rainforest connections through revegetation works revolving around site preparation for plantings of former pastureland, seasonal creeks and wandering gullies.   Volunteers may also assist with fencing, weed management and monitoring tasks.

 

Accommodation will be in cottages

 

 

9 - 13 March 2009

Southern Atherton Tablelands -Wundajilla Forest Nature Refuge

 

Project will depart from Cairns

 

The Southern Atherton Tablelands, Upper Barron district contains the largest remnant rainforest patch outside the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.  Covering about 1,000 hectares the forest provides critical habitat for the endangered southern cassowary, rare Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo, and the 3 rare ringtail possums - lemuroid, green and Herbert River.  It also contains a number of rare and threatened plant species. 

 

This project is based in the upland, cloudy rainforests of the Wet Tropics on the Southern end of the Atherton Tablelands. This project focuses on restoring habitat for upland endemic ringtail possums. Activities will involve replanting old pastureland and infill planting of remnant rainforest patches.  Volunteers may also undertake a range of other tasks that assist in rehabilitation of the site including removing old fences, weed control and fencing. Volunteers will also help with some monitoring activities using a tool kit developed to monitor biodiversity outcomes in re-vegetation projects to assist local Tree-kangaroo and Mammal groups.   There will be the opportunity for volunteers to go on a night spotlighting survey to observe possums and other nocturnal fauna.

 

Accommodation will be in cottages

 

17 – 21 November 2008

Barwon River -  Wetland Monitoring

 

Project will depart from Geelong

The Southern Bell Frog, also known as the Growling Grass Frog, is one of Victoria’s most endangered frogs.  Altered habitat and unpredictable water levels are among the threats facing the endangered Southern Bell frog.  Along the Barwon River, volunteers will construct “designer homes” for the Southern Bell frog, taking advantage of stormwater flows from surrounding areas to replenish important breeding sites.

 

Volunteers on this project will be involved in monitoring wetlands sites along the Barwon River As the Southern Bell Frog breeding period commences in November, this is an important time to monitor the most populated sites, such as Buckley Falls and Jerringot Wildlife Reserve along the Barwon River. Learn about wetlands and water monitoring techniques with at training day at Serendip Sanctuary. Activities will also include night surveys along with Barwon River to monitor Southern Bell Frog populations and other wetlands species. Volunteers will assist at several sites along the river, undertaking wetlands restoration activities and photo point surveys.  

 

Accommodation will be in a guesthouse

 

15 – 19 December 2008

Barwon River -  Habitat Restoration and Monitoring

 

Project will depart from Geelong

The Southern Bell Frog,  also known as the Growling Grass Frog,  is one of Victoria’s most endangered frogs.  Altered habitat and unpredictable water levels are among the threats facing the endangered Southern Bell frog.  Along the Barwon River, volunteers will construct “designer homes” for the Southern Bell frog, taking advantage of stormwater flows from surrounding areas to replenish important breeding sites.

 

Volunteers on this project will be involved in monitoring wetlands sites along the Barwon River.  Help to restore selected Southern Bell Frog breeding sites along the Barwon River to create a wildlife corridor from Queens Park to Jerringot Wildlife reserve.  Learn about wetlands and water monitoring techniques with at training day at Serendip Sanctuary.  This project will focus on restoring habitat with volunteers undertaking weed surveys including photo point monitoring, removal of weeds and replacing them with local wetland plants.  Activities will also include night surveys along the Barwon River to monitor Southern Bell Frog populations.

 

Accommodation will be in a guesthouse

 

 

19 – 23 January 2009

 Barwon River -  Riverside Walking Trails

 

Project will depart from Geelong

The Southern Bell Frog,  also known as the Growling Grass Frog,  is one of Victoria’s most endangered frogs.  Altered habitat and unpredictable water levels are among the threats facing the endangered Southern Bell frog.  Along the Barwon River, volunteers will construct “designer homes” for the Southern Bell frog, taking advantage of stormwater flows from surrounding areas to replenish important breeding sites.

 

The focus of this project is to maintain walking tracks along the Barwon river to protect the fragile habitat from recreational use. Work alongside “the Rowing Mile”,  a popular area for the local community, including the Belmont Common,  Fredrick Mortons Reserve and Barwon Valley Park and breeding habitat for Southern Bell Frog. Learn about wetlands and water monitoring techniques with at training day at Serendip Sanctuary.  Activities will also include night surveys along the Barwon River to monitor Southern Bell Frog populations.

 

Accommodation will be in a guesthouse

 

16 – 20 February 2009

 Barwon River -  Frog and Mammal Surveys

 

Project will depart from Geelong

The Southern Bell Frog,  also known as the Growling Grass Frog,  is one of Victoria’s most endangered frogs.  Altered habitat and unpredictable water levels are among the threats facing the endangered Southern Bell frog.  Along the Barwon River, volunteers will construct “designer homes” for the Southern Bell frog, taking advantage of stormwater flows from surrounding areas to replenish important breeding sites.

 

This project will involve monitoring the native species living along the Barwon River.  The Barwon River is home to a number of significant native birds, mammals and reptiles including the Great Egret, Rainbow Lorikeet, Ringed tailed Possum and Brush tailed Possum.   Volunteers will undertake bird counts,  mammal surveys and water monitoring to gather data across a range of locations.  The tearn will spend a training day at Serendip Sanctuary learning about wetlands and water monitoring techniques. Activities will also include night surveys along the Barwon River to monitor Southern Bell Frog populations,  and may also include some photo point monitoring and weed control and track maintenance.

 

Accommodation will be in a guesthouse

 

 

16 – 20 March 2009

 Barwon River -  Habitat Restoration

 

Project will depart from Geelong

The Southern Bell Frog,  also known as the Growling Grass Frog,  is one of Victoria’s most endangered frogs.  Altered habitat and unpredictable water levels are among the threats facing the endangered Southern Bell frog.  Along the Barwon River, volunteers will construct “designer homes” for the Southern Bell frog, taking advantage of stormwater flows from surrounding areas to replenish important breeding sites.

 

Help to restore habitat by planting trees and grasses along the Barwon River. Volunteers will return to popular Southern Bell Frog breeding sites along the Barwon River to create a wildlife corridor from Queens Park to Jerringot Wildlife reserve.  Volunteers will continue to monitor progress at various sites with photo point monitoring and installing signage to inform community members of the importance of wetland areas.  Activities will also include night surveys along the Barwon River to monitor Southern Bell Frog populations.

 

Accommodation will be in a guesthouse

 

For more information about the new CVA and Shell initiative: