The MYP Sustainable Spartans are excited to announce the installation of six nest boxes for wildlife in the trees near Koala House. These will provide much-needed habitat for native animals, such as gliders, possums, microbats, frogs and numerous species of birds, including tawny frogmouths, owls, rosellas and lorikeets.
The Sustainable Spartans are very grateful to the Parents' and Friends' Association for funding our first project. Over 300 Australian animal species depend on tree hollows for nesting and shelter; these include around 17 per cent of our bird species, 42 per cent of our mammals and 28 per cent of our reptiles. More animals depend on hollows in Australia than in any other country in the world.
It takes at least 80 to 100 years for a small hollow to form and many hundreds more for large hollows. In recent years, widespread clearing of mature and dead trees has resulted in a critical shortage of tree hollows. Sadly, around one third of hollow-dependent animals in Australia are now considered endangered or threatened.
The ‘tree hollow’ nest boxes at Somerset have been individually carved from recycled hardwood logs by local company, Habi-tec Habitat Innovations. We will be monitoring them for signs of activity over the coming months. Once they are occupied, we plan to install a wildlife monitoring camera to carry out scientific research and provide students with unique wildlife viewing experiences.
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