At Greenfleet we know the importance of restoring and protecting biodiversity. By planting legally protected, native forests we are ensuring that the actions we take today will benefit the environment into the future.
One of the key indicators of a flourishing forest, is the return of native birds and wildlife. Many species require tree hollows for habitat and breeding, but these can take years to form. Because of this, there are ways that we can help enhance biodiversity to ensure we are creating habitat for native species while our forests grow. One way we are doing this is by installing nesting boxes at our Wurneet Laang Laang forest in on Boonwurrung Country in Victoria, as a trial to support the breeding activities of local birdlife.
About Wurneet Laang Laang
Wurneet Laang Laang is one of four properties making up the Strzelecki Nature Link, a Greenfleet project that will create a 3.5-kilometre stretch of contiguous koala habitat on Boonwurrung Country in South Gippsland. Here Greenfleet is creating a biodiverse habitat to support the return of native birds and other wildlife. By restoring locally native vegetation, this forest will provide habitat for wildlife and take climate action by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere.
The forest growing at Wurneet Laang Laang is returning cleared farmland back to native forest. To achieve this Greenfleet has planted over 20 different locally native plant species to deliver climate action by removing carbon and restoring wildlife habitat. This includes hollow-producing trees such as eucalypts like Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans). We have also planted Strzelecki Gum (Eucalyptus strzeleckii), a critically endangered tree species endemic to this region.
Why Do We Need Nesting Boxes?
Growing a forest takes time. As certain tree species develop, they will create hollows that provide breeding nests for native animals. Long-lived trees can take up to 100 years to form a hollow naturally, meaning animals that rely on those hollows will have limited breeding opportunities until the forest is matured.
To give nature a helping hand, Greenfleet has installed 48 nesting boxes to simulate tree hollows and encourage native birds and small marsupials to use as shelter and breeding homes. These nesting boxes are an interim measure to help wildlife as our forest grows.
For this project, we have partnered with Victoria University’s Applied Ecology and Environmental Change Research Group. Victoria University will conduct ongoing assessments of how the boxes are being used by the local wildlife, observe which animals are visiting the boxes and document who is using them for breeding.
Beginning The Nest Box Program
This forest was chosen to trial the nesting boxes as the region is known for its abundance of native birdlife. Ongoing research by Dr Cara Sambell on the birds of Wurneet Laang Laang shows an increasing number of native forest bird species since the establishment of Greenfleet’s forest. Dr Sambell noted that in the past six years, the number of forest bird species at Wurneet Laang Laang has risen from 31% to 58%. By installing these nesting boxes, we hope to see continued increases in the populations of native birds.
The nesting boxes program is investigating which animals are attracted to the nesting boxes, how often they use them and breeding rates. Dr Christine Connelly, Lecturer in Environmental Science at Victoria University is supervising a small team of undergraduate ecological restoration students to monitor the boxes. Their data collection consists of routine visits to the area, using portable cameras on poles and motion sensor cameras to observe the nest boxes.
"It's terrific to be working with Greenfleet and Bird Habitats to support and document the return of hollow-dependant species to the Strzelecki Nature Link. This project is really important in providing suitable habitat for many species that need hollows for nesting and roosting within the Link."
Dr Christine Connelly, Lecturer in Environmental Science at Victoria University
Making A Nesting Box
The installed Thermal Haven Nest Boxes® were designed and manufactured by Bird Habitats. The nest boxes offer species a similar thermal profile to a natural hollow, and buffer temperature extremes. The new homes have been tested in full sun exposure.
Thermal Haven Nest Boxes® are the first product to receive NaturePositive+ Standard™ Platinum certification from GlobalGreenTag. They are made from quality post-industrial Australian hardwood waste materials, and German A2 stainless steel.
There are 48 prototype nest boxes installed at Wurneet Laang Laang, with seven different designs incorporated, offering a range of entry and internal nesting space sizes. The various sizes meet needs of a wide range of birds, arboreal mammals, reptiles, microbats and invertebrates. The nest boxes were installed on young trees facing south.
About Bird Habitats
Bird Habitats was founded by Chris and Katrin McMahon, greatly supported by family and friends, in memory of their daughter, Rose McMahon.
Rose loved people, the bush, beaches, and animals, especially native birds.
Bird Habits manufacture Thermal Haven Nest Boxes®, that are hand-made in micro-factories in Gippsland. Each factory uses 100% solar energy.
"Thermal Haven Nest Boxes have been created in memory of our daughter, Rose McMahon who loved people, the bush, beaches, and animals, especially native birds. Offering a similar thermal profile to a natural tree hollow, they buffer temperature extremes and can provide homes to local wildlife.
Installing our nesting boxes within Greenfleet's Strzelecki Nature Link forest has been a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the positive and immediate impact they can make. We are really proud of the product and are thrilled that they are already being utilised by species in Greenfleet's native forest!"
Chris and Katrin McMahon, founders of Bird Habitats
Photo credit: Dr Cara Sambell.
Whose Home Will It Be?
Initially the nesting box trial was aimed at providing homes for the local birdlife. The Grey Shrike-Thrush, Nankeen Kestrels and many other varieties of native birds use tree hollows to breed and are known to visit the area.
In the early stages of the trial, we found other fauna making use of the boxes. Here you can see the first imagery taken inside a box using a camera pole; a little sugar glider inspecting the newly installed nesting box!
Ongoing monitoring will continue to reveal native species using the boxes. The goal is to understand the impact interventions like this have on our native wildlife and how we can continue to support them as our forests become established.
The Future Of Our Nesting Boxes
In total, 48 nesting boxes have been installed across Wurneet Laang Laang for wildlife to find sanctuary in the forest.
Victoria University will continue to monitor the boxes by visiting every two months, increasing to monthly visits over the Spring months as breeding season gets underway.
We are excited to see how this research project develops and how we can continue supporting our native wildlife in a practical, tangible way. Updates on the nesting boxes project will be added to this page and on our social channels. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date.
To learn more about the forest growing at Wurneet Laang Laang, click here.