BEAM Mitchell Environment Group and Biolinks Alliance are partnering to do night-time spotlight surveys for Greater Gliders in the Tallarook Forest and Mt Disappointment Forest. The aim is to find where these critically endangered animals live throughout these two forests. Both forests have been affected by past logging, bushfire and planned burns, all of which are known to both kill these animals and destroy the habitat trees they need for their dens. By knowing where they are now, we can take action to protect, restore and extend their habitat, and create an effective biolink between the two forests. 

 

These surveys are part of the Murchison Gap Greater Glider Biolink project, funded by the Capricorn Foundation and the Potter Foundation, and build upon the citizen science surveys that BEAM has led over 2020-2024, in the northeastern section of the Tallarook Forest, with over almost 200 greater gliders found in areas that are now protected from logging as a result of the survey results.

 

All are welcome to take part in the upcoming night-walk surveys, and the next nine surveys will be in August, September and October. 

 

The walking distance will be two to three kilometres for each night walk, but because of the frequent stopping to survey, each walk will take two to three hours. All survey routes will be on vehicle roads, but some sections may be steep, rocky or muddy. A general level of fitness for walking is advisable. 

 

DRONE SURVEYS will also be included on 30 August and 13 September.

 

To book into one or more of these surveys, click on the links below:

 

5.45pm Tues 26 August - Southern gullies of Tallarook Forest

5.45pm Sat 30 August - DRONE SURVEY in Southern gullies of Tallarook Forest

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5.45pm Mon 8 September - Northern section of Mt Disappointment Forest

5.45pm Sat 13 September - DRONE SURVEY in Northern section of Mt Disappointment Forest

5.45pm Thur 18 September - Southern gullies of Tallarook Forest

 

7.30pm Tues 7 October - Northern section of Mt Disappointment Forest

7.30pm Sat 11 October - Southern gullies of Tallarook Forest

7.30pm Mon 20 October - Northern section of Mt Disappointment Forest

7.30pm Thurs 23 October - Southern gullies of Tallarook Forest

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Photo above: Spotlighting for Greater Gliders, Tallarook Forest, 2021, by Georgia Webster.

Photo below: Greater Glider on Horan's Track, in Tallarook Forest, October 2024, by Norm Stimson.