Rivercare + Recycology = love for Jarrah Creek

A Phascogale nest box with a view!

We are very excited to have just completed a Re-Cycl-Ology Nest Box building workshop at Sawyers Valley Primary School, thanks to our friends at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions through their Community Rivercare Program! 

The Jarrah Creek wetland, spot Simmo and the little fella!

This workshop, the second to be carried out at this (very lucky!) Perth Hills school focused on enhancing habitat for wildlife using the school's local Jarrah Creek wetland as a corridor to move throughout the hills. 

Brush-tailed Phascogale photographed in Mundaring, WA

The main target species was the Wambenger or Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa), a rare local mammal that has been recorded in the area previously.

After a fascinating and entertaining whole school presentation about the importance of tree hollows and biodiversity in South West WA, the student 'Green Team'-ers got busy with the construction of six nest boxes.

Noongar Seasons sign on the Heritage Trail funded by State NRM

The students at this school have been caring for the Jarrah Creek Wetland for many years.  The head of Jarrah Creek is located at the base of the school and the students recognise that this wetland would have been significant to the indigenous Noongar people of this area.  

The school has engaged in annual monitoring of these nest boxes and we were all thrilled to discover Wambenger scats in one of the phascogale nest boxes!  They have had successful Red-capped Parrot fledglings two years in a row and each year, Australian Wood Ducks use the box close to the wetland.

Australian Wood Duck female sitting on eggs

This nest box project will provide much needed habitat for wildlife in an area that is predominately regrowth vegetation and lacks natural tree hollows. 
It was a unique opportunity to link a Re-Cyc-Ology nest box workshop with the Community Rivercare Program as it was our intention to inspire and motivate the next generation to care for this beautiful little wetland for years to come!