By: Michael Fox
Boobook Owl box
The success of the first ten nest-boxes installed at the Fox Gully Bushcare has confirmed our research which showed the lack of suitable breeding hollows in trees.
The nest-boxes were installed in October 2012 and since then Squirrel Gliders Petaurus norfolcensis have been breeding and now two Glider families occupy five boxes. The first tenant in the boxes was a Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula in the Kookaburra box at the junction of the Geebung Track and the Farm Fire Trail. She has since raised two joeys and if you look into the box from the Geebung Track you will see her curled up asleep.
Kookaburras took over the Bookbook Owl Ninox novaeseelandiae box and have raised two clutches of chicks. Rainbow Lorikeets Trichoglossus haematodus have raised chicks in the Lorikeet/Rosella boxes.
Play spot the nest-box when you walk the Geebung Track with your kids.
What species uses what box?
Squirrel Glider or Scaly-breasted Lorikeet box
Mammals:
Micro-bats (three species identified in Reserve)
- White-striped Freetail Bat Tadarida australis
- Gould’s Wattled Bat Chalinolobus gouldii
- Common bent-wing bat Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis
Squirrel Glider Petaurus norfolcensis
Birds
- Southern Boobook Owl Ninox novaeseelandiae
- Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Also keep an eye out for birds creating nest hollows in the trees.
Just last week I photographed a pair of Sulphur-creasted Cockatoo Cacatua galerita clearing out a hollow where a branch has broken from a Spotted Gum Corymbia citriodora v variegata.
Mount Gravatt Environment Group 