Trail cameras ‘capture’ nocturnal life – and alert
Evidence of wildlife utlilising the Biddabah Creek Landcare site is a credit to, and justifies the work of local landcarers efforts. And an alert not to feed feral species that predate on birdlife we are trying to protect.
For years now, Vina Chubb has been keeping an eye on the bird life foraging and nesting around the wetland site off Windross Drive, Warners Bay. These observations have naturally been restricted to daylight hours. With the assistance of Wendy Gleen, Landcare Support Officer, Lake Mac Landcare, trail cameras were set up to monitor which native species found the habitat friendly and suitable for feeding and nesting. The images reveal some positive results. Wendy reports …
Wildlife Monitoring at Biddabah Creek Landcare Site
Biddabah Creek Landcare Group is one of Lake Macquarie City Council’s most committed and regular Landcare groups. They have done an excellent job regenerating their site which adjoins the Stormwater Quality Improvement Device (SQUID) on Windross Drive, Warners Bay.
This bush fragment and catchment, close to Munibung Hill, has seen remarkable recovery as the group removed Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica), which had smothered much of the midstory and some of the canopy.
The group had been noticing bandicoot diggings at the site, so in December 2024 we set two movement-activated trail cameras (Anaconda Premium 4K/32MP Trail Camera Camo) over four weeks to get an idea of what fauna was present. No wildlife attractant was used.
- Camera Placement:
- Camera 1: Near the creek, set to capture photos.
- Camera 2: In a central clearing, set to capture videos.
Although the photo camera didn’t capture much, the video camera gave us plenty of footage. Unfortunately, it means that the accompanying images are of lower quality because they were extracted from video. You can watch the short compilation video here https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1XgTdHwpjp/
Fauna Detected
- White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis)
- Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
- Buff-banded Rail (Hypotaenidia philippensis)
- Skink (Eulamprus sp., possibly)
- Brushtailed Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
- Northern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)
- Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
All records were entered into iNaturalist and the Council’s biodiversity database.
Lessons Learned for Site Management
- Mosaic Weeding:
The presence of bandicoots reminds us of the importance of mosaic weeding. By concentrating activities in specific areas, rather than having workers spread out across this small site, or removing vegetation widely, bandicoots can find undisturbed refuges even if temporarily disturbed. This approach is usually best bush regeneration practise anyway. - Black Rats:
The presence of feral Black Rats provide an opportunity for neighbourhood conversations about responsible interactions with wildlife. While feeding wetland birds is not recommended, those who do should use appropriate food in small quantities and ensure leftovers are cleaned up.
Poor feeding practices not only negatively affect bird health but also often bolster feral rat populations, which can predate on the very bird nests people seek to protect.
A Holistic Approach
Landcare is not just about bush regeneration; it’s about understanding every aspect of biodiversity at a site. This guides a nuanced approach to the management of the site and also strengthens community engagement—wildlife stories are one of our most powerful tools for connecting with people.
If you’re interested in setting up wildlife cameras on Council-managed Landcare sites, you’ll need prior permission. Landcare can lend you cameras or guide you on using your own, and we have protocols in place to ensure ethical and effective monitoring. Feel free to contact us for details. lro@lakemac.nsw.gov.au (02) 4921 0392.
… From MMM Issue #48, Feb-Mar 2025