Bulletin

Issue: March 2006

News

Love nests for bushfire victims

La Trobe University is building nesting boxes for animals and birds whose natural nests were destroyed in recent Victorian bushfires.

Staff at the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary on La Trobe’s main Melbourne campus at Bundoora are donating their time to build the boxes for sugar gliders, parrots and other creatures in national parks at Kinglake and the Grampians.

Many native creatures – which nest in tree hollows – survived fires in these parks but have nowhere to breed because post-bushfire regeneration provides few suitable breeding hollows.

Wildlife Victoria, a network of volunteers whose members are caring for bushfire-affected creatures in regional Victoria, approached the Sanctuary Nursery Coordinator, Mr Michael Cincotta, seeking nesting boxes.

The Head Ranger of La Trobe’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Mr George Paras, said the dispossessed creatures required immediate substitute habitats in the form of special nesting boxes – products which have been researched and made by the La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary for some years.

‘We have the expertise to quickly manufacture these boxes and have already produced 20 for immediate distribution via Wildlife Victoria,’ Mr Paras said.

‘We are grateful for a generous donation of plywood by the company Gunnersen Timbermark which was arranged by La Trobe Chancellor, Professor Nancy Millis, through the company’s proprietor, Mr Thorry Gunnersen.

‘We are looking for additional funds and partnerships to expand this work. Our staff are willing to give their spare time to make and distribute many more nesting boxes,’ Mr Paras added.

Anyone willing to assist should ring: 03 9479 2071 or Email: wildlife@latrobe.edu.au