Originally formed in the early 1970's as The Mammal Survey Group, has more recently attracted members with interests in
the amphibians and reptiles. After several years of surveying local areas with trapping projects the distribution of
the mammalian fauna became fairly well understood and the incentive to do more trapping diminished.
Regular bat trapping continued until 2001 and is still conducted occasionally. Spotlight surveys and nest boxes have become our main survey
activity in recent years. We have about 1,000 nest boxes in the woodlands around Bendigo. Some of these are checked regularly
to gain information on breeding activity of the sugar glider and brush-tailed phascogale. Other nest boxes are in place to provide
corridors between forest stands. The boxes are useful aids for excursion conducted by the Group to show school children and the
public common and threatened mammals. The Club holds for education purposes a small collection of museum study skins.
More recently the Group has been involved with reptile and amphibian surveys, research, and habitat protection and
development. We have received grants to survey local areas for the rare pink-tailed worm lizard. We have helped
conduct surveys of the rare Bibron's toadlet.We have also worked on enhancing frog habiat in the Kangaroo Flat Botanical
Gardens with the financial assistance of the City of Greater Bendigo.
This group meets on the 4th Wednesday in some months to plan activities, discuss projects and aspects of mammal,
reptile or frog biology. Some monthly meetings have a guest speaker. Check the WHIRRAKEE newsletter or contact the club to find out about fauna group activities.
Contact Details
The Secretary
Bendigo
Field Nauralists Club Inc.
PO Box 396,
Bendigo 3552
Tel: 5449 3479
Email