CONNECTING COUNTRY - REPTILE & FROG MONITORING PROGRAM
Starting from April 2016
Connecting Country is commencinga new program to monitor native reptiles and frogs in the Mount Alexander region. We aim to use these monitoring sites to assist the community in gaining some insight into the lives of our local reptile and frog populations, and understand which habitats different species prefer.
During the next couple of months, we are seeking landholderswho are interested in having me come out to their property to establisha small grid of artificial shelters (roof tiles), which are the main monitoring tool. Landcare groups can also request a shelter grid on their project sites. You will have input into where the shelters are placed. Each grid involves 10-20 roof tiles spread across an area of less than 50 metres by 50 metres.
A huge part of this project is involvement of local people, and we hope that you’ll be as excited about this as we are. There will be opportunities for volunteers and landholders to be involved throughout. After the shelters have been in place for 4-6 months, I’ll come back out to check them. The shelters will then remain on the property as long as the landholders want them. In the long run, we’ll provide support for volunteers, landholders and Landcare groups tocontinuemonitor these sites themselves.
Another part of this program will be the development of a local guide to the identification of reptiles and frogs. This will focus on the species and habitats found in the Mount Alexander region. More info to follow soon….
If you’re potentially interested in having a reptile and frogmonitoring site set up on your property, please fill out the form on the next page and send it to . If you have any questions, feel free to call me on
03 5472 1594 or email me at .
If you are interested in getting involved in volunteering with the surveys, you can also fill out and return this form.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Asha Bannon.
Connecting Country’s Reptile and Frog Monitoring Program is being undertaken with the support of the Ian Potter Foundation.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
CONNECTING COUNTRY - REPTILE & FROG MONITORING PROGRAM
Yes, I am interested in potentially having a grid of artificial shelters established on my property.
Yes, I am potentially interested in volunteering to help Asha on the project (e.g. shelter layout, checking), and to learn more about local reptiles and frogs.
Name(s):
Phone number:
Email:
Extra Info required from landholders interested in having a shelter grid on their property.
Property location (street address):
Property size (as a minimum, 3 hectares/7.5 acres):
Which of the following habitats do you have on your property where a monitoring site could be established?
Woodland/forest (e.g., remnant, and/or with most structural layers present)
Revegetation or natural regeneration (e.g. indigenous tree planting area, regrowth)
Treeless, or lightly treed, grasslands (e.g.grazed/ungrazed paddocks, open woodland)
Farm dam (with or without water)
Other (please describe as best you can)
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