In early 2003 we were contacted by the management of the Otway Fly Treetop Walk about the construction and installation of wildlife boxes at the Treetop Walk.  
     Where would the boxes go?  If we put them high in the trees, would we use nails to fix them, or maybe flexible straps.  Would this damage the trees in the fragile ecosystem.  We couldn't be 100% sure, so then what better place to put them, than the structure itself.  It provides shelter from the weather, varies in height and with the structure zigzagging through the forest, provides a great railing system for species like possums and gliders.  

     The boxes were constructed and installed under several platforms as they were being constructed.  This was done by crane.

     The large boxes attached to Tower 5 (the spiral tower) and Tower 6 are designed to provide nesting places for species like the Powerful Owl Ninox strenua, Barking Owl Ninox connivens, Masked Owl Tyto novaehollandiae, King Parrot Alisterus scapularis, Gang Gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funerus and the Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis.     

     Two types of smaller boxes are attached under several of the other towers.  One is designed to be suitable for species like the Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula, Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus, Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis and Crimson Rosellas Platycercus icterotis and the other box is specially designed for bats.  This box contains small slits at the base for the bats to climb into and to allow the faeces to fall out.  It also contains baffles inside to provide suitable nesting places.  The bat species in the area are Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat Saccolaimus flaviventris, White-striped Mastiff Bat Nyctinomus australis, Lesser Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi, Gould's Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus gouldi, Common Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus schreibersii, Gould's Wattle Bat Chalinolobus gouldii, Chocolate Wattle Bat Chalinolobus morio, Large footed Myotis Myotis adversus, Large Forest Eptesicus Eptesicus darlingtoni and Small Forest Eptesicus Eptesicus vulturnus.

     Smaller boxes are installed along the walk down towards the Tree Walk.  These are held in place with short stainless steel nails to reduce intrusion upon the trees.  The boxes are designed for small marsupials and have grooves to help with grip for quick entries and exits.  Target species are the Feathertail Glider Acrobates pygmaeus, Eastern Pygmy Possum Cercartetus nanus, Brown Antechinus Antechinus stuartii, Yellow-footed Antechinus Antechinus flavipes, Dusky Antechinus Antechinus swainsonii and the Agile Antechinus Antechinus sp.

    If you require any help in regards to the design and installation of wildlife boxes on your property contact us to see if we can help.