PCL have been lucky to receive grant funding to continue Mangrove Mouse monitoring at Sandringham Bay Conservation Park. The previous project was completed in 2019 and found populations of the Mangrove Mouse (Xeromys myoides) which is listed as vulnerable (faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future) in both the EPBC and the Nature Conservation Act. It also found presence of pest species known to either prey on or destroy nesting site of the mouse including fox, pig, and cat. Our recent project has several objectives:
- To continue monitoring of the mouse population at Sandringham Bay.
- To provide education to the community on threatened species and endangered regional ecosystems.
- To provide skills to our community partners in fauna monitoring processes.
- To engage in an interesting and informative morning of fauna monitoring and vegetation surveying with our volunteers.
- To identify pest animal species which may be a threat to the mouse population.
Our project commenced early Wednesday morning on the 13th March at Sandringham Bay conservation Park. The ground was waterlogged, and mosquitoes were in abundance, but once on the track the walking was high and dry. PCL officers Danny and Donna set up the furthest 4 cameras in the exact locations of the previous monitoring points. It was a pleasure to walk through unspoilt salt marsh and mangrove communities, the biodiversity in this area is stunning and a must see for visitors or nature enthusiasts, with 8 different regional ecosystems, 5 of which are listed as endangered (at very high risk of extinction in the near future) and 3 are listed as of concern, and a multitude of bird life. After setting up the harder to get to cameras, PCL officers met with the Yuwi Land and Sea Rangers and PCL volunteer John (thanks John for your continued support!). A discussion was held on the history of the Conservation Park, the biodiversity, it’s unique habitats and concentration of threatened and vulnerable plant and animal species, and the project aims and objectives. Danny led participants through programming a trail camera and set up of monitoring sites. With the theory completed, the group headed off into the coastal scrub to set up the remaining cameras and complete the vegetation surveys. At the end of the morning, 8 cameras had been set up and will remain in place for 3 weeks. They will then be analysed for images and the information shared with QPWS and other stakeholders.
Thanks for an amazing morning to everyone involved, thank you to the Yuwi Land and Sea Rangers for attending and helping us with the camera set up, thanks to our wonderful volunteer, John, and his awesome support of our various projects, and finally thank you to our funding bodies – Stanmore Resources and Friends of Parks Queensland. This project wouldn’t be possible without your support!
