Yellingbo
Leadbeater’s Possums were first discovered at Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve (NCR) in 1989. Bird observers visiting the park accidently stumbled upon Leadbeater’s Possums denning in bird watching shelters provided by the group.
Yellingbo NCR is a small strip of land which hosts both Victoria’s Faunal emblem the Leadbeater’s Possum and Victoria’s Avifaunal emblem the Helmeted Honeyeater. Yellingbo NCR is a relatively small and isolated Reserve surrounded by private properties, many of which are farming land. The Friends of Helmeted Honeyeater have worked hard since 1989 to revegetate both the Yellingbo NCR and surrounding private land to increase the area and quality of bushland habitat and develop better forest connections for wildlife movement.
The Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum also undertake annual revegetation works. As the reserve has not been disturbed by a major event like bushfire for many years the habitat quality is aging, particularly overstorey trees are falling and not being replaced. Due to thick understorey (of grasses, rushes and sedges) the regeneration of these overstorey trees, particularly the Mountain Swamp Gum – Eucalyptus camphora is minimal. Leadbeater’s Possum rely on large Mountain Swamp Gums for hollow availability (nesting) and as structure to move through the canopy in search of food.
Thank you to the Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum volunteers and to Parks Victoria for coordination of the plants and running of the planting days:
Volunteers planting at Yellingbo NCR. May 2009.
In May 2009 approximately 1000 plants were planted by 20 volunteers.
In May 2010, 600Â Mountain Swamp Gums were planted by 13 volunteers.
Leave a Reply