Stag Watching

Would you like to help search for Leadbeater’s Possum in the wild and be part of a long term ecological monitoring project run by Professor David Lindenmayer of the Australian National University? Then we could use your help with some stag watching evenings this summer.

In this program volunteers are taken out to one of the 166 ANU research sites across the Central Highlands forests.  Each volunteer is given a “stag tree” (old, possibly dead and decaying tree that has formed nesting hollows) to watch for 30 minutes before and after dusk. As the forest darkens you sit quietly and hope to see or hear a glider or possum appear from one of the hollows on your stag.  At the end everyone comes out of the forest to discuss what they have seen and do some further surveys with a spotlight.  Hopefully you will be very lucky and see a Leadbeater’s Possum!  Find out below how you can get involved!

3 Great Ways to join the 2012 Summer Stag Watching Program!

1: Casual Weeknight Stagwatching

Help is needed with stagwatching all week long!  Short notice is okay with this one and you can do a few or a lot of nights. Bring a friend or a group from work! Everyone welcome!

Starting Monday 9th January, Dave and Lachie from the ANU team will be going out most weeknights to stagwatch.  They can vary which site they go to depending on how many volunteers can help them.   Pick up is generally at the Coles in Healesville or Yarra Junction around 6:30pm.  Details will be confirmed by Lachie when you register.

Running until the end of March, or beyond!  Excludes Wednesday nights.

To register please contact Lachie McBurney from ANU directly.  If you know over a week in advance which night you are available please email Lachie (lachie_mcb@hotmail.com)  if less than a week in advance please text or call on 0401 124 929.
 

2:  A week of stag watching with the full ANU team * FLBP Members Only

13-17 February

In order to cover a lot of stagwatching sites, and some with a lot of stags on them, David Lindenmayer’s research team will be joining forces with us on nightly stagwatches over a week in February.   Locations will vary and all vehicles will pick up from and return nightly to Healesville.

This is an evening activity only; there are no day time activities or accommodation provided.

To book one or more nights please register your interest with us at info@leadbeaters.org.au

Please let us know if you have a 4WD vehicle you are happy to use off road in rough terrain, and if there is extra space for other volunteers to join you.

3: A long weekend Stagwatching Camp out! *FLBP Members Only

 9-11 March

What better way to spend the Labour Day long weekend than looking for Leadbeater’s Possum in Melbourne’s beautiful Upper Yarra water catchment? In order to get to a few remote sites, with lots of stags to cover and done without too much driving back and forth… we have decided to try camping out over the long weekend.

Camping will be self sufficient so you will need to bring your own supplies and equipment.

This will be a great opportunity to spend a few days in some beautiful forest.  You can spend your days birdwatching, walking, painting, doing photography, meeting new friends etc… and your evenings stagwatching, spotlighting and camping together.

Details are still being pulled together but it is likely you will meet for a stag watch on the Friday night outside Warburton. Then meet again the following evening in Warburton to head out deeper into the Upper Yarra Catchment area.  There you will set up a bush camp and stag watching the Saturday and potentially the Sunday nights.  Your days will be free to explore and enjoy the forests.

Please register your interest at: info@leadbeaters.org.au

Be sure to note which days you plan to attend, if you have your own 4WD vehicle and if you are interested in the optional Sunday evening.

Additional Information:

Details on what to take with you and how to meet your leader will be provided.

No experience necessary, you will receive training in the field.

Volunteers need to be of reasonable fitness as some off track walking and climbing over logs etc. may be required.

Volunteers must be over 12 years old and if between 12 and 18 years old they must be accompanied by and adult.

Volunteers should not suffer from anxiety related to darkness, forests at night etc.

All stagwatching evenings will automatically be cancelled on Total Fire Ban days.

Stagwatching may be cancelled on days of extreme rain or wind.  You will be notified by 4pm if a stagwatch is going to be cancelled.

*FLBP Members Only Events

These events require coordination from our volunteers and are open to our members only.  However membership is open to everyone and you can easily join via our website for a reasonable annual rate that helps support the work of our group. Membership also provides you with personal accident insurance and the group with public liability insurance.