In 2012/13, Albury Conservation Company provided funding and technical support to Thurgoona Country Club Resort to undertake wildlife conservation measures including hollow-bearing tree mapping, nest box construction and installation, and revegetation.
Squirrel Gliders in a nest box at the Thurgoona Country Club Resort (Tim Hicks, 30th May 2012)
The Thurgoona Country Club Resort received funding in 2012/13 from Albury Conservation Company to undertake a range of activities to improve biodiversity management at the golf course, including:
– Mapping of hollow-bearing trees and the 40 nest boxes that were installed a number of years ago and have become home to resident native fauna, including the threatened Squirrel Glider.
– Construction and installation of an additional 60 nest boxes to be placed around the golf course in areas where there are gaps in the cover of tree hollows and nest boxes.
– Revegetation of four areas (approximately one hectare in size) to add to previous planting efforts and further enhance the habitat values of the golf course.
The mapping of hollow-bearing trees and existing nest boxes was undertaken in July 2013 by Parklands Albury Wodonga. In total, over 60 trees were found to have hollows. Also, Squirrel Gliders were found using the nest boxes. This mapping and data have been provided to the Golf Club.
Galahs scratching out a tree hollow for habitat at Thurgoona Country Club Resort (Sam Niedra, 2013)
Map of Hollow-bearing trees and nest boxes on Thurgoona Country Club Resort (July 2013)
Construction of the 60 nest boxes was completed in December 2013, a magnificent effort by the grounds and maintenance staff using best practise design adopted from Ron Herbert, nest box maker from Baranduda, Victoria.
60 nest boxes constructed by grounds staff at the Thurgoona Country Club Resort ready to be put up in trees around the course to compliment existing hollow bearing trees, and add to the 40 already in operation (Sam Niedra, 2013)
Revegetation of 1,000 indigenous seedlings took place at four sites across the golf course in August / September 2013. The species used were mostly understorey plants, including shrubs and grasses, to enhance habitat values provided by existing vegetation. Note: For a list of indigenous plant species from Thurgoona that are suitable for local revegetation click here.
Revegetation at Thurgoona Country Club Resort as part of an Albury Conservation Company funded project (2013, Sam Niedra)
Revegetation with indigenous shrubs to enhance habitat as part of Thurgoona Country Club Resort’s project funded by Albury Conservation Company (2013, Sam Niedra)
Revegetation at Thurgoona Golf Club one year on (Sam Niedra, August 2014)
The nest box installation was completed in July 2014, almost bringing the project to completion. In the coming weeks the new boxes will be added to the map of hollow-bearing trees and existing nest boxes, and they will be monitored for activity, which hopefully won’t be too far away. Trinity Anglican College in Thurgoona had Squirrel Gliders staring to use nest boxes only a couple of months after installation. Hopefully the baffles (timber awning blocking direct sight of the entry hole) incorporated into the Golf Club’s nest boxes will help to deter Indian Mynas, a pest bird recently seen for the first time in Thurgoona. When these birds muscle their way into hollows and nest boxes once they vacate them they are inhospitable to native species many year after.