If you’re not a member of Wildlife Queensland's Glider Network you may like to know what we’ve been up to recently. Here’s an update.

Photo © Amanda Ainley

Events

Gliders in the Spotlight

We continued with our regular spotlighting program in August and September at the Greater Glider Reserve in the Redlands and at Sheep Station Creek Reserve near Morayfield.  These were followed by another two spotlights in Clement State Forest, Townsville and at White Rock-Spring Mountain Conservation Estate near Ipswich. With a great array of wildlife spotted, Queensland Glider Network (QGN) members had a chance to learn more about Queensland’s amazing native wildlife as well as to meet each other.

The program continues in 2011 with spotlights planned for March and June, and will be followed by supper or drinks giving QGN members the opportunity to get to know each other and discuss the wildlife they did or didn't see that night.

Education Evening

December 11 sees the launch of our first education evening - Glider Goss - which offers members an opportunity to learn some interesting facts, exchange glider tales, share knowledge and get to know their fellow enthusiasts. These evenings also give QGN members the chance to let us at head office know what activities they would like to see and suggest directions or priorities for the Network. After all, this is their Network. We hope to have a regional Glider Goss evening like this wherever members are willing to help organise them.

Photo © WIldlife Queensland

Projects

Operation Nestbox

QGN continues to work with Brisbane schools on the installation and monitoring of nest boxes for gliders and possums.  In 2010 we worked with Pallara State School and St Peter’s Catholic Primary School donating our time, nest boxes and educational materials to assist in the success of these projects.

2011 will see an expansion of these school-based education and conservation activities, particularly if we are successful in receiving a grant we have applied for from the Natural Resource Awareness program.

Glideways

2010 saw QGN work in conjunction with Brisbane City Council on Glideways a project in the Kedron Brook Catchment which involves community engagement and
training in monitoring of native Australian species, specifically gliders.

The launch event kicked off on Saturday 6 November followed by a training workshop and survey led by Damian White, one of QGN's ecologists. The great news is that a squirrel glider was seen volplaning between trees - what an exciting way to start the project. In 2011 two more surveys are scheduled further developing the community’s capacity to monitor and conserve local glider populations while raising awareness beyond just the participants.

Photo © Lyn Hampson

Carer Net

The Queensland Glider Network is working with Kim Schulz, a devoted glider carer in Logan, to develop a network of Glider Carers in the Brisbane region, with the view of eventually spreading Queensland-wide.

A carer locality map will be featured next year on the QGN website allowing an 'at a glance' reference to website visitors on glider carers in their area. In addition, data on threats to gliders leading to their admission to carers will be compiled providing a better understanding of the dangers to gliders in Brisbane.

Online information and resources

Research

QGN is sourcing a list of current research on each of the glider species and will be adding these references to more comprehensive versions of the species profiles on our website, providing a valuable information resource on gliders.

Gliders in your backyard

A new page is being finalised providing support on how to sustain local populations of gliders.  The page features information on: identification; feed trees; habitat trees; construction and installation of nest boxes; managing domestic animals.

Resource Kit

The Queensland Glider Network has been developing a resource kit to launch on our website in 2011 providing an overview on organisations and academic institutions dealing with gliders and their area of expertise.

Facebook

In 2010 QGN was established on Facebook.  The page offers members the opportunity to join in discussions on gliders and put their view forward. Our expanding event program is featured on the site, with the facility to upload event photos, to tag friends and keep in contact with other members of QGN.  

If you have a facebook account, please log on, search for Queensland Glider Network and click the 'like' button at the top!

To read more about these projects and other glider-related articles, see the latest QGN newsletter.

So now you would like to join the Queensland Glider Network – how do you do that?
Just fill out this form, submit it and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible. It’s free to join.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.