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 © John Birbeck

Operation Nest Box

QGN is working in conjunction with the Flinders to Greenbank-Karawatha Conservation Partnership on glider population conservation within the Flinders to Greenbank-Karawatha corridor.  QGN’s role includes monitoring existing nest boxes as well as linking fragmented glider populations through additional nest box installation.

Throughout April QGN coordinated four teams of 3-5 members to monitor existing nest boxes within the Oxley Creek Catchment.  This catchment is a part of the Flinders to Greenbank-Karawatha wildlife corridor.

A total of 46 nest boxes were monitored in April and June in Larapinta, Forest Lakes and Algester, with nest box occupants including squirrel and sugar gliders, ants, bush cockroaches, common brushtail possums and bees. 

The next phase of this project involves mapping existing populations and enhancing glider corridors through nest box installation.

Community Engagement and Education

QGN presenter Matt McInerney visited Algester Girl Guides and St Patrick’s College to deliver glider education talks and raise awareness about the 6 species.  The feedback from the students, guides, leaders and teachers was very good, and Matt did a great job of holding the attention of even the youngest guides!

Glideways Report Back

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

Launched on Saturday 6 November 2010, the project aimed to determine the possible presence and the suitability of habitat for glider species – particularly squirrel and sugar gliders.

Following a training workshop, surveys were led by Damian White, one of QGN's ecologists, with 3 surveys in total on 21 November 2010, 8 January 2011 and 9 April 2011.

Squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) were recorded during two of the three spotlight surveys.  On two occasions they were seen to volplane between trees.  Other species recorded included – the common ringtail possum (in large numbers), the common brushtail possum and six frog species in addition to the abundant introduced cane toad.

This project provided an excellent opportunity to develop the community’s capacity to monitor and conserve local glider populations while raising awareness beyond just the participants.  It was great to be involved in this project with Brisbane City Council.

Care Net Update

QGN has compiled a database of almost 100 vets and animal clinics in the Brisbane area which accept wildlife.  Each of these vets is contacted regularly to collect data on threats to gliders leading to their admission in order to provide a better understanding over time of the dangers to gliders in Brisbane. 

Gliders in the Spotlight
Photo © Amanda Ainley

Last light: The Mt Tamborine spotlight was a small but knowledgeable and enthusiastic groupsighting a sooty owl, heard boobook and barn owls, saw king crickets, possum, melomys, glow worms and enjoyed the good company.  The Ipswich spotlight sighted a Black fruit-bat; Tawny frogmouth; Dtella; Eastern sedgefrog; Graceful treefrog; Striped marshfrog; Great barred-frog; Ornate burrowing frog; and a Copper-backed broodfrog.

Next light: The Queensland Glider Network is organising another glider spotlighting event on 9 July at Wamuran Nature Reserve - a 27 acre sanctuary contiguous with the Mt. Miketeebumulgrai section of Glass House Mountains National Park - from 5:00pm to 6:30pm and QGN members are invited to attend.

All you will need is closed in shoes, a small personal torch and a water bottle.

RSVP is essential as numbers are limited to 12 people – please email glider@wildlife.org.au as soon as possible to register.

Further information and a meeting point will be sent upon registration.

QGN on Facebook

Visit our facebook page for updates on our monitoring results, glider discussions or cute glider pics!

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

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.