Many thanks to our QSN members and the Caring for our Country project partners for your hard work and significant contribution in 2009.

A special mention to those of you who have recently ‘adopted a quoll’ under our new fundraising initiative – welcome to the band of quoll aficionados!

We invite all QSN members to help us continue the valuable work undertaken this year – for only $60 a year (that's only $5 a month) you can support our quoll projects. Here's how you can help.

We’ve started a new section in this Network News called ‘Who’s spotted a quoll?’ Our first spotter is Dan Garnett who shares his exciting encounter with QSN members.

On behalf of QSN and Wildlife Queensland, I’d like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and we look forward to working together for wildlife in 2010.

Ewa Meyer
Projects Manager
ewameyer@wildlife.org.au

Our website is also the place to keep up with the latest news on other WPSQ projects: Qld Glider Network, PlatypusWatch and MangroveWatch.

Fieldwork Update

The 2009 project may be over but surveys and workshops will continue in 2010 with your support. If you’d like to help establish a QSN group in the Sunshine Coast hinterland and north to Gympie, just email your details to quoll@wildlife.org.au

The project report 'Quolls (Dasyurus maculatus and D. hallucatus) in the southern Mary River catchment, south-east Queensland' by Scott Burnett and Alina Zwar will be available on request to QSN members in 2010.

photo: Don Baxter

In the next issue of Network News, we will have an update from QSN members who attended the northern quoll monitoring at Eungella. The aim of this survey is to radio track quolls as part of an experiment to look at the effects of prescribed burning on quolls. Find out why a two metre black-headed python caused a few problems.

Who’s spotted a quoll?

Dan Garnett has!

On the first day of November my mum had come up from Sydney, keen to explore the magic of Lamington National Park where I had been working for the past six months. We began walking early in the morning, aiming to complete the 18 km Coomera Circuit that branches off the Border Track, 2 km from the Binna Burra car park. It was a rainy day but the rainforest canopy was like nature’s umbrella as we trudged deep into world heritage national park.

About 8km into the hike we spotted our first Lamington spiny blue crayfish crawling along the track! As we crossed its path it reared up with its large claws in a hissing defensive display - a typical behavioural tactic for this species. Feeling lucky to see this rare sight we continued for another hundred metres or so towards Bower Bird Creek. As we crossed this creek around midday the track took a blind turn to the left and all of a sudden (in total disbelief!), I was staring right into the eyes of a beautiful spotted-tailed quoll about two metres in front of me on the track! Mum was right behind me and she too could not believe her eyes.

Within hours of exploring Lamington we had seen two rare species! For a decent moment the quoll stared at us, not in the least bothered by our entrance into its territory.  As I fumbled for my camera, it jumped down the embankment and disappeared for a while. I thought it was gone for good - but just before I gave up, its white spots caught my eye as it jumped across rocks to the other side of the creek. We watched in awe as it made nothing of the difficult terrain and despite the poor conditions and the constantly moving quoll, I managed to get some photos. It then returned to the track and casually walked along until it was out of sight.

Soon after this amazing experience, some walkers approached us from where the quoll had just gone. I told them what we had just seen and instantly their heads were in their hands and they quickly retraced their steps hoping for a glimpse of this rare sighting. The luck of our encounter was emphasised by the fact that quolls are generally considered nocturnal, however on rainy days they are known to be actively searching the forest floor for food.

Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 this southern subspecies, Dasyurus maculatus maculatus, is considered endangered in Queensland and listed as nationally endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Dan Garnett

What’s happening?

Queensland is a great spot for quolls - would you like to help us keep it that way? Why don't you...

Adopt a Quoll

By symbolically 'Adopting a Quoll' you will help us fund conservation efforts and research to help the future survival of the endangered quoll.

For more information about our Adopt a Quoll program, and how you can help, read more about it here.

Quoll Store

Order your QSN t-shirt

They come in all sizes - to order yours just gve us a call on 3221 0194 and we'll post one straight out.

They cost $15 for QSN members and $20 for everyone else. We'll need to add $5 p&p to your order - so if you can drop into the office or buy in bulk, you'll get a bargain!

Free QSN fridge magnet with every order.

Quoll Info kit - order yours online.

QSN Special members price $5.50. Everyone else $10 inc post.

Are you a QSN member?

If not — why not?

You’ll get our regular Network News, merchandise discounts, as well as prior notification of workshops and volunteer opportunities.

To join, just fill out a QSN membership form.

QSN News is available by email only. Sorry but we can’t keep you up to date without your email address.

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Kids at the Chook Pen