Contact us if you’d like to undertake a biodiversity survey on your Land for Wildlife property (please note we do not conduct biodiversity surveys on Garden for Wildlife properties yet).
Land for Wildlife has conducted biodiversity surveys on member properties since 2007. These surveys are an essential tool in determining the success of land management activities and in creating a better understanding of species population dynamics in areas of mixed land use.
The Land for Wildlife program encourages the involvement of property owners and volunteers during these surveys. This participation teaches valuable skills to participants and enhances their knowledge of flora, fauna, and their interactions within an ecosystem. Property owners can learn the skills necessary to monitor plant and animal communities, enabling them to assess species population dynamics into the future.
The information gathered from these surveys adds to our knowledge of species distributions in areas that may otherwise pose access issues due to land tenure and ownership.
Biodiversity on Member Properties
Traditionally, biodiversity surveys are conducted on Land for Wildlife properties only and involve trapping a range of wildlife, including reptiles, frogs, mammals, and invertebrates, as well as conducting visual transect surveys for birds. You can view the Land for Wildlife Biodiversity Survey reports for 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Bird Bath Biodiversity
In 2017, as part of National Bird Week, Land for Wildlife took the aim of conducting a biodiversity survey targeted only at birds that visit the water baths provided on both rural and urban blocks so that Garden for Wildlife members would have an opportunity to take part in the process. Check out the report that details the findings of the Bird Bath Biodiversity Survey 2017.
You can also view the videos from a selection of the bird baths on the Land for Wildlife YouTube channel or click the play button on the playlist below:
Engagement Biodiversity Surveys
In addition to conducting biodiversity surveys on Land for Wildlife member properties, we also conduct surveys as part of engagement activities with groups such as the Tjuwanpa Women Rangers, Green Army, Centralian Senior College, and the Batchelor Institute. These surveys are an excellent way to involve the wider community in understanding the importance of wildlife habitat and the impact of feral and weed species on local biodiversity. Let us know if you have a community group and location that would like to learn how to conduct biodiversity surveys and begin collecting data.
Land for Wildlife coordinators and Tjuwanpa Women Rangers (Image S. Hussey).
More on Biodiversity Monitoring
Want to know more? You can read about a Pilot Study conducted by Heidi Groffen (a previous Land for Wildlife coordinator) aimed at enhancing Land for Wildlife member knowledge in property self-assessment methods.
If you want to know about the fauna likely to be found within a 25 km radius of Alice Springs (including birds, mammals, frogs, and reptiles), you can download the Fauna List compiled by Land for Wildlife Central Australia.
Looking to attract more wildlife to your property? Check out our Attract Wildlife to your Garden fact sheet for tips and hints.
If you are a Land for Wildlife or Garden for Wildlife member and want to participate in the next biodiversity survey, get in touch with us! Head to the Contact page to find out how.