Busy Weekend

Submitted by Rick Field on Fri, 2011-08-19 18:46

This weekend sees the Brook sanctuary at Ecofest, volunteers carrying out a weeding day and also the start of the 4th annual possum monitoring exercise!

Come down to Ecofest and pay us a visit at booth 15 inside the Trafalgar centre. We will be signing up new members, renewing memberships, taking donations and recruiting volunteers.

The weeding day will be focused on systemtically controlling the climbing tree asparagus, with the added bonus of receiving some instruction on technique from our ecologist, weed expert Peter Williams.

The monitoring of possums follows a national protocol  and is being carried out on an annual basis, coordinated by Karen Driver. It gives us an indication of the abundance of possums within the sanctuary.

 

Wax tags are set out on Sunday at monitoring points throughout the sanctuary and retreived on Wednesday. The amount of chew damage can provide a really good indicator of what is out there and how many are.

All monitors involved should:

 

  • take a hammer, claw one for Weds to pull out nail
  • Wear hi-vis
  • Use the intentions book (in shed or online)
  • Ensure someone at home or who is close to you knows where you are going and when you will be back - and what to do it you don't come back
  • Match the number on the tag with the number on the blue triangle on the tree - otherwise we can't compare results from previous years
  • All tags etc are in marked bags (marked for your line) in the bottom of the metal monitoring cupboard in the shed.  Please return tags there on Weds, in the ziplock bags provided or other bag marked with your line number
  • If all the wax has gone, record if the bits under the tag are thin tiny bits or flat shavings.
  • Don't forget take the orange plastic cover off the tag once it's on the tree or before.
  • Instructions are in each bag, please follow them.


Any problems text Karen Driver on 022 0340316 unless its an emergency in which case phone the SAR numbers on the list you all have.

If anyone has any resourcing problems please let Karen know sooner rather than later.