SURVEYSl

I came to Scotia to help with the pit fall surveys. The plan was to do a 9 day cycle, have 4 days off and then do another 9 day cycle with a different group of volunteers. In a cycle each team erects the pits at three different sites and monitors them over three nights. The sites are physically checked each morning and afternoon and any wildlife in the traps are identified and measured. Then the traps are taken down and put at a different site. This is repeated three times during the cycle.

My monitoring station: home in the desert.

Arriving at Scotia I found the team monitoring the mala at night were short a member so I volunteered to do this job as it wouldn't interfere with the pit fall surveys. The mala monitoring went through the night. Each session of taking telemetry readings on twenty mala would take about 40 minutes. There was a break between each session of at least an hour, but sometimes two or sometimes three hours. This is when sleep happened. The monitoring would last all night.

I have completed the first 9 day survey and thoroughly enjoyed my time here. It was hot, though reasonable. Although at times the work was constant it wasn't in any way excessive or difficult. Although we were monitoring snakes and spiders we were never in any danger and the only problem I had was with a certain spinifex plant. Doing the surveys was a very worthwhile experience. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and dedicated to their work. Many, but not all, of the volunteers were working or studying in an ecology related field so knew the wildlife we were coming across. While I was grasping the difference between a Royal Ctenotus skink and a Jewelled gecko they were all using their latin/scientific names. This wasn't a problem. I came to appreciate the remarkable variety of reptiles that we have in Australia and especially in spinifex country.

A mala with a radio collar

I also learnt about the mala, an animal I had never heard of before. I saw and learnt about a number of other small mammals, reptiles and 'bugs'. Although I didn't get a photograph (yet) of a bilby they were certainly good to see in their natural state; and I still haven't seen a numbat, but I am sure this will happen when I return. I also learnt a lot about AWC, Scotia and conservation work being done in Australia and in particular pit fall surveys. I would recommend doing a 9 day cycle to anyone......it is a valuable experience.

My plans did change. Now I am regrettably not doing the second pit fall survey cycle but instead will be taking a longer break away from Scotia before returning to do a release of numbats into the wild. These numbats are from Perth zoo which have a numbat breeding program operating with Scotia. There is some preparation to do before the animals arrive to ensure sufficient food sources and nesting sites and then, when they are released, monitoring to make sure they are surviving in the wild.

So here ends phase one at Scotia. I will return in a few weeks for phase two: the numbat release. Surely this will bring me closer to 'the wild ferret'.

Gehyra variegata, a small gecko.

TEAM LEADERS

Flic

During my time here at Scotia I have been very impressed with the staff supporting the research being done. Flic, Amy and Leah have each operated a pit-fall survey team, and Jennifer has made it possible for Bonny to do the research on the mala. All four girls work in these hot dry conditions, and often it is hard work, and I have never once heard them complain or whinge. In fact they are always cheerful and ready to help each other out or give a hand to anyone with any other task which needs doing. This is isolated, tough country and while doing the work you tend to get covered in dust, but at all times these four leaders seem to be able to remain very feminine and lady-like. Yep, haven't seen them chew tobacco or spit once! They also have an extensive knowledge of the country, the fauna and the flora.

My team leader is Flic (Felicity). She grew up in Orbost, eastern Victoria. She has already completed a Bachelor Degree in Environmental Science and Honours at Deakin University. She studied the Masked and Sooty owls while working as a Park ranger in Bairnsdale. After a short spell at Tidbinbilla she gained a job at Scotia in 2008, first, as a Land Management Officer, and then as part of the ecology team. She is currently studying a Masters of Wildlife Management through Macquarie University. Flic says she loves what she does and does not see it as work but rather as a way of life. She takes pride in doing a job with such an important purpose.

Amy

Leah

The other two pit-fall survey teams were led by Leah and Amy. Leah grew up on a dairy farm at Mil-lel, a town near Mount Gambia in South Australia. She has a Ph.D for her work on the reintroduction of Tamar wallabies. Leah has been here for nearly two years as a Wildlife Ecologist. Amy is at Scotia doing an internship with the ecology team It is supposed to be for six months but she has been here for nine already. She has been working as an ecology consultant for the past 5 years in Brisbane after completing her Science Degree with honours. She enjoys the chance to work with endangered animals. Since being here she has gained a lot of experience handling snakes as her pitfall survey teams always leave the snakes to the team leader to deal with.

The telemetry team I have been working with is made-up with Jennifer and Bonny. Bonny comes from Armidale and is collecting the data on the mala as part of her degree. Jennifer is the team leader and works at Scotia. She began here about six and a half years ago as a Land Management Officer. Now she works as a Field Ecologist. Most of Jennifer's work is with telemetry and management of the numbat population at Scotia.

Jennifer