Then we released them and watched on like concerned parents to make sure they found a safe spot to hide out during the daytime.Īpart from the dunnarts we also caught a large number of centipedes, several different species of frogs, a few scorpions and very surprisingly a Sand Goanna!ĭuring the heat of the day we had free time to rest. Processing them included noting species ID by examining their foot pads, taking several body measurements, as well as collecting samples from each individual. Some were feisty but most we encountered were quite shy.

They're very sweet and small little marsupials that fit within the palm of your hand. It was a great thrill and surprise every time we found a dunnart. Not your usual daily grindĮach day started early with a great cup of coffee followed by checks of the pitfall traps, a well-deserved lunch break and then back out to the sites in the late-afternoon to open the traps up for the evening. With Brolgas, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo and Blue Bonnets among the highlights. Throughout the trip he was able to identify 106 bird species just within the Naree and Yantabulla properties, which was an incredible feat in the short time we were there. It was clear from the beginning that Ira was very talented at identifying birds and their calls. Luckily, we were able to set up the fences quite fast and escape the harsh heat of the day by the river, with a nice hour or so of bird watching. I quickly found out which sites had burrs, spikes and other nasties that stopped me from getting too close to the ground. On the first day we needed to set up the fence lines for the pitfall traps. They kindly showed us around the living quarters and told us some important tips to keep safe – always wear shoes and do a sweeping check of the toilet shed for snakes before using it! We were warmly welcomed by Sue and David Akers who manage Naree and Yantabulla Station. With Justin’s research focusing on the effects of boom and bust periods on wetland ecosystems in the area, this trip was aimed at recording the abundance of small mammals, specifically Stripe-faced and Fat-tailed Dunnarts. I was lucky enough to be volunteering on a PhD research project run by Justin McCann, and fellow volunteer Ira Dudley-Bestow. Following a near two-day drive from Sydney and arriving via a dusty and sometimes bumpy road, I knew it was going to be a very unique experience. I had images in my mind of dark red sand with sparse vegetation, the feeling of intense heat during the day and a clear, star-lit sky at night. Having never travelled into the Australian countryside as far as Naree I wasn’t really sure what to expect.

Wet pitfall traps