Platypus Alliance - Bacchus Marsh

02/09/2026

13/08/2026

Save the Date
The next Moorabool Landcare Festival is Saturday the 19th of September.
Join us for a day of Pollinators and Wildflowers!

09/08/2026

Bird flu will potentially kill millions of Australian animals, but we are not powerless to reduce the toll. Here are 8 practical actions Australia can take now to give wildlife a better chance of surviving H5 bird flu and recovering afterwards, from locally reducing other threats to highly at-risk populations, to securing insurance populations, and slowing the spread.

Great insights from Biodiversity Council experts at Charles Darwin University RIEL - Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods and Deakin University and Deakin University and the Australian Mammal Society

Read more: The Conversation Australia + NZ
https://theconversation.com/powerless-against-bird-flu-not-entirely-here-are-8-ways-to-help-protect-australias-birds-and-mammals-288909



Professor Euan Ritchie

03/08/2026

Did you know platypuses weave nests?!

02/08/2026

Yay, it's Guling!

The Kulin Nation Indigenous seasonal cycle recognises seven distinct weather periods that occur across the year. The temperatures are increasing, and cold weather is coming to an end in the season of orchids.

In the Kulin Nation calendar, Guling is when the orchids are flowering, and the koalas are bellowing at night.

To find out more about the Kulin Nation seasonal cycle, visit https://www.rsv.org.au/articles/seasons-in-the-sky

30/07/2026

The high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 strain (H5 bird flu) has been detected in Victoria.

A single greater crested tern was found in Portland and was reported on 27 July 2026.

We know many Victorians care deeply about our wildlife and may be concerned about what this means for native bird populations.

If you encounter sick or dead birds or wildlife, do not touch them. Instead, record the exact location, take photos if it is safe to do so, and report it online or by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Early reports help wildlife and animal health experts monitor disease activity and determine where action may be needed.

Your observations can make a real difference in helping us understand and respond to impacts on Victoria's wildlife.

Find out more: 🔗 agriculture.vic.gov.au/birdflu

22/07/2026

We have now conducted a test deployment of our new ultrasonic acoustic monitors and had a meeting with Federation University to discuss what additional data we will be collecting.

Along with ultrasonic audio recordings to record our local bats we will be collecting habitat data such as presence of hollow bearing trees, canopy health, canopy cover, presence of fruit bearing trees and other information. This data will help us determine what bat species require certain conditions. As we continue this program annually we will build up an incredible data set that Federation University students will be able to use and draw insights from.

So what does ultrasonic sound like? Well, you can listen here. Chances are you won't hear much though as ultrasonic means noises that have a frequency over 20,000Hz. The human ear can hear between 20Hz - 20,000Hz, so most bat communication that occurs is out of range to us. Which is why we need special microphones to record them.

Production of bat boxes are also underway curtesy of the Ballan Men's Shed. Bat boxes create instant habitat for bats, who generally rely on trees hollows to nest in. Tree hollows take 80 years to form naturally, so creating habitat in the short-term is a very important step in bat conservation. Bat boxes will be available to members in Spring.

Landholders who put their hand up to participate in the first round of monitoring project will be contacted soon to discuss survey dates. We are aiming to begin monitoring in September once the weather warms and creates more bat (and human) activity.

EDIT: No bats are handled during this monitoring project.

-Only vaccinated and trained wildlife officers or vets should handle live bats.
-Handlers use thick puncture-resistant gloves, leather gauntlets, eye protection, and specialized towels.
-Report sick or distressed bats with suspected disease to Agriculture Victoria or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.
1800675888