Project Platypus Upper Wimmera Landcare

22/05/2026

We recently helped the Pyrenees Shire Council develop a guide to firewise gardening with a focus on locally native plant species. An online version is coming soon, and print copies will be launched at an upcoming bus tour of firewise gardens with the Pyrenees Community House.

Saturday 30 May 2026.
For more information and to book call 5349 3150 or visit the link below.

The Safer Together Bushfire Resilience Project will help strengthen community resilience and improve long-term disaster preparedness and recovery through a Fire Wise landscaping approach

19/05/2026

Keep sending those iNaturalist identifications in and you could find a new species like Judy!

There were no known photographs taken in the wild of the Myrmeleon houstoni until a regional Victorian woman snapped a photo of one while on a bushwalk.

15/05/2026

We’re teaming up with Trust for Nature for a hands-on workshop exploring tree hollows and the wildlife that depend on them.

Booking link: https://habitat-hollows-and-homes-for-wildlife.raiselysite.com/

Hear from arborist and hollow expert Calypto Hollows, who will showcase innovative hollow restoration techniques in action, before getting involved in building log boxes to support native species recovery.

The workshop also includes a field visit to a conservation property impacted by the 2025 Grampians bushfires, where we’ll demonstrate techniques for monitoring and assessing tree hollows after fire, before installing our newly built log boxes to provide important habitat for wildlife. Tickets are limited, so make sure you book your tickets below to confirm your spot!

📍 Moyston Recreation Reserve, Moyston

📅 Saturday 30th May, 10am–2pm

Image credit: Kat Rast - An owlet nightjar in a restored hollow

11/05/2026

🐿️ Say hello to one of our Squirrel Gliders!

This little one was captured on a trail camera between Deeplead and Dadswells Bridge, an area where our team had previously confirmed the presence of Squirrel Gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis).

After locating them, we got to work installing five nest boxes and a trail camera to provide habitat support and monitor activity in the area.

Squirrel Gliders are endangered in Victoria, and much of the existing data on local populations is over 20 years old. That's why our Tail of the Squirrel Glider project matters so much. In just the last two years, we've located 15 individuals, helping build a much clearer picture of where these beautiful animals are living and thriving.

📬 Have a Landcare story or event to share? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to [email protected]

08/05/2026

🌿 Happy 100th Birthday, Sir David Attenborough!

Today we celebrate a man who has done more for the natural world than almost anyone else in history. For decades, Sir David has brought the wonders of nature into our living rooms, inspiring generations of scientists, conservationists, and nature lovers around the world.

At Project Platypus, his work is a reminder of exactly why we do what we do, because the more people understand and connect with the natural world, the more they want to protect it.
Here's to 100 years of curiosity, wonder, and speaking up for our planet. 🎂🌏

07/05/2026

🦷 Did you know platypuses used to have teeth?!

Exciting news from the world of platypus research! Palaeontologists from Flinders University have described rare 25-million-year-old fossils found east of the Flinders Ranges in remote outback South Australia, revealing a fascinating chapter in platypus history.

The ancient species, Obdurodon insignis, had real teeth, something modern platypuses lost long ago. These teeth were large and robust, capable of crushing animals with hard shells or exoskeletons, like yabbies.

Back then, these ancestors were munching on a varied diet in huge inland lakes and rivers, living alongside flamingos and freshwater dolphins. A far cry from the arid outback we know today.

The platypus we work so hard to protect is the living legacy of an ancient and remarkable lineage. Stories like this are a reminder of just how special these animals are, and why their conservation matters so much. 🌿

🔗 Read the full story on ABC News.

05/05/2026

🔦 Nocturnal Wildlife Monitoring Workshop — What a Night!

We recently hosted an incredible evening at Old Dadswells Town, a quirky and unique venue right on the property where our wildlife survey took place.

Participants joined us for a 3-hour hands-on workshop and BBQ dinner exploring how bushfire affects biodiversity, and got to try out some amazing technology used to monitor nocturnal wildlife such as the Australian Boobook (pictured), including:

📷 Trail cameras
🌡️ Thermal imaging scopes
🐦 Bird acoustic monitors (BirdPUCs)

Attendees also learned how to distinguish native nocturnal species from pest species, and discovered how AI-powered tools are changing the way we detect and monitor wildlife.

The workshop was part of our fire recovery project, tracking how species are bouncing back after bushfire. It was wonderful to welcome so many curious landholders, community members and citizen scientists along for the journey.

29/04/2026

Out in the field this week, our team has been surveying tree hollows to help guide nest box placement and support biodiversity recovery after bushfire.

Here’s Huib measuring the DBH (diameter at breast height) of a hollow-bearing tree at one of our fire recovery sites - an important step in understanding habitat availability for native wildlife.

Interested in learning how to monitor tree hollows and discover the incredible species that rely on them? Stay tuned - we’ll be sharing details soon about an upcoming workshop!

Image credit: Owlet nightjar, photographed by Lyn Mackenzie

29/04/2026

We've been out to several properties affected by the fires to conduct hollow surveys, which will help inform where nesting boxes will be installed.
The properties involved in our Fire Recovery project will each receive 9 nesting boxes (3x micro bat, 3x small glider and 3x larger glider) to help with homes for critters. Its good to see the forest coming back and a bit of rain this weekend will help things along.

08/04/2026

Curious about what’s moving, flying and calling on your property after dark?

Join us for a free 3-hour workshop in Dadswells Bridge on Thursday, April 23rd! Learn how to use thermal scopes, wildlife cameras, and acoustic tech to monitor biodiversity and track bushfire recovery on your land.

This workshop is free to attend and spots are limited so make sure you book early to avoid missing out!

https://nocturnal-wildlife-monitoring-workshop.raiselysite.com/