LARGE numbers of different native wildlife species have been found living on the edge of Stawell at the Deep Lead Nature Conservation Reserve by a group of field naturalists.
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Fifty different species of birds were found living at the Deep Lead Nature Conservation Reserve, including threatened woodland birds like the hooded robin, red-capped robin, black-chinned honeyeater, jacky winter and brown treecreeper. Parks Victoria environmental scientist Mark Antos said that it was a huge surprise.
“We had records of threatened animals in that area dating back 20 to 30 years and it was good to see that we still found most of them inhabiting the reserve,” he said.
“A lot of the smaller reserves don’t get as much attention like the big national parks do and this was a good opportunity to see what was around.”
The Victorian Field Naturalist Club partnered up with Parks Victoria to complete a survey, with 12 community scientists taking part in the visit to Deep Lead.
“These findings will help the regional rangers manage the reserve and preserve them,” Mr Antos said.
“Hopefully it will also make locals realise what they have and help to preserve it.”
In three to five years time, the scientists will return to Deep Lead and redo the survey to see whether conditions have changed.
The reserve was littered with rubbish when the scientists arrived and Mr Antos said he hoped the community would value the reserve a bit more.
“It is not just good bushland, but there are a good deal of animals that live there, which makes it that much more beautiful,” he said.
“We even witnessed a sugar glider inhabiting some of the trees.”