Gardening for Wildlife

Series 1: Getting started and how to monitor

Video 1: Introduction to the Project

Video 2: Monitoring Methods and Tips

Video 3: Resources and Monitoring Equipment

Video 4: Collecting and Submitting Data

Video 5: Animal Welfare

Important Note: You must watch ‘Video 5: Animal Welfare’, or have attended an in-person workshop, before you start monitoring. Once complete, please complete this short form to confirm you understand the project requirements:  https://uwa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_80IXPUICVUbd5TU

The video and instructions below are for Camera Trapping participants only. These explain how to submit images from your Wildlife Monitoring Camera. Each Camera Trapping participant will receive a unique portal link to their own ‘Property ID Folder’.

Written instructions: Camera Trap Image Upload Instructions

Video 6: Camera Trap Image Upload Instructions

Series 2: Wildlife-friendly garden structure installation

Video 1: Project Update

Video 2: Next Project Phase

Video 3: Structure Installation Guidelines – Reptile shelters, Bird Baths, Frog Hotels and Ponds

Video 4: Structure Installation Guidelines – Nest Boxes for Bats, Birds and Possums

Video 5: Where and when to buy your structures

Reimbursement claim form for pond, bird bath and/or frog hotel supplies

Please check out pages 11-12 of ‘Guide 1: Common Garden Wildlife of Southwestern Australia: Vertebrate Species ID Guide’ for more information. Here are some handy links to a couple of the resources listed in the guide:

	www.ala.org.au   Atlas of Living Australia: ‘Australia’s national biodiversity database’, brings together species records from museums, research collections, and citizen-science projects.
	https://www.inaturalist.org/   iNaturalist partners with ALA and is globally recognised and well established. Search for your species on iNaturalists, or simply add your sighting and let others and the Computer Vision assist. iNaturalist have an associated application and their website has video tutorials to assist in its use.
	Australian Museum fact Sheets: https://australian.museum/learn/animals/birds/ https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/ https://australian.museum/learn/animals/frogs/   Free application from the Australian Museum: ‘Frog ID’: https://www.frogid.net.au/   WA Museum ‘Froglish for Beginners’: https://museum.wa.gov.au/explore/frog-watch-schools/frog-watch-schools-kit/froglish-beginners
	Free application: ‘Aussie Bird Count’: https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/   Online web version of application , ‘Bird Finder’: https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder   Birdlife WA have many Bird Guides by area that you can download:  https://birdlife.org.au/locations/birdlife-western-australia/bird-guides-wa

GENERAL QUESTIONS

1. Should I continue to feed birds in my garden if I already do?

We recommend you do not feed birds in gardens. Feeding native birds can alter natural behaviour and harm their health as it creates an unhealthy dependence on humans and the food is often not suited to their physiology. Additionally, it can draw birds into unsafe areas where they may be predated on.

Feeding native birds without a licence is now an offence under the new Biodiversity Conservation Act. Feeding commercially available bird seed can also spread weeds and may be a blend that isn’t suitable to native birds. Instead, you can play your part by having native plants and shrubs in your garden, so birds have access to natural food sources. More info on having a bird friendly garden is available at https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/gardening/

2. Can I complete more than one of a survey type in two sections of my garden, or for two of my wildlife friendly garden structures?

You can survey more than one of the ‘Wildlife Friendly Structure Inspection’ type methods (Bat Box, Bird Box, Frog Hotel, Possum Box and Reptile Shelter).

For the other methods, you can only monitor one area or structure, these include Bird Bath Monitoring, Bird Count, Camera Trapping, Frog Search, Pond Monitoring, Reptile Search and Spotlight Survey.

3. Can I complete more than one survey method per week?

Sure! All data you collect will be useful!

BIRD BATH MONITORING

4. Is a water fountain counted as a birdbath?

Yes, if it contains a permanent standing body of water.

5. Can a sprinkler or gutter be counted as a ‘bird bath’ or a ‘source of water’ when monitoring?

No, it is not a permanent standing source of water.

CAMERA TRAPPING

6. Can I use my own wildlife monitoring sensor camera, even if it’s a different brand? What settings are most important?

Yes, simply set as close as possible to what is listed in Guide 2: Wildlife Monitoring Manual. The most important settings are ‘photo’, ‘three bursts’ and ‘low sensitivity’.

7. What camera’s do we recommend if participants want to purchase?

Scout guards or Swift for a cost-efficient resource. If you get in before the 10th of October 2022, we have a discount code for you! Reach out to your main project contact.

8. How often will the wildlife camera batteries need replacing? Will I need to check them part way through?

Citizen Scientists who are borrowing Wildlife Sensor Cameras will need to provide the batteries. They take eight AA Batteries. The batteries will last for the whole 10-day deployment. Recharge or replace batteries before the next month, or before transferring to your partner Citizen Scientist.

You may wish to invest in rechargeable batteries and a charging port as a more sustainable and cost-effective (long term) option – we recommend Eneloop and Fujitsu brands.

9. Do I delete the photos off the SD card once I upload them?

Once you have uploaded the photos, yes please delete them so the card is ready to go for next time/ next person. This is listed in the ‘Camera Trapping’ instructions within Guide 2: Wildlife Monitoring Manual. If you want to keep a copy of your own photos make sure you save them to your computer as well as your Cloudstor link before deleting.

FROG SEARCHES

10. If I can only hear a frog in my garden but cannot visually see it, can I count this in my survey?

Unfortunately, no, for any animal including frogs to be counted in the surveys you must visually see them to be sure they are in your garden and not nearby.

11. If I see a frog in my garden but can only ID it based on its call, can I use this ID in my survey?

Yes. If you can clearly see the frog is in your garden and you are just using its call to confirm its species identification, you can count it. Do not count frogs that you hear if you cannot see it in your garden though!