The City of Greater Geelong has asked residents to assist in identifying suitable tree hollows that can be used for animal nesting, using smart technology to track the hollows.
City of Greater Geelong Deputy Mayor, Trent Sullivan, said the Hollow Hunt project aims to build a clearer picture of tree hollow resources across the City, with the help of community members.
“Tree hollows can be found in streets, parks and reserves right across Greater Geelong – from Hovells Creek at Lara, to the banks of the Barwon River at Fyansford, and the beautiful nature reserves on The Bellarine,” Deputy Mayor Sullivan said.
“So many native birds, mammals and reptiles rely on tree hollows including bats, frogs, skinks, possums, gliders, owls, parrots, rosellas, cockatoos and kookaburras.
“Improving the quality of our data will help us understand how the loss of these old trees can be managed to minimise impacts on people and wildlife.”
Greater Geelong Environment portfolio Chair, Councillor Jim Mason, said data generated through this project will help the City, scientists, researchers and policy makers to better understand and protect these important natural resources.
“This project will help the City to understand the importance of tree hollows and plan for the future of native wildlife. We need to take action today because a hollow can take 100 years or more to form,” Cr Mason said.
“We’d love to see local citizen scientists involved in this project. It’s a great example of how we’re using smart technology to support data-driven decisions.”
The following list of locations have old-growth trees and are good places for community members to start looking:
- Hovells Creek, Lara
- Barwon River trails, Newtown, Fyansford, Highton and Belmont
- Balyang Sanctuary, Newtown
- Indented Head Woodland Nature Reserve
- Basin Reserve, Drysdale
- Dooliebeal Reserve, Armstrong Creek
- Kingston Park, Ocean Grove
- Ocean Grove Nature Reserve
- Yellow Gums Reserve, Ocean Grove (off Yellow Gums Drive)
- Barwon Heads Village Park
All the tree hollows can be viewed on the Hollow Hunt map at the Geelong Data Exchange.
Community members don’t need any special skills or equipment to get involved; if someone has spotted a hollow, they can take a photo and record their findings via the online form.
Image: Smart City Manager Adam Mowlam and Councillor Jim Mason take part in the Hollow Hunt. Image courtesy of City of Greater Geelong.
