Glideways
Biolinks Alliance is collaborating with conservation groups from the Grampians to Euroa to protect and conserve glider populations. This is part of the Great Eastern Ranges Glideways initiative that stretches from Victoria to far north Queensland.
Glideways is providing communities with the know-how to protect and conserve gliders in their local region. By looking after the needs of gliders, we are also helping other species such as koalas, phascogales and endangered swift parrots. Through the Glideways initiative, we are collating and sharing current knowledge that looks at:
Where are gliders and what are their habitat needs?
What is the most effective way to conserve and reconnect glider habitat?
How do I access credible resources to help guide my conservation efforts?
Threats facing these acrobats of the night
Gliders need to roam over large areas of suitable forest habitat, with many old, hollow-bearing trees.
Acute habitat loss due to land clearing, timber harvesting and fire, and habitat fragmentation by roads, buildings, town and development, is a devastating problem - as our region gets busier and more populated.
These gliders, once abundant in Central Victoria, continue to decline.
Have you seen a glider or phascogale on your property?
Sightings of gliders and phascogales on local properties are vital in helping us to understand where these species exist. If you have seen one on your property, please get in touch using the survey tool below.
Photo: Matt Wright
Our Glideways priorities for the next 10 years
In 2023, Biolinks Alliance with our Network Members who are part of our Glideways project, together developed objectives to be achieved over the next decade.
An increased capacity of community groups across Central Victoria to undertake glider and phascogale conservation projects, with groups working collaboratively within 2 years.
An improved understanding of glider and phascogale distribution and threats throughout Central Victoria within 2 years.
Substantial glider protection, habitat enhancement and restoration projects to be funded and underway within 5 years. Restoration programs to be significantly scaled up.
A measurable increase in the connectivity and quality of known glider habitat across Central Victoria, leading to increases in glider occupancy within 10 years. This means gliders are seen in areas where they weren’t 10 years earlier. Gliders are able to move between patches to escape wildfire, interbreed and seek alternative food resources.
Biolinks Alliance Glidways workshop with Network Members in March 2023
Glideways projects
Kangaroo Creek
Biolinks Alliance is partnering with local conservation organisations to urgently protect and restore habitat for greater glider populations along Kangaroo Creek.
Working across private and public land between Malmsbury and Glenlyon, this project is in a climate refuge - an area that is predicted to be more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Kangaroo Creek boasts some of the healthiest creek systems (including water quality and intact habitat) in Victoria. The remnant glider population in this area is significant in case of wildfire in the nearby Wombat Forest.
Squirrel Gliders in the Northern Grampians
Biolinks Alliance is working with Project Platypus to plan an ambitious project to protect and restore habitat for squirrel gliders in the northern Grampians region.
As part of a survey team, we have confirmed an ongoing yet isolated remnant squirrel glider population in the area - the western-most population of the species.
The next phase of this project involves structured glider surveys, connectivity mapping, revegetation and a strong focus on community engagement to raise the profile of this endangered species and empower people to take urgent conservation actions.
Biolink Corridors for Gliders in Seymour
Biolinks Alliance is partnering with Seymour Urban Landcare, Hughes Creek Catchment Collaborative and BEAM Mitchell Environment Group to conserve squirrel gliders in the Seymour area.
This project builds on the confirmation of existing squirrel gliders in Seymour in late 2022 by Biolinks Alliance, thanks to a landholder submitting a suspected sighting.
Project activities include spotlighting surveys and checking nest boxes to better understand where squirrel gliders exist in the region, revegetation to connect glider habitat, and community outreach to raise awareness and promote citizen science and volunteering.
Strathbogie Ranges Glideways
Biolinks Alliance is working with Strathbogie Ranges Conservation to better understand glider distribution and which actions (e.g. habitat mapping, nest-boxes, revegetation, habitat protection) best support glider conservation.
This work builds on community-driven surveys (research and citizen science) of several glider species in the Strathbogie Ranges.
Broadford - Glenoura Glideways
Biolinks Alliance is partnering with Southwest Goulburn Landcare Network to expand existing community-lead conservation programs to protect and reconnect important habitat for endangered Brush-tailed phascogales in the Pyalong and Broadford region.
Visit our Knowledge Hub
Watch these videos to learn about:
Nest box monitoring - we demonstrate how to check a nest box on your property.
Phascogale habitat and monitoring locations - learn about phascogale habitat and identifying the correct locations for phascogale sightings via camera traps or nest box monitoring.
Recording survey data - we talk you through how to record survey data when using a nest box or camera trap, as well as explaining how the survey data will be used.
Recording historic sightings - we describe how you can contribute to our Glideways project using historical sightings.
Discover more about glider conservation in Central Victoria:
Chris Pocknee - Biolinks Alliance Ecologist
For more information or to get involved contact Chris
(chris.pocknee@biolinksalliance.org.au)
Glideways
Glideways is a project of the Great Eastern Ranges (GER). Biolinks Alliance is working with the Great Eastern Ranges and their partners, sharing experience and coordinating actions.