While many locals are being driven out of their homes by increasing rents and a shrinking housing supply, the dwindling forests of the region have created the need to increase Wildbnb – that is, nest boxes for the struggling wildlife.
‘Wildlife Safe Havens is a partnership between Brunswick Valley Landcare and local wildlife habitat specialists Wildbnb’, said Dave Brook from Landcare.
‘The aim of the project is to install nest boxes, and to create hollow habitat for the wildlife dependant on tree hollows for their survival’.
‘Many birds, mammals and reptiles need tree hollows for their survival – and suitable hollows can take up to 120 years to naturally form in trees’.
Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce brought artist Scotty Sentence, a Wiradjuri elder who has lived here for 35 years, on board to decorate a nest box that they plan to put up in Mullumbimby as part of the project.
‘I wanted to do a dreaming story about how all the birds were given their colours, all the colours of the rainbow,’ said Scotty.
‘Later in the week, there will be a short video online with Scotty explaining the story that is depicted on the four faces of the nest box’, said Jenelle Stanford, President of the Mullum Chamber.
The nest box, which is suitable for a range of parrots, including the Eastern Rosella and King Parrot, together with Galahs, large Gliders and Possums, will be on display at the Byron Shire Council Chambers in Mullumbimby for several weeks for everyone to enjoy before it is put up.
‘Wildbnb is conducting research projects and installing habitat across the Shire,’ said Mr Brooks.
They are also looking for anyone who is interested in supporting the project to come on board by supporting the crowdfunding campaign at Chuffed.org/Project/Wildlife-Safe-Havens.
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