Wildlife and Nest Boxes
Melbourne has an incredible variety of native plants and animals living within our suburbs and Bay. The EcoCentre is passionate about sharing the wonders of this urban wildlife with everyone through:
- School and ELC incursions and excursions
- Community Walks
- Community festivals and events
- Presentations and workshops
- Keynote speaking
Wildlife within Melbourne (and other urban ares) especially arboreal (tree-dependant) and noctural (active during the night) species face numerous pressures from urbanisation.
The EcoCentre has a long running urban habitat and nest box program that provide much needed homes (habitat) for the following species:
- Eastern Rosella
- Microbats (especially Gould's Wattled Bat)
- Wood Duck
These species in particular are facing localised extinction in many Melbourne suburbs, including St Kilda, Elwood and Elsternwick.
Our nest box information brings together the great work of various Australian and Victorian nest box programs with updated designs and research by our own Youth Wildlife Ambassador, Gio Fitzpatrick.
Step by Step Guide: Bat Box Project
Ready to make your own mircobat nest tube using items that are normally thrown away?
Our Step by Step Bat Box Project Guide uses videos and text to show you how to make your own microbat nest tube.
Have an odd sock? Turn it into a bat sock by following the steps in the Bat Box Project Guide.
Each film can also be viewed on our EcoCentreTV YouTube Channel.
The Bat Box Project EPublisher project was completed by Deakin University Collaboration in Design program students Justine Millsom, Jamie Choi and Chanaka Suriya.
Additional Nest Box Resources
- Bat Nest Tube Fact Sheet
- Gio's Nest Box Forum booklet (prices out of date)
- Building your own nest boxes - incursion or excursion format
For more information please contact the Education Team on 9525 3102 or email schools@ecocentre.com
