A local community sanctuary has received nesting boxes to help protect local animals ahead of the bushfire season.
The Crommelin Native Arboretum at Pearl Beach was gifted the boxes, which were built by the Terrigal Community Men’s Shed coordinated by Ray Crawley, with funding secured by Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch.
Vice President Ann Parsons said the Arboretum’s old nesting boxes had been deteriorating and the new boxes were a welcome addition.
“Fauna monitoring cameras and the nest boxes will be placed about 4m up into trees with the help of (University of Sydney PhD candidate) Vivianna Miritis,” Parsons said.
“The cameras will check birds and small mammals visiting the nesting boxes.”
Animals such as brushtail possums, sugar gliders, pygmy possums, parrots, and cockatoos will be monitored throughout the program.
Tesch said the nesting box program was a great addition to the community.
“Nesting boxes are being built at Men’s Sheds across NSW and distributed as per Wires and other community organisations,” Tesch said.
“It’s a pretty amazing thing.”
Maisy Rae