Nest Box Monitoring in September 2025

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Wed 03 Sep 2025 - Tue 30 Sep 2025

Monitor nest boxes and record observations of wildlife use, nest conditions and environmental information



Are you passionate about wildlife conservation? Join in with monitoring nest boxes whilst gaining hands-on experience with wildlife monitoring techniques and data collection.

What are nest boxes?
Nest boxes are artificial shelters that provide support and shelter to more than one hundred Australian native animals for nesting and raising their young.

Why are nest boxes so important?
Tree hollows, which are natural nesting sites, only form in very old trees. Unfortunately, many of these trees have been removed faster than new hollows can form. To support the variety of wildlife on the Sunshine Coast, the Council have installed more than three hundred nest boxes in a variety of Environment Reserves over the past few decades.



Nest boxes are temporary man-made hollows and they are crucial for more than a quarter of Australian species. For the first time, a two-year monitoring project is being conducted with NatureWatch volunteers, who check the nest boxes and record important information to help make better decisions for wildlife conservation.

How can you help?
Accurate and current information is needed to determine how effective these nest boxes are. This is why a citizen science project under the NatureWatch Sunshine Coast program has been started.
Join in and sign up for a nest box monitoring event and help to gather essential data. Your contribution will make a significant impact on local wildlife conservation efforts.



Where and when?

KIRBY’S ROAD ENVIRONMENT RESERVE, OBI OBI
WEDNESDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER, 8.00am to 12.00noon
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS HIGHLIGHTED LINK AND FOLLOW THE FILL IN AN APPLICATION LINK

Join this Community Planting Event which includes planting five hundred plants and monitoring newly installed nest boxes around the new car parks and trails. This activity will be the first one of the 3rd nest box monitoring season. There will be refreshments and a light meal provided. This site is in a remote location and phone service is limited within the reserve but there is phone signal at the gate and in the carpark area.



MAROOCHY WETLAND SANCTUARY, BLI BLI
TUESDAY 9th SEPTEMBER, 9.30am to 11.30am
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS HIGHLIGHTED LINK AND FOLLOW THE FILL IN AN APPLICATION LINK

The monitoring of nest boxes at the Sanctuary will involve a two kilometere walk between the meeting location and nest boxes. Wearing protective clothing is essential - long sleeves, pants, comfortable closed walking shoes - participants won't be allowed to monitor nest boxes otherwise, on or off the trails, if required. As this site is a wetland habitat gumboots and/or enclosed shoes that can get wet are recommended. With summer approaching, mosquitoes will most likely be around - insect repellent will be available but prepare yourself accordingly if you are sensitive to mosquito bites.

Information will be sent to you the day prior or the day of the activity.



MELLUM CREEK ENVIRONMENT RESERVE, LANDSBOROUGH
SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER, 3.00pm to 5.30pm
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS HIGHLIGHTED LINK AND FOLLOW THE FILL IN AN APPLICATION LINK

Also known as Isambert Road Environment Reserve on Google Maps, Mellum Creek Environment Reserve in Landsborough has many hardwood nest boxes, some will be within the reach of the camera pole, however, some will not. The first part of the activity will involve monitoring the reachable boxes with the camera pole in the northern loop (active monitoring) and the second part of the activity will involve sitting quietly, observing and recording any wildlife activity from an advantageous location where multiple high nest boxes can be seen (passive monitoring). For these reasons, this activity is conducted as late as possible in the afternoon before natural sunlight disappears. 

Trails are rocky and uneven in some areas, proper enclosed footwear should be worn. 
Further information will be sent to participants the day prior or on the day of the activity.



GALLERY PLACE BUSHLAND PARK, LITTLE MOUNTAIN
MONDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER, 9.00am to 11.00am
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS HIGHLIGHTED LINK AND FOLLOW THE FILL IN AN APPLICATION LINK

The monitoring of nest boxes at Gallery Place Bushland Park will involve a 500 metre walk between the meeting location and nest boxes.

There are several roles that volunteers will share during an activity, including:
•Handling of the camera and pole,
•Handling of the LCD-12 monitor screen,
•Handling of the tape measure and
•Recording information on data sheets or through Survey123.
 
Participants will need to wear appropriate protective personal clothing, including a long sleeve shirt, long pants and enclosed outdoor shoes. Please bring your own water bottle and any essential items that you may personally require eg. glasses. Sunscreen and insect repellent will be available on-site. 

Information on the meeting location for this site will be sent to you the day prior or the day of the activity.



ANNIE HEHIR ROAD ENVIRONMENT RESERVE, PEACHESTER
TUESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER, 9.00am to 11.00am
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS HIGHLIGHTED LINK AND FOLLOW THE FILL IN AN APPLICATION LINK

The monitoring of nest boxes at Annie Hehir Road Environment Reserve will involve a 1.3km walk between the meeting location and nest boxes. This site has limited phone reception and is in a remote location. Please make sure you update your emergency contact details in MyImpact volunteer profile. There are stinging trees along the trails, the council officer will point them out but please, be careful around these plants as their hairs can go through shirts and be painful. Wearing protective clothes is essential, you won't be allowed to monitor nest boxes otherwise. Please wear suitable clothing i.e. long sleeves, pants and comfortable closed walking shoes, to walk on trails and off-trails (if required). A small creek crossing is required, which means gumboots or enclosed shoes will be appropriate.

Information will be sent to participants the day prior to the day of the activity.



DOONAN CREEK ENVIRONMENT RESERVE, VERRIERDALE
TUESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER, 9.00am to 11.00am AND 1.00pm to 3.00pm
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS HIGHLIGHTED LINK AND FOLLOW THE FILL IN AN APPLICATION LINK

This site has many nest boxes and will require off-trail walking, including through thick bush. You will need to wear appropriate protective personal equipment, including a long sleeve shirt, long pants and enclosed outdoor shoes. You will also need to bring your own water bottle and any essential items with you that you may personally require ie glasses. Sunscreen and insect repellent will be available on-site. 

There are several roles that volunteers will share during an activity, including:
•Handling of the camera and pole,
•Handling of the LCD-12 monitor screen,
•Handling of the tape measure, and
•Recording information on data sheets or through Survey123.

Tuesday 23rd of September 9.00am to 11.00am activity is on the south-west side of the reserve.
The north side of the reserve will be monitored on the same day between 1.00pm and 3.00pm.
Information on the meeting location for this site will be sent to participants the day prior or the day of the survey.

 

YINNEBURRA ENVIRONMENT RESERVE, YAROOMBA
THURSDAY 25th SEPTEMBER, 11.00am to 12.00noon
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS HIGHLIGHTED LINK AND FOLLOW THE FILL IN AN APPLICATION LINK

The monitoring of nest boxes at Yinneburra Environment Reserve will involve a 500m walk.

There are several roles or tasks that volunteers will share during an activity and they include:
•Handling of the camera and pole,
•Handling of the LCD-12 monitor screen,
•Handling of the tape measure
•Handling of the binoculars, and
•Recording information on data sheets or through Survey123. Participants will need to wear appropriate protective personal equipment, including a long sleeve shirt, long pants, enclosed outdoor shoes and a hat. Please bring your own water bottle and any essential items with you that you may personally require ie glasses. Sunscreen and insect repellent will be available on-site. 

The nest boxes in this reserve have been installed, maintained, and audited by Coolum & North Shore Coast Care for more than 20 years. Their work in this space has been amazing and many volunteers have also looked after the condition of the bushland that supports local wildlife.
More information will be sent to participants a few days before the activity.



KOALA PARK BUSHLAND CONSERVATION RESERVE, NAMBOUR
MONDAY 29th SEPTEMBER, 9.00am to 11.00am
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS HIGHLIGHTED LINK AND FOLLOW THE FILL IN AN APPLICATION LINK

The trail loop at this site has steep slopes and there are many nest boxes to monitor so this activity may take longer than two hours (maximum four hours). Please make sure that you are able to walk the trail loop.

There are several roles that volunteers will share during an activity, including:
•Handling of the camera and pole,
•Handling of the LCD-12 monitor screen,
•Handling of the tape measure, and
•Recording information on data sheets or through Survey123.

Please wear appropriate protective personal equipment, including a long sleeve shirt, long pants, and enclosed outdoor shoes. You will also need to bring your own water bottle and any essential items with that you may personally require, i.e. glasses. Sunscreen and insect repellent will be available on-site. 



FOOTE MEMORIAL SANCTUARY, BUDERIM
TUESDAY 30th SEPTEMBER, 9.00am to 11.00am
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS HIGHLIGHTED LINK AND FOLLOW THE FILL IN AN APPLICATION LINK

There are several roles that volunteers will share during an activity, including:
•Handling of the camera and pole,
•Handling of the LCD-12 monitor screen,
•Handling of the tape measure, and
•Recording information on data sheets or through Survey123.

Participants will need to wear appropriate protective personal equipment, including a long sleeve shirt, long pants and enclosed outdoor shoes. You will also need to bring your own water bottle and any essential items with you that you may personally require, eg glasses. Sunscreen and insect repellent will be available on-site. 

Information on the meeting location for this site will be sent to you the day prior or the day of the survey.



BAROON POCKET FAUNA SANCTUARY, MONTVILLE
TUESDAY 30th SEPTEMBER, 9.00am to 11.00am and 1.00pm to 3.00pm
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS HIGHLIGHTED LINK AND FOLLOW THE FILL IN AN APPLICATION LINK

Trails are steep and uneven at this location. The remote location and phone service is limited within the reserve but there is phone signal at the gate and in the carpark area.
Information will be sent to participants the day prior or the day of the activity.

If you are a new volunteer who has not yet completed the Safety Induction eLearning module and Corporate Induction Checklist, please arrive 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled start of the monitoring/observation activity.

Join in and sign up for a nest box monitoring event and help to gather essential data. Your contribution will make a significant impact on local wildlife conservation efforts.

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#environment
%sunshinecoastlocals
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!date 03/09/25 -- 30/09/25