Newsletter

Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter via the Contact Us page or type in your details above to keep up to date with upcoming events and information about what we have been up to each quarter.

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Corridor Conversations

Autumn 2024

Happy New Year from the Trust!
We have started this year in full swing with school holiday programs, continued work on the new walking tracks, monitoring and so much more!

What we've been up to:

Canberra Snake Tracking Project Update

The project is in full swing here at Ginninderry, with several new translocated snakes being added, including Romeo, Arran, Kobe and Mushu (bringing us up to 6 total translocated snakes). A new resident snake, Houdini, has been caught and will be released soon after he's got his transmitter (3 total resident snakes).

Here's some more information from Hannah, the PhD student assigned to the Ginninderry component of the project:
"For behavioural assays, I do a series of standardised tests that I repeat on each individual 3-5 times and record their responses, focusing on aspects of their behaviour related to exploration and activity, defensive behaviour, and boldness. We get an average "personality score" per individual as well as an indication of how consistent they are (or if they're habituating/learning between trials). We've tested 18 individuals so far and have already seen a lot of variation in "personality", with some individuals appearing bolder and more exploratory, and others quite timid. Besides demonstrating that snakes are individuals in their own right - just like your cat or dog has its own tendencies and differs from others - our research will test if a snake's "personality" relates to its movement in field. For example, maybe an individual that's bolder in the behavioural assays also moves further or more frequently in Ginninderry. If so, this has important implications for a individual that's been translocated out of a suburb and into the reserve. If we can get an idea of the snake's "personality", we can potentially predict how it will fare after translocation, including how far it might move, whether it returns to a suburb, or even if it's likely to survive at all. Ultimately, our goal is to understand how translocation affects individual snakes differently, and what we can do to help them survive after translocation."

See below the most recent GIF from August - March, following the snakes and their travels.

Woodland Bird Monitoring
Since September 2023, we have been partnering with Canberra Ornithologists Group (COG) to undertake woodland bird monitoring in the Corridor. These are undertaken quarterly, and involve 6 sites at which we observe the presence of various bird species (through sight and sound) within a 100m radius. We first started this to help determine woodland health as birds are often used as indicators of habitat complexity. Sites that have established trees, midstorey plants and undergrowth support a greater number of birds. Results from surveys like this can then inform how we can improve woodland areas and create sites with higher diversity that support a greater number of species (including wombats, sugar gliders, skinks and more).

Bird photos © Jason Stainthorpe

New Walking Track Update
Iconic Trails have been working hard to complete our new walking tracks and after a few unforeseen delays we are excited to say we are on track to officially open them in April!
The new tracks offer a diversity of experiences including some amazing new lookouts, areas to sit and ponder the view, various habitats, a children's walk, and some steeper sections which overlook the beautiful Murrumbidgee River.
Our next Ranger Guided walk (13th April) will provide visitors with the opportunity to explore some of these new tracks and hear fun facts about these areas from the Rangers.

Did You Know?
The Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) is a bird that we have commonly seen in our bird surveys in the Corridor! The adults have a distinctive black face and throat, blue-grey back, wings and tail, and white underparts. They have a curious habit of shuffling their wings whenever they land. This is a term called “Shufflewing” which is often used for this species.

Other Highlights

Cristy Froehlich Art Exhibition
Cristy Froehlich recently exhibited her photography collection “Water” in the Link Building design space. The Trust partners with Cristy to deliver walks in the Corridor which involve macro photography of interesting flora, insects, birds and reptiles. Be sure to check out her website for photo walk details and to see her other exhibitions: here.

Jack - Work Placement Student
Jack is our most recent work placement student from the University of Canberra. Jack will be with us for 2 months while he completes his placement unit. So far he has assisted with water monitoring (including water bug surveys), snake tracking and track audits. We look forward to working with Jack.

Upcoming Events

Photo Walk with Cristy Froehlich

About: Join local photographer Cristy Froehlich on an Autumn photography walk through the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor.
When: 7th April, 9:00am
Where: Meet at The Link
Cost: $10
Register: here

Guided Walks

About: Join our rangers as they take you on a guided walk through the corridor.
When: The next walk will be April 13th, with walks happening monthly.
Where: Meet at The Link
Register: here

School Holidays: Junior Rangers

About: Come and see what it is like to be a park ranger with the team from the Trust!
When: 16th April 10:00am-12:00pm
Where: Meet at The Link
Cost: $10 a family
Register: here

School Holidays with Strathnairn Arts

About: A joint effort between the Trust and Strathnairn Arts, focusing in on the connection between nature and art. Each day will have a different theme.
When: 18th April > Landscapes of the corridor with artist Sally Black
19th April > Textures and clay with artist Gemma Brown
24th April > Small creatures of the corridor with artist John Hart
26th April > Autumn School Holidays 2024- All about birds with artist Tom Buckland and COG member, Chris Davey
Cost: $155 per day, includes morning & afternoon tea and all art supplies needed.
Register: here

School Holidays: Music In The Bush

About: Join Ranger Ari as she takes you out into the corridor for a morning full of fun & music!
When: 23rd April, 10:00am-11:10am
Where: Meet at The Link
Cost: $10 a family
Register: here

Forest Therapy Walk with Julie Armstrong

About: It's Tree Week! Immerse yourself in nature and experience the healing and relaxing benefits of a guided forest and nature therapy walk.
When: 11th May, 8:45am
Where: Meet at The Link
Cost: $10
Register: here

Live Snake Demonstration

About: Come and learn more about snakes with Professor Gavin Smith!
When: 18th May, 10:30am-11:30am
Where: Meet at The Link
Cost: $20 a family
Register: here

To keep up with all events happening in the corridor, check out our website.

Volunteering opportunities:

To keep up with all volunteering opportunities, check out our website.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, learn and work, and pay our respects to the First Nations Peoples and their Elders, past, present and emerging.