At 8:30 am a group of one day Earthwatch volunteers gathered in the North Head Sanctuary to help scientists, Nelika Hughes, to collect and evaluate the monitored data. After a briefing about the living and health conditions of the North Head bandicoots, the group swarmed out to collect last week’s video footage and to relocate the cameras. Lures, consisting of tee strainers filled with sardines, were set out and framed by two cameras. The cameras would be activated through movements in the designated area and capture the attracted animal in a 60 sec video clip.

In the afternoon the volunteers went through last week’s video footage. They noted down which animals came to the site at what time and if they were interested in the lure. Especially possums and rats seemed to like the smell of the sardines. They would jump on the stick holding the lure and try to get hold of content. A hound on her daily walk was a regular visitor and so were some bypassing rabbits. Feral and domestic cats, one of the main targets of the research, could not be spotted. The one and other bandicoot, however, was attracted by the lure and posed in front of the camera.

Nelika evaluated the data. The result was not representing the last four weeks’ findings. It had been a very quite week with less rats and possums visiting. The results help Nelika to determine which animals are dominant in the area, when they are active and if they are showing any characteristics. By the end of the 8 week period she hopes to find out, if a large number of feral cats, possums and rats may be responsible for the declining bandicoot population.

Signs to protect bandicoots._______ Intern Helen reading the coordinates. Finding the right spot for the lure.

Camera capturing wildlife.__________Preparing the sight.____________ _Attaching feathers to the lure.

Attaching the camera.____________Describing the setting.____________ Evaluating the footage.

The North Head bandicoot population is highly important because it is an isolated population (being away from the mainland) that scientists believe may be genetically distinct. The population has also been the subject of a number of scientific studies and is therefore an important reference population.
The North Head population of Long-nosed Bandicoots Peramales nasuta is now listed as an endangered population on Schedule 1, Part 2 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act.

Management of the population is the joint responsibility of the Department of Environment & Conservation and Manly Council. The Long-nosed Bandicoot Recovery Team has drafted a recovery plan which will be implemented once finalised.

In 2004, a survey completed by the Department of Conservation and Environment (DEC) found the population to be between 130 and 160 individuals. With major habitat loss the population is confined to a relatively small area of North Head on public and privately owned bushland and adjoining residential areas – including some backyards.

Major threats to bandicoots include habitat loss, feral animals such as cats and foxes, and cars – road kill in North Head is common (of several other animals as well). To address these threats, DEC currently carries out fox baiting programs to reduce fox numbers, and the gate into the National Park is closed at night time in an attempt to reduce road kill.

Bandicoot Biology

• Bandicoots are nocturnal, living in burrows in the scrub during the day. In urban areas, they often use wood piles or other man-made structures as shelter.
• Bandicoots only roam in a small range of approximately 1 acre, generally around their nest site. This is a relatively small area in comparison to a cat that can roam up to 16km in one night.
• The Long-nosed Bandicoot makes a distinctive ‘squeaking’ noise when threatened.
• Bandicoot habitat is primarily dry woodland, scrubs and coastal heaths.
• Bandicoots are omnivores and feed on many things including beetles, insects and larvae, spiders, fungi, seeds, cockroaches & fungi.
• Long-nosed Bandicoots are solitary animals which breed throughout the entire year. Female bandicoots give birth to an average of two or three young after 12.5 days gestation.

Where can I get more information?

Manly Council’s ‘Threatened Species Information Pack’, containing:
Ecological Consultants Association NSW - Register of Environmental Consultants
NPWS Information Circular No.2: ‘The ‘8 Part Test’ of Significance’
NPWS Information Circular: ‘SIS’
Map: Areas Identified as requiring an ‘8 Part Test’ under Section 5A of the EP&A Act.

Additional Resources:
Long Nosed Bandicoots at North Head - Comments by Tim Flannery (PDF)
Threatened Species Information - Long Nosed Bandicoot NPWS (PDF)