Nesting hollows create new homes for wildlife in Torquay

Published on 11 July 2024

Six more nesting hollows have been installed in Taylor Park in Torquay to create homes for native wildlife. 

The nesting boxes were funded by us and installed by arborists from Heartwood Habitat.

The arborists used chainsaws to carve hollows into logs and attach them to trees to mimic naturally formed hollows.

Surveys show that chainsaw-carved hollows provide more consistent temperatures for native wildlife than plywood boxes.

Last year, 20 nesting boxes made from marine ply were installed in the park thanks to the hard work of local members of the Torquay Community Men's Shed, Friends of Taylor Park, and the Torquay Lions Club.

More than 100 native species depend on natural tree hollows, so protecting large, old, hollow-bearing trees and surrounding habitat is critical.

We will work with Friends of Taylor Park on a habitat survey in Spring to see if the hollows are being used by wildlife for nesting and breeding.

Quotes attributable to Director Environment and Coastal Operations Dr Lisa Mills

“We hope the hollows will provide great habitat for local wildlife like Eastern and Crimson Rosellas, Rainbow Lorikeets and Kookaburras.

We’re carving out new homes for wildlife that are impacted by the loss of big old trees due to land clearing.

The lessons we take from this project will inform our management of public land along the Great Ocean Road.”