Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Corridor
The beautiful Richmond Birdwing Butterfly is a Coolum Native but the caterpillars' only food plant called the Pararistolochia or Butterfly Vine is fast disappearing with the loss of bushlands. We are encouraging Coolum residents, neighbourhoods, schools and parks to purchase, plant the vine (available at the Coolum Community Native Nursery) and let Coolum and North Shore Coast Care know the location so that we have a continual corridor for butterfly reproduction.
For more information see the Richmond Birdwing Conservation Network website or for local information contact us on 0478 435 377.
Pest Management
In 2007, the CaNSCC Turtle Monitoring and Action Group considered that turtle nest predation by foxes was a real and emerging threat. After being successful in gaining a funding grant, the group convened a meeting in Nambour between the agencies engaged in fox control at the time: Queensland DPI, EPA/QPWS and the then Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
The meeting was the forerunner of a multi-agency control program, particularly across the northern part of the Sunshine Coast. This coincided with a research program conducted by Council in the coastal area between Maroochydore and Caloundra.
In 2011, as part of the CaNSCC 'Turtles on Trouble' project, a contractor was engaged to locate fox dens from Sunshine Beach to the Maroochy River on Council-controlled land. Later this mapping program was continued by QPWS in national parks east of the Sunshine Motorway. This data allowed QPWS to compile detailed maps that show 300 known den locations.
In late 2014, Sunshine Coast Council announced a 'Coastal Fox Control' program that sought community consultation and support in reducing the threat that foxes pose to turtle nests and more generally to ground-dwelling fauna of the coast strip. This program requests the community to report known dens and then later in the year, to 'adopt a den' by periodic monitoring of den activity. This will enable authorities to conduct more effective abatement action.
CaNSCC is a collaborator in this project. If you would like to be involved, or obtain more information, please contact Sunshine Coast Council on 1300 007 272, or contact CaNSCC on info@coolumcoastcare.org.au.
The latest Queensland Government Factsheet can be downloaded here.
Faunawatch Surveys
2011 - In 2011 we commissioned Faunawatch to undertake a survey of fauna found in the bushland on the dunes between Tanah Street East and Birrahl Park Yaroomba.
The survey report can be accessed here.
2012 - In 2012 we commissioned Faunawatch to undertake two surveys of bushland on the dunes:
The Mudjimba-Marcoola report can be found here.
The Stumers Creek to Lions Park, Coolum Beach report can be found here.
Turtles
A small and dedicated group of Coolum and North Shore Coast Care volunteers has been trained to record data on stranded turtles (both dead and alive) that wash up from Sunshine Beach to Mooloolaba.
During the turtle nesting season, November to March, these members are also involved in locating and protecting nests with mesh, to prevent predation and damage, and monitoring nest safety and progress. See where we have recorded turtles nesting over the last few years.
In extreme cases our trained volunteers, accredited under the Queensland Government's turtle research program, are able to relocate nests if their safety is threatened by extreme weather, erosion or lighting issues.
We are heavily dependent on regular beach walkers to help us locate and monitor turtle nesting activity, and report strandings. Read on to see how you can help.
Strandings
If you find a turtle washed up on the beach - either dead or alive - please don't put it back into the water. Even a live turtle will only wash up if they are already ill. Please contact either the Marine Animal Stranding Hotline - 1300 130 372 or our turtle monitoring team as soon as possible on 0478 435 377.
Eastern Ground Parrot Acoustic Recording Project
