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21 October 2010 - Rostrata Primary School BBQ Fundraiser

To celebrate WA Week, Project Numbat volunteers held a fundraising bbq at Rostrata Primary School. Lots of bun, sausages and tiny supporters. One of our members also gave a presentation to the kids. This has turned into an annual event and is a great way for us to spread the message about Numbats.

16 October 2010 - Narrogin Agricultural Show

We had a great time at the Narrogin Agricultural Show this year, talking to a lot of locals about their experiences with Numbats. Unfortunately, the story is the same: we used to see a lot but now we hardly see any. We sold some of our new merchandise, gave out brochures and signed up a new member. We'll be back next year so make sure you come down and support this event.

October 2010 - Project Numbat Update

Read about what's been happening with Project Numbat over the past few months.

Download here.

22 September 2010 - Quiz on Legs at Kings Park

Project Numbat attended the Quiz on Legs event at Kings Park, which was a primary school activity day celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity. We ran a popular stall with two activities for children to participate in, including one from our own Education Package and a hands-on radio-tracking activity. Over 160 children participated in our stall alone and teachers and parents collected Numbat colouring sheets, Education Package flyers and learnt about Numbats and their only food source, termites (which we had available for close-up viewing). Thank you to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy for kindly lending their radio-tracking equipment for the day.

September 2010 - Numbat Radio-collar Fundraiser

We've now raised enough money to purchase this year's radio-collars for released Numbats from Perth Zoo. Thank you to everyone who donated as the contribution is significant at $250 per collar. Soon after the Numbats are released in December, we will be sending out certificates of appreciation.

As well as individual donations, URS Corporation's employees, as part of their Perth Sustainability Group, organised and held a fundraising event on Tuesday 7 September (to commemorate National Theatened Species Day and Biodiversity Month) to raise at least $250 to purchase a radio-collar for the Numbats. URS staff were encouraged to bring a dish/dessert/plant that day and all proceeds from the 'sale' would be directed to Project Numbat. URS also generously agreed to match the amount raised up to $500. After an amazing effort, URS's contribution raised a total of just over $1,000. The event also raised awareness of the Numbats around the office. Thank you to URS and Project Numbat member Toby Foong for organising the event.

12 September 2010 - Threatened Species Day at Perth Zoo

Project Numbat was one of a number of environmental and conservation organisations at Threatened Species Day at Perth Zoo. The aim of the day was to raise awareness about the threats facing wildlife, particularly native Western Australian species. We talked to a variety of people, raised some interest in our education program and sold merchandise (the new stubby holders were a hit). Thanks to Perth Zoo for the opportunity to participate.

9 September 2010 - Project Numbat Annual General Meeting

The AGM was held in the Perth Zoo Theatre from 6pm to 6:30pm. We recapped on the year that was, tabled the treasurer's report and elected a new committee (page will be updated shortly). We'd like to thank Janet Reid and Lesley Wall for their years on the committee and we look forward to having you remain active members of the organisation. Thank you also to Nayna Raniga for auditing the financial statements free of charge.

Project Numbat Annual Report 2009-10 (pdf)

25 August 2010 - Project Numbat and Avant Card

Thanks to the generous support of Avant Card, Project Numbat postcards are being distributed around Perth and major centres in the south-west to raise the profile of the Numbat. Keep your eyes open for these free postcards and send them to raise awareness of the Numbat.

For more information about Avant Card, visit their website.

2 June 2010 - Project Numbat in SCIOS Magazine

Project Numbat appeared in the latest edition of SCIOS, the quaterly journal of the Science Teachers' Association of Western Australia (STAWA). The article first appeared in SCIOS Volume 46 Number 2 June 2010. This article is provided here with the kind permission of STAWA.

Read the article here.

June 2010 - Project Numbat Update

Read about what's been happening with Project Numbat over the past few months including our trip to Dryandra, Schools program, Radio-collar fundraiser and upcoming AGM.

Download here.

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 May 2010 - Weekend Away in Dryandra

We organised a weekend away to Drayndra Woodland over the weekend with about 25 people in attendance. We stayed in three huts in Dryandra Village - Numbat, Mallee, and Wallaby - and were all very comfortable. The facilities are great here and the setting is superb. At about one pm, we gathered to go on a drive through Dryandra, led by Numbat spotter and committee member Sean Van Alphen. While the group didn't get to see Numbats on the drive, they did stop along the way with Sean giving tips on spotting Numbats and about what you can find in Dryandra. However, they did see three echidnas and two Bush Stone-curlews.

On the return to camp, Tony Friend from DEC appeared with a female radio-collared Numbat called Mallee. Mallee didn't live too far from Dryandra Village and it was time to replace her collar as the battery was running out. This was the perfect opportunity for our members to learn first-hand what goes on in the field. Apart from seeing a Numbat up close and watch a new collar being fitted, the group also saw Mallee's four pouch young! These little Numbats, about five months old, were just starting to get their stripes. This was a definite highlight of our stay. Thanks to Tony for this surprise.

After the Numbat was returned to her hollow log, we fired up the bbq for a big meal and then headed off to Barna Mia for an evening of spotlighting for wildlife. We saw Woylie, Possums, Mala and Bilbies and the guide was great. Back to camp at about half past eight in time for a drink and some of Silke's delicious apple crumble around a beautiful campfire. We chatted about the state of the Numbat and what can be done to help it before heading off to sleep - though some of us were kept awake by the possums.

The next morning some people went for bushwalks (the early risers) while others had a sleep in and late breakfast before heading off at about ten or eleven.

Everyone had a great time and it's definitely something Project Numbat would like to do again, perhaps in November when it's Numbat disperal time. Thanks to everyone who came along, John and Lisa at Dryandra Village for the great accommodation, and Tony Friend for everything.

More photos can be seen on our Facebook Page.

Project Numbat Newsletter May 2010 Download (pdf)

Friday 26 to Sunday 28 March 2010 - Termite Survey at AWC's Mount Gibson Property
Report from Lesley Shaw, Project Numbat Member and Volunteer

Volunteers travelled to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s (AWC) property at Mount Gibson, north-east of Perth, to survey for termites. These little invertebrates are the staple diet of the Numbat and their presence (or absence) will help determine if Numbats can be reintroduced into the area once it has become fenced off and free of introduced predators.

A similar survey was conducted in July last year which determined termite presence in the winter months, whereas this survey was held in the warmer months.

Conditions could not have been better for the group of eight volunteers that descended on the property at Mount Gibson from 26–28 March. The earliest arrivals witnessed a couple of malleefowl hens charging into the undergrowth, amidst bronze-tinged York gums and against a magnificent sunset. The ground radiated the heat of the day as we stepped out of our vehicles, and the stillness of the evening descended on us as darkness crept in.

Having the luxury of sleeping quarters (after a draw from a hat), five of us organised our “dorms”, while others pitched their tents. We gathered for dinner, met the AWC staff and were briefed about the program for the weekend.

Heading off after breakfast the next day, we split into two teams and began the process of establishing termite activity within certain vegetation zones. Working on four dispersed 20 m trenches per site, dug in the shape of a cross, the teams shared tasks, either digging, or foraging for termites in the overturned soil. Thankfully the trenches were shallow, as the ground was hardened in most areas. Finding termite galleries present, but few termites in them, was a bit disheartening, however, it made us more determined to find them.

It was not until the following day that we discovered more favourable habitat for termites, particularly in the Salmon gum woodland, but on average the collection of vials of termites was lower than the July survey conducted last year. This may be due to the recent hot and dry summer, forcing the termites deeper below ground, beyond the depth of our trenches.

The absence of flies, mosquitoes and ticks, plus milder temperatures made our stay a pleasant one, while the humour, competitive edge and final tally of termite vials on the last transect made one team an outright winner!

It is hoped that the survey will contribute information that will determine the outcome of the proposal to translocate Numbats and other endangered native animals in the future, to a secure area within a sanctuary at Mount Gibson.

Thanks again to the Project Numbat members, their friends, and particularly Jasmine Ferguson for organising us all. A big thanks too to the AWC staff, Jo, a great team leader, Ray, Mark and Fay, who laid on a scrumptious feast on Saturday night.