Consulting Experience

• Extensive Fauna Surveys in relation to development proposals in Perth, the Southwest, Wheatbelt, Goldfields,  Pilbara and Kimberley. Techniques used for these surveys included pitfall traps (for small mammals, reptiles and amphibians), Elliott and cage traps (for mammals) and bird censusing.
• Threatened Species Assessment. The partners of Western Wildlife have been invovled in moinitoring and assessment studies for a range of threatened fauan species such as the endangered Sunset Frog, Chuditch, Short-billed (Carnaby's) Black-Cockatoo and Western Pebble Mound Mouse.
• Site inspections for fauna values. These have taken place in Perth, the Mid-west, Southwest and Wheatbelt regions. These involve a description of the habitat and its importance to fauna, hand searches for reptiles, bird censuses and preparation of a list of fauna expected to occur at the site.
• Long-term Fauna Monitoring. Western Wildlife has been involved with several long term monitoring studies of frog, invertebrate and bandicoot populations for mining clients.
• Bird population studies using bands issued by Environment Australia. Approved to use mist nets. Miss Wilcox and Mr Davis are A-Class banders under the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme.
• Joint Community Studies. We have recently commenced a long-term study of faunal use of remnants and revegetation in the SE wheatbelt of WA. This is a joint study with the local catchment group and will result in solid management-based outcomes.

During the period of Western Wildlife's operation (since June 2000), we have been involved in over 350 contracts, working with a wide range of mining, urban development, industrial and government sector clients. Examples of recent projects we have been involved in include:

• Several targeted searches for threatened fauna species in the east Pilbara
• Fauna survey for proposed mine extension areas in the Kimberley
• Fauna survey for proposed new mine in the Murchison
• Desktop fauna surveys for proposed developments in Perth and the south-west
• Relocation of Bandicoots from proposed developments at Atwell
• Targetted rare fauna surveys for Chuditch and Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo.
• Long-term study of faunal use of revegetation in the SE wheatbelt.
• Translocation of Quendas (Southern Brown Bandicoots) from proposed developments south of Perth.
• Long-term monitoring of frog and invertebrate populations in artificial wetlands created by mining.
• Long-term monitoring of the impacts of ground-water abstraction on frogs of the Gnangara mound wetlands.
• Site inspections of proposed urban developments at various localities such as Red Hill, South Lake, Bullsbrook, Burns Beach, Canningvale, Rockingham, Donnybrook, Mandurah, Neerabup, Mandogalup and Dongara.
• Fauna surveys and assessments of frogs, birds, mammals and reptiles at Clontarf (Bentley), Blackadder Creek (Midland), Kalannie (northern wheatbelt), Jandkot Airport, Koolyanobbing, the Pilbara and Yalgorup.
• Surveys for bird nesting sites at proposed developments near Mandurah.
• Assistance with waterbird surveys at Creery Wetlands.
• Assisting with long-term monitoring of fauna at Cooljarloo near Cataby.
• Assessing the use of landfill sites by Australian Pelicans.
• Analysing data for the East Asia-Australasia Flyway project on migratory waders.
• Assisting in a study of the impacts of human-use on waterbirds of the Swan Estuary Marine Park.

Voluntary Activities

Both partners are actively involved in a voluntary capacity within their field. Jennifer is an active member of the Birds Australia (WA) group committee. She has also been a volunteer at King's Park Botanic Gardens where she was involved with the propagation and updating of the seed collection.

Robert is keen to promote public awareness of native fauna and has contributed to educational initiatives such as a CDROM on Australian Frogs, as well as having given several talks on frogs to schools and community groups. Robert is currently a committee member of the Western Banders Association and Birds Australia (WA) and Program Chair for The Society for Conservation Biology (Australasia).

Education/Bird Guiding

Both partners of Western Wildlife are actively involved in public and student education. Jennifer is a qualified secondary teacher and is involved in environmental education programs for school children at Whiteman Park and in teaching ecology at Murdoch University. Robert has given talks to the general public, community and landcare groups and has taught undergraduate classes in Biology at both Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia. Western Wildlife is available for educational talks, guided bird walks and environmental education.

Both partners of Western Wildlife are expereinced local birdwatchers and are happy to assist visiting birdwatchers with local birding trips. We are not a professional bird tour operator, however, and offer only a small, personalised and informal service for up to 3 birders. Trips can be arranged to a number of regions around Perth. Contact us for more information.

Threatened Fauna Surveys - Chuditch