Men’s Shed boxes give wildlife a home

Megan Johnston, Dr Zafer Sarac and Peter Baum with nesting boxes built by the Nambour Men’s Shed.

Native birds and mammals left short of safe nesting hollows are getting a helping hand from the Nambour Men’s Shed, where members are building purpose-made nesting boxes for wildlife carers and local restoration projects.

The native animal nesting box project was started by Dr Zafer Sarac and Peter Baum in response to the loss of old-growth trees with hollows suitable for native birds and mammals.

The project involves making nesting boxes for sale at the Nambour Men’s Shed shop, as well as supporting organisations such as the RSPCA and other non-profit wildlife restoration groups.

The Men’s Shed’s contribution is often provided in-kind, with members offering their woodworking skills, knowledge of nest box designs and, at times, materials.

One of the shed’s recent collaborations was with the RSPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre at Eumundi, where boxes were needed for common brushtail possums, short-eared possums and gliders.

A first round of 12 boxes was constructed and delivered, with RSPCA’s Megan Johnston managing the collaboration.

The project highlights the practical role community groups can play in helping native wildlife, particularly as older habitat trees are lost from the landscape.