Fauna surveys and other consultancies
fauna surveysand other consultancies
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Consultancies with the Araucaria team








Fauna surveys

common dunnartZoologist Ronda J. Green, BSc(Hons), PhD has had extensive experience in ecological  research and fauna surveys  in southeastern Queensland and other areas of Australia. Her son Darren has been assisting since his childhood and a proficient amateur naturalist and handler of animals. Working as a team they can:

We recommend wherever possible at least two visits of at least four days each for most projects, to catch differences between seasons and to increase chances of observing inconspicuous species

Conservation management and other environmental consultancies

Interpretive materials (computer programs, videos, signs, written materials)

Denis Green has written a bird call quiz which has proved very popular at the Lamington Natural History Association's Information Centre at Binna Burra (at the edge of Lamington National Park). Ronda wrote an extensive natural history information program for the same computer, using photos taken by herself, Darren Green and Lesley Hutley (former LNHA president)

Ronda Green has designed a number of nature trails and published 'Guidelines to the Preparation of Nature Trails through the Australian Conservation Foundation. She has had long experience in nature interpretation for all ages, and is currently expanding the displays in the Scenic Rim Wildlife Ecology Centre and associated nature trails on the Araucaria property

We are available for consultation on the development of interpretive materials, including nature trails and computer programs

Musical composition and performanceDarren playing for Arts Trail dinner

Darren Green showed talent for music at an early age when we got our first piano and at age three, barely able to see above the keyboard, he started working out not just simple  melodies but quite complex ones.  He has played violin, guitar and recorder but his favourite instrument is the piano, on which he writes many of his own compositions. He also composes on an electronic keyboard (solar-powered of course) and an Apple computer. He has studied musical composition at tertiary level and gets something akin to withdrawal symptoms if away from a piano for more than a couple of days.  He now performs his own compositions in various public venues.
He is available for performances and for consultation on possibilities for composing music for videos (especially nature videos), games and other projects.

Conservation and animal welfare principles

We have on occasion been asked by developers to 'please don't find anything' on the properties they wish to develop. We ignore these pleas, and do the job we are actually employed to do - to objectively assess the fauna and flora and what impacts any proposed development might have on it.  We believe that this also works to the advantage of the developer when we do not find any pressing reasons for halting or modifying the development - by establishing a reputation for honesty in reporting, a 'go-ahead' by us means more than it would from agents who willingly comply with requests to 'go soft' on the developers.

To do an adequate job that really means something, we recommend a minimum of two surveys, the first starting six months prior to the time the environmental impact assessment is required.  This allows us to look at what animals are present in at least two seasons. All too often the ecologists are called in when only a few weeks are still available, whereas the planning has been in process for months or years, with consultation with engineers and others proceeding well beforehand. A serious assessment of ecological processes and species presence should also begin in the early stages.

See also wildlife conservation and wildlife conservation and tourism

We have official ethics clearance from Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries, and abide by all recommendations to ensure that any impacts on the animals we capture or otherwise encounter in our surveys are minimized.  We would prefer to forgo an identification than to harm or destroy and animal in an attempt to record it. We are mindful that animals sitting in traps waiting for us to check and release them are necessarily under some stress, and we attempt to minimize this by providing. leaf litter and other natural material within the trap, insulating the trap by further leaf litter and bark placed on and around it to shield it from cold at night and sun in the early mornings, and a small food reward beyond that sufficient to initial attraction to make up for the animal being unable to carry out its normal foraging activities through the night. We always check the traps and release animals as soon as possible after dawn. Handling is gentle (with restraint just firm enough to avoid being bitten) and kept to the minimum necessary for identification.

See also animal welfare


Previous consultancies


fauna survey at Knapps Peak northern brown bandicoot on Russell Island 

Rates

Our prices vary with the job and the client. For large corporations, developers etc. we generally charge $660.00 per day, for local government $440, and for conservation groups and other nonprofit $275 (other by negotiation). We may require transport and accommodation fees in addition to this. Darren's musical perormance: $330.00 for the evening (negotiable for nonprofit groups).