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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 south-eastern 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:
  • produce a  list of mammals, birds, reptiles, frog  and other fauna of a given site (given constraints of time available for data collection)
  •  habitats and seasons within a site or between sites
  • provide a detailed report with interpretation of the ecological roles, species interactions and conservation implications of what has been found
  • offer advice on on-going management, development restrictions or modifications, habitat enhancement, monitoring, nature interpretation or further investigations

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

  • General environmental impact assessment of a site (which may or may not include a fauna survey as outlined above)
  • Providing advice as to whether certain developments are compatible with biodiversity conservation and whether any threatened species or communities are involved
  • Assessment of nature interpretation possibilities of a site to be used for ecotourism

Nature Interpretation products/services (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 interpr
etation 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 minimised.  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 minimise 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, e.g.
  • Fauna surveys:
    • For large corporations we generally charge $660.00 per day (including GST and reasonable travel),
    • for local government and small businesses $440, and
    • for conservation groups and other non-profit $275 (other by negotiation, or barter - e.g. assist with some of our weed removal). 
If more than 40km from home or from Brisbane, we may require transport and budget accommodation fees in addition to the above, but are also willing to camp on or near some properties, with permission. Accommodation (or camping) cuts down travelling time and costs. Also, when we set mammal traps we need to be reasonably close, not only to check traps as soon as possible after dawn but  to quickly remove them if conditions suddenly change (e.g.prediction of flash flooding or bushfires).
  • Darren's musical performance: $330.00 for the evening (negotiable for non-profit groups).