Ranger Exchange 2024 - Abbey’s Adventures Update 2

​​​​Ranger Exchange 2024 - Abbey’s Adventures Update 2

Approximately 70 rangers and conservationists recently descended upon the quiet country town of Pinnaroo, for the annual South Australia Ranger Association (SARA) migration.

Located on the South Australia – Victorian border, the migration brings together staff from Parks and Wildlife, SA Water and SA Forestry alongside anyone with an interest in conservation.

The SARA are supporters of the Thin Green Line Foundation and this year to raise funds, an auction was held where, by the end of the night, SARA members had raised over five thousand dollars for the Thin Green Line Foundation.

For the next three days, l had the chance to listen to presentations, get out into the local parks and network with people from across South Australia.

Monday morning kicked off with malleefowl monitoring in the Peebinga Conservation Park.
This was an exciting task as it gave us the opportunity to look for the elusive malleefowl bird and their nests.
Peebinga Conservation Park is the fourth oldest park in SA and has one of the highest breeding populations of malleefowl.
Walking through the bushland here is much easier compared to Tasmania, as there is mostly just open scrub and trees to navigate.

In the afternoon, we learnt about a different type of park called a Dark Sky Reserve, for which the Swan Reach Conservation Park was recently nominated.
A Dark Sky Reserve is an area where the sky is exceptionally dark (Swan Reach is the second darkest in Australia).
The purpose of these areas is to provide a night time reserve for people to go star gazing.
I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about this unique concept and thinking about where it would be possible in Tasmania.

On Tuesday, l chose to go four-wheel driving along the Border Track in the Ngarkat Conservation Park – one of SA's most iconic 4WD tracks. The Border Track, as the name suggests, runs down the SA/VIC border between two parks. During the drive, we discussed the management of the track and the importance of volunteer support to maintain tracks.

Wednesday was to be a day of presentations. With topics ranging from restoration and ecology to dingos and compliance. The dingo presentations were particularly interesting to me as we do not have them in Tassie, whereas they are relatively common over here.
​It was interesting to learn about dingo behaviour, genetics and a variety of management techniques.

Overall, this week has provided an epic opportunity to meet people from various parks that l would not normally have the opportunity to meet and also to get out and explore the northeast of South Australia (including standing on the Victorian border!)

The SARA event was incredibly well organised and provides valuable support to rangers and opportunities for everyone to be involved. 

Ranger Exchange 2024 - Abbey’s Adventures Update 1​

I hit the ground running with a field trip into the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area.

The meaning of the Nullarbor means 'no arbour' or 'no trees' and this could not have been more correct! For as far as l could see, the landscape did not contain a single tree. The semi-arid environment has shallow, poor quality soil which makes it difficult for even shrubs to establish.

As a keen wildlife spotter, l kept tally of the various wildlife I could see in this harsh landscape.
l saw red kangaroos, bustard birds (also referred to as bush turkeys), dingos, pink cockatoos, and southern rights whales.

While in Ceduna, l am focusing on learning about the co-management agreements that are in place across South Australia. Heading out to the Nullarbor would help to build up my understanding of the agreements.

For this trip l was joined by a Traditional Owner, an arachnologist and two senior rangers.
The purpose of this field trip was to inspect the condition of some ancient caves, discuss the new interpretive signage being placed at the Koonolda Homestead and assess sites along the Bunda Cliff line for future projects.

On the way home, we stopped in at the Head of the Bight Visitor Centre to see the whales and calves that have ventured into the Bight and become 'residents' for the next five months.
This was an incredible experience, as there is so much to take in between the view of the cliff-lines and the whales playing and splashing in the water.

At the end of the week, l took off to the Gawler Ranges to assist with wildlife surveying and feral pest management. The Gawler Ranges were a similar landscape to the Nullarbor, however there was now mallee like vegetation and hills! The mountain ranges here could not be any more different from the mountains of Tasmania.

One week down and this trip has included several 'I can't believe l am here for work' moments. This is going to be an incredible, immersive experience that l am already learning so much from. I am doing my best to soak up the information (and the sunshine) to bring back home with me.

More to come.