Do you have one or more nest boxes on your property? Have you done an annual health check on your nest box this year? It is important to monitor new and existing nest boxes on your property to negate problems that may arise with termite activity and/or pest species (such as the establishment of European honeybee hives). It is also a good opportunity to see if your boxes have any roosting or nesting residents that have taken up residence on your property.

There are some easy ways to identify if your nest box has been in use recently including the following signs:

• Parrot box: Chewed edges of the round hole openings can be a sign of parrot use.

• Possum box: Scratch marks on the tree trunk and nest box exterior may mean a possum or arboreal mammal is using the nest box, or perhaps a monitor/goanna has been visiting the box. In addition, you may notice oily residue around the opening/entry of the box. This residue can be a sign that a possum or glider is using the box and entering and exiting the box frequently.

• Microbat box or other microbat specific habitat installation: You may find scats and pellets beneath the box after some regular occupancy occurs. If the box is in a position where you can see up through the base, you can shine a red light up into the box to see if there are any microbat’s roosting during the daytime.

If you spot a local critter using a nestbox on your property, share your photos of nest box inhabitants on iNaturalist for your chance to win a copy of Nest boxes for Wildlife: A practical guide by Alan and Stacey Franks!

If you’re interested in building and installing your own nest box you can also find basic designs and guidance here: Building and Installing a Nestbox (wildlife.org.au).