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  • Monitoring Projects

Overview

Gluepot has almost 100 permanent biodiversity sites that are monitored by our experienced volunteers for vegetation, birds, mammals and reptiles. Information collected through these surveys help inform managers of the effectiveness of our management programs, particularly feral animal control and fire management. The success of Gluepot’s careful and strategic management programs serve as an important model for other reserves.
Permanent biodiversity sites include
• 75 Bird Atlassing sites in all vegetation communities and varying distances from artificial water points. Each of these Atlas sites has been accurately mapped and surveyed for vegetation.
• 52 permanent pitfall lines are established at atlas sites.
• 7 Malleefowl 2 km x 1 km grids surveyed annually for active mounds and any other evidence of malleefowl activity. Data is submitted to the National Malleefowl Monitoring Database.
• 36 permanent photopoint sites with 30 x 30 m quadrats and 4 x 100 m transects established by Flinders University for detailed vegetation surveys at atlas sites.
• 12 South Australian Pastoral Board 4 x 100 transects for vegetation surveys.

Bird Atlassing

The Atlas is one of BirdLife Australia’s greatest resources, allowing us to track changes in birds across the country. Since 1998 a dedicated band of over 7000 atlassers have amassed over 420,000 surveys, comprising over 7.1 million bird records.

Unlike most Atlases conducted around the world which collect data in grids, observers are asked to give the precise coordinates of where they undertook their survey. Knowing this information adds greatly to the value of the data and allows observers to go back to that precise location and conduct repeat surveys. With large numbers of observers collecting data, the Atlas provides a good insight into the changes in bird populations over time.

Atlassers have many opportunities to contribute, be it through repeat surveys or as part of general atlassing. The continued growth of the Atlas project depends upon the enthusiasm of existing Atlassers and the recruitment of new observers. With the new, improved and easy-to-use Birdata web portal now available, it’s simple to submit your bird surveys. A free Birdata mobile app for Apple and Android users is now available from app stores. Clink Here to Register.

Atlassing at Gluepot
For the duration of BirdLife Australia’s nation-wide Atlas Project (1998-2002), Gluepot was the most ‘atlassed’ site in the country. The data has been analysed specifically for Gluepot and hence it is an ideal location to continue monitoring and build up a long-term picture of fluctuations in bird diversity.

Following the 2006 fire, that destroyed approximately 8,000ha in the Birdseye Block, additional atlas sites were added in the burnt areas to monitor vegetation and fauna responses. Gluepot has the highest concentration of Atlassed sites in Australia with 75 permanent sites regularly monitored by a team of volunteers. Please contact the Reserve if you would like to take part in these surveys.

Drones and Cameras

Gluepot conducts a comprehensive program of monitoring and research involving drones and stealth cameras.

The drone is used for checking Malleefowl mounds in our seven grids
We are able to fly over each mound early in the season and take a photo to show us if the mounds are being prepared for the season. If the mound shows activity we are then able to place cameras on the mound to gather photos and data for the full season

The stealth cameras have proved invaluable in collecting data and photos of the Malleefowl activity throughout the breeding cycle. They have shown us the procedure the pair uses to prepare and monitor the mound

We can monitor the quantity of eggs laid, the interval between each egg being laid, and the interval between each chick hatching

We also have seen how the Malleefowl parents react with each other during the season and are able to see what vermin and fauna visit the mound

The cameras are also used at our bird hides on the water troughs giving us important data on species and activity.

Diesel Dam 2015

Diesel Dam 2020