Nesting boxes providing homes for native animals across Maribyrnong

Published on 06 March 2023

This April, we’re offering residents the opportunity to help us support and expand the thriving urban ecosystem in our City made up of a range of incredible native plants and animals.

Council has installed 50 nesting boxes – small wooden houses providing shelter for Maribyrnong wildlife – across 13 of our parks and reserves - designed to attract a range of animals, including ringtail possums, bushtail possums and microbats.

We’re now looking for homes for an additional 60 nesting boxes for installation in resident’s backyards providing more safe places for these animals to nest as part of a program with the community and the environment at its heart.

Each box is handmade by members of the Men’s Shed in Braybrook – a community program offering the opportunity to develop a range of skills, and make new friends along the way. Students from Footscray High School will also be painting some of the boxes.

There are two types available – one is made from old tree logs that are formed to mimic a natural growth with a hollow in the centre for the animal to call home, and the other, made from plywood looks like a small house with a hole for the animal to crawl through.

Council also runs a range of engaging environmental workshops and activities for schools and childcare facilities in the City of Maribyrnong, such as the Junior Rangers Program, where children learn about local wildlife and take a look inside some of our nesting boxes using our telescopic camera.

The resident nesting boxes will be allocated on a first in, best dressed basis providing applicants meet the selection criteria – which largely revolves around space, tree cover and location. Ideally a garden close to a water source such as a river or creek and a large tree to secure the nesting box to.

To find out more and express your interest in hosting a nesting box visit: www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/nesting-box-program

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