3 Day Wonders of Wildlife Graded: EASY. 2 nights camping. Easy walking.
Day One: Joining time in Bairnsdale is 8.30amand it is here that you meet your guides and fellow travellers. Departing Bairnsdale we drive up the Great Alpine Road following a scenic route along the Tambo River to Tambo Crossing in the foothills. Here we take to bush tracks, making our way along the Haunted Stream valley to the site of the township of Stirling arriving mid morning. It's hard to believe this peaceful bush valley was once the scene of a major gold rush. Camp is established here and you will be introduced to the history of the area with time for some exploration of the stream and historical sites and/or some birdwatching. This afternoon, a discussion of wildlife survey techniques to be used in the next few days, before traps are prepared and set before dusk. After the evening meal a spotlight walk - watching and listening for nocturnal wildlife.
Day Two: Early risers will be rewarded with the joys of the morning sights and sounds of the bush. After breakfast some time will be spent "processing" any wildlife caught in traps last night. Individuals will be identified and statistics noted. Your naturalist guide will also share with you many fascinating facts about the ecology of the various animals. Nocturnal wildlife are vulnerable to predators during daylight hours so captive individuals will not be released until tonight. The rest of the day will be spent mainly concentrating our efforts on frogs, searching along the Haunted Stream and its tributary Tierneys Creek. Skinks are often observed on warmer days and we may be lucky enough to sight a Gippsland Water Dragon basking on sunny rocks near the stream. After dark tonight we are able to release any wildlife caught in last nights traps, a rewarding experience.Tonight, a very special evening sitting high on a hillside watching tiny bats on their evening flyout.Perhaps we’ll hear an owl tonight, or gliders moving through the trees high above the deep ferny gullies.
Day Three: The birds' dawn chorus heralds the arrival of another day and again first task is the checking of traps and processing of wildlife captured. Our activities this morning will depend largely on what was achieved yesterday and on the interests of participants in the group. We may wish to explore a further length of stream hunting for frogs, walk some of the higher hillsides looking for signs of other wildlife or spend time visiting more historic sites. After another leisurely lunch we collect trapping equipment, tally up our wildlife records and pack up camp, leaving the Haunted Stream to return to Bairnsdale.Arrival time in Bairnsdale is approx 3pm
