September 11th, 2026Hepburn Wildlife News by Marita McGuirk

Where have all the tree hollows gone?
One of the problems faced by our native birds at this time of year is the lack of good, safe nesting sites. We may look at our forests and think that there are a lot of trees growing, but they are mostly relatively young trees that have not yet formed the nesting hollows required by birds and other wildlife such as sugar gliders, possums and antechinus.
Before white colonisation there were many more large hollow-bearing trees, but there has been a huge change in the vegetative cover of the landscape and most of these trees were cut down many years ago.
You may sometimes see the remnant stumps of these old trees in the forest and there are still some magnificent living examples on farms and roadsides.
An important fact is that offsetting the clearing of old growth forests and remnant patches of hollow-bearing mature trees with tree plantings, is no substitute for the loss of vital hollows for breeding and shelter. Especially considering that the formation of hollows in trees can take from 100 to 300 years.
The loss of these important places of animal refuge has resulted in birds looking for nesting sites in very odd places (see photo). The Hepburn Wildlife Shelter has four wood ducks in care that went down a chimney looking for nesting space, as well as several rosellas that sought out inappropriate nesting sites.
The right type of hollow is critical, and safety is often a main concern, as birds want to ensure that a predator cannot enter the hollow. Distance from the ground and proximity to food and water sources is also important.
The website Nest Box Tales contains excellent information on the construction of nesting boxes for all different species of birds, and provides links to nest box designs developed by a number of Australian organisations.
Link: www.nestboxtales.com
Wires also has important information on tree hollows for birds.
www.wires.org.au/wildlife-information/tree-hollows-for-wildlife

Dr Marita McGuirk is a field ecologist and environmental scientist, and a volunteer at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. Marita writes monthly columns about the shelter and the animals it cares for. If you would like to donate or volunteer, or just to find out more information, head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org