Carnarvons BioBlitz Expedition
There are pockets of the Carnarvon Ranges in Queensland that are still remote and rarely visited. The Upper Dawson area at the southern end of the ranges within the Wallaroo private property is one such area where native biodiversity and rare creatures thrive with little human disturbance.
The Boobook ecological team and guests recently completed a ‘bioblitz’ in this hard-to-access region to document the rich flora and fauna.
With 15 ecologists and volunteers we hiked and clambered through 10 square kilometres of sandstone woodlands, riverine waterholes, vine thickets, caves and canyons, extending beyond the boundaries of our 2019 expedition.
The bioblitz involved four days (and evenings) of methodical exploration from a base at the Wallaroo Outback Retreat and included observations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and several invertebrate groups including land/freshwater snails, butterflies, dragonflies and other aquatic insects. Methods included turtle trapping, bat trapping, spotlighting, fish surveys and plant collecting.
A wonderland with numerous rare species
The expedition revealed healthy and diverse ecosystems within the different habitats. We recorded more than 200 species of plants, 60 species of bird, 30 species of mammals, 22 species of reptiles, eight species of amphibians and four species of fish. There were also at least 15 species of molluscs and seven species of dragonflies and damselflies.
Exciting finds included federal- and state-listed threatened species such as Greater Glider, Glossy Black-Cockatoo and Large-eared Pied Bat.
The information we have gathered will increase our understanding and enable us to help protect the priceless biodiversity in these upper reaches of one of Queensland’s most important river systems. This region is a vital sanctuary for our native fauna and flora.
Once all of our data is collated, we will produce a report and donate significant specimens to biological institutions such as the Queensland Museum and Herbarium.
Thank you to our partners and volunteers
We extend a warm thank you to Wallaroo Outback Retreat for accommodating our stay and our friends who volunteered their time.
Expression of interest in our next BioBlitz Expedition
If you are interested in joining our next bioblitz, please visit our Boobook Explore Carnarvons BioBlitz Expedition page for more information and fill out the expression of interest form in the right hand margin.
If you would like to discover more about the region of southwest Outback Queensland we call home, please check out our eco-friendly tours on the Boobook Explore website.
