We are excited to announce a new project for 2026. During this year, Woodend Landcare will discover what animals live in and along Five Mile Creek.

Woodend Landcare has been caring for and revegetating Five Mile Creek through Woodend for 30 years. In many sections, the seedlings planted decades ago are now fully grown. They provide homes and food for a diverse array of animals. We know what plants grow along the Creek. However, we have little idea about what animals have moved into the revegetated habitat.

The aim of this project to discover what animals live in and visit the Five Mile Creek riparian corridor. This information will be logged on the official Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and used to guide future work. If it is decided that specific species need nesting boxes, Woodend Lions and Woodend Men’s Shed have offered to help.

Grant funding provided by the North Central Catchment Management Authority and Landcare Victoria will support this project. A fauna ecologist will be engaged to undertake several surveys. These surveys aim to discover and identify the animals. Survey methods such as spotlighting, harp traps, nest box checking, eBird and eDNA will be used.

Extra funds needed for eDNA sampling

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a high-tech biodiversity sampling method. It involves analysing trace amounts of DNA. This DNA is shed by animals into their surrounding environment, such as the water of Five Mile Creek. eDNA analysis will provide us with a list of species that live near and in the Creek, including vertebrates (fish, mammals, etc) and macroinvertebrates (worms, yabbies, tiny water bugs, etc). Macroinvertebrates are a crucial indicator of water quality. They are near the bottom of the food chain. Therefore, they are food for bigger animals such as fish and platypus.

The eDNA part of the project has come in $3900 over budget, but we consider it an important element of the project. We are therefore seeking donations to help cover the cost. For information, or if you would like to contribute (tax deductions are available), please contact woodendlandcare@gmail.com.

Community Events

As part of the project, we will be running four free community events where you can learn about and help discover animals along Five Mile Creek:

• Sat 18 April – Fauna surveying – Discovering nocturnal animals.
• Fri 9 October – Fauna surveying (Teenagers event). What animals live in our patch? (Spotlighting and more).
• Sat 10 October – Breakfast with the birds. Join us at sun rise to hear and learn about the Woodend dawn chorus.
• Sun 8 November – Project wrap up. What we found, what’s missing and what’s next.

Details will be available on our website and in the Woodend Star closer to the date.

Upcoming Working bees (9 am Sundays):

Thanks to everyone who joined us on Sunday for our first working bee of the year. Our next working bees are:

• 22 February – Five Mile Creek near Crisp St.
• 1 March – Clean Up Australia Event. Meet at Information Centre. BYO gloves, appropriate clothing/shoes and be sun smart.

Our Thursday Crew continue to meet most weeks at various locations around town. Contact woodendlandcare@gmail.com to get your name on the mailing list to find out where to meet.

Hope to see you there!