"Since the beginning of the program the Aboriginal bushfire recovery rangers have installed nearly 500 nesting boxes," Chris Sheed OAM, TIDE program manager said.

"Many of the nest boxes have been constructed by the Men's Sheds at Old Bar and Tuncurry, whilst others have been provided by MidCoast Council, Forestry Corporation of NSW and a local producer.

"These nesting boxes provide vital habitat for a range of species including arboreal mammals such as gliders and various bird species.

Related: Caring for Country

"The nest boxes are replacing just some of the many nesting and denning hollows that were lost during the fires when many old hollow bearing trees collapsed. It is well known that it can take between a 150 and 200 years for hollows of sufficient size for wildlife to develop in eucalypts.

"In addition to installing hundreds of nest boxes, the rangers have completed extensive wildlife surveys using cameras and other techniques including scat analysis and spotlighting.

"The rangers have also undertaken extensive post fire weed control works including the removal of ludwigia, an invasive aquatic weed which has spread to some coastal areas to the south of Taree.

"They have also completed vertebrate pest surveys to determine the occurrence of feral pests such as foxes, cats and wild dogs," Mr Sheed said.

"I am very happy to see our Rangers out on Country and learning so much," Uncle John Clark OAM, TIDE CEO said.

The TIDE Aboriginal bushfire recovery rangers commenced in 2020 with funding from the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture Water and Environment. This round of funding was provided by the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

To learn more about TIDE's work visit www.tide.org.au.

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