A DIVERSE group is leading surveys and activities at the Mimosa Rocks Bioblitz.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
One such person is 18-year-old Harrison Warne, an Eden Marine High School student who is the youngest survey leader at the Mimosa Rocks Bioblitz and will be leading groups in search of reptiles.
His surveys will be looking for lizards and snakes, by methods such as trapping.
A tarp will be laid on the ground, and small traps placed along it so when the reptile finds the tarp they will travel along it until they fall into a trap.
Possible snakes those surveying will encounter include the common death adder, which is common around Doctor George Mountain but rarely seen, red-bellied black snakes, diamond pythons, small eyed snakes and mustard bellied snakes.
Lizards that could be seen include lace monitors, Gippsland water dragons or yellow-bellied water skinks.
“I’ve been pretty passionate about reptiles my whole life,” Mr Warne said.
“I think it’s because how misunderstood they are.”
He himself owns a bearded dragon and a children’s python.
Mr Warne first started researching when doing work experience with ecologist Steve Sass, and has since been involved with Bournda Environmental Education Centre through school and worked at the bioblitz in the Panboola Wetlands, which went “really well”.
He is also interested in photography, and will be taking photographs at the Mimosa Rocks Bioblitz to use for classification purposes.
Participants who want to help out on Mr Warne’s project don’t need to prepare unduly for the day.
“Me and another man should have everything under control, but if they are going to do the surveys they need protective shoes, sun protection, and not to be scared of snakes,” he said.
RELATED COVERAGE