The Suburban Shingleback

Site Analysis - Habitat Quality and Movement

Legend

Low Quality Habitats

High Quality Habitats

Water Sources

Verges

Unimproved Land

Suburban Backyards

Tiliqua rugosa Sightings

Predator Sightings

Tiliqua rugosa Movement Range

Predation

-Kookaburras

-Brown Falcons

-Snakes

Bobtails are vulnerable to predation to natural predators such as snakes, Kookaburras and Falcons. The site has many low quality habitats that provide little shelter from these predators.

Introduced Threats

-Vehicles

-Bicycles

-Cats and Dogs

Bobtails are slow creatures that are not able to get out of the way of cars and bicycles while they are basking on roads and pavements. They are also vulnerable to predation by dogs and cats that live in the suburbs. The Bobtails are also vulnerable to poaching.

Lack of Resources

-Low Quality Habitats

-Contaminated Sites

-Dangerous Water Sources

The site has lost large areas of vegetation due to urbanisation and development. There are also multiple contaminated sites and unimproved land in the area. These provide little resources and shelter for the Bobtails. Water sources include the Swan RIver, Suburban Swimming Pools and deep lakes by the shore. These water sources pose a threat to the Bobtails as they are unable to swim and will drown if they fall into them.

Safe Basking and Shelter from Threats

Bobtails are cold blooded reptiles that need access to warm basking areas to regulate their body temperature. Currently, the most significant cause of mortality to the Bobtails is due to roadkill as roads are a common basking area.

There is an opportunity to provide safe basking areas for the Bobtails with heat absorbing materials with access to sunlight.

Shelter from Threats and Access to Resources

As the site is located in a suburban area, there is the presence of threats such as falcons, snakes, domestic dogs and cats that harm the Bobtails out of fun or to eat. Young Bobtails are especially vulnerable to these threats.

It may be beneficial to create safe spaces for both adult and young bobtails to take shelter from these threats and gain access to safe water and food

Increasing Human Awareness

The Bobtail is a creature that is adored by people, however, the populace is unaware of the dangers and challenges that the Bobtail face.

There is an opportunity to generate human empathy and educate them about how they can help these little critters out.

Providing Safety.

-Addition of sub-surface tunnels for crossing roads. -Addition of rocks, logs and burrows for shelter.

-Converting backyards into Bobtail friendly habitats.

Improving the habitat quality of low quality areas and Connecting patches of high quality habitats.

-Improving planting in low quality habitat areas. -Addition of shallow water sources.

-Reducing off-leash dog areas in high quality habitat areas.

Generating human empathy through educational trails and Bobtail themed structures.

-Providing a educational and habitat connection from the Jirdarup Bushland to the Swan River.

-Construction of Bobtail sculptures along trails.

The overall strategy of the design is to create an ecological connection from the Jirdarup Bushland to the Derbarl Yerrigan for the Bobtail, connecting the 2 high quality habitats. Key moves include:

1. Reduction of off-leash dog areas.

2. Enhancing low quality habitats to high quality habitats.

3. Connecting high quality habitats.

4. Enhancement of backyards for Bobtails.

The Educational BobTrail travels around the site and stop at Points of Interests at several educational institutions where students can learn about Bobtails.

The connection from Jirdarup Bushland to Derbarl Yerrigan goes in a straight line for the fastest route possible for Bobtails through repurposed private backyards, hence the name Shingleback-Yard Trail.

The Planting Strategy for the site will depend on the vegetation systems present. Plant species are selected according to the below conditions:

1. Flowering colors of a range from yellow-red year round for Bobtail feeding.

2. Plants suited for the various vegetation systems.

3. Range of plant species with different habits and heights.