Nocturnal Neighbours: A Night in the Strathbogie Forest

On Saturday 5 July, a group of nature lovers gathered at Barjarg in the Strathbogie Forest for our latest Nocturnal Neighbours spotlighting event—and what a beautiful evening it turned out to be.

With torches in hand, we set out into the forest with the hope of spotting some of our elusive arboreal (tree-dwelling) wildlife. It was lovely to welcome some new faces to the group, along with a few familiar ones who have joined us before. These events are always a chance to slow down, tune into nature, and share the excitement of wildlife discovery with others.

As we made our way through the bush, we were lucky enough to spot some ringtail possums going about their night time routines, along with a Krefft’s glider high up in a tree. A couple of white-winged chough mud nests also caught our attention, cleverly constructed high in the branches—evidence of past breeding seasons and the cooperative nature of these unique birds.

But the highlight of the night came right at the end of our walk. As we paused and scanned the treetops a southern greater glider was spotted! This beautiful, fluffy-tailed glider is a real treat to see in the wild—slow-moving, elusive, and a strong indicator of healthy forest habitat. Everyone stood quietly, watching in awe as it moved gently through the trees.

The Strathbogie Forest is home to an incredible diversity of nocturnal species, many of which depend on old, hollow-bearing trees and undisturbed habitat. Events like these help build awareness and appreciation for the unique creatures that come alive after dark—and remind us how important it is to protect the places they call home.

Thank you to all who joined us for this special evening, and for making our Nocturnal Neighbours events such a success. We are looking forward to the next walk in August—keep an eye out for details, and don’t forget to bring your sense of adventure!

Up2Us Landcare Alliance was a grant recipient of the 2025 Bendigo Bank – Community Bank Mansfield & District ‘Community Impact Program’, making this event possible.

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