Fly By Night Nocturnal Invertebrate Surveys at Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve

We are back for the new Fly By Night season!
Participate in our monthly nocturnal surveys that record our observations of invertebrates, mammals, bats, frogs, and more in Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve (formerly Elsternwick Park Golf Course).
Location: Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve
Meet at the YWNA shed, near Elwood bowls club. Parking available inside the gates.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FPVfoNz6HhEG8yvn6
Fly by Night Survey Aims:
-To create a baseline survey of nocturnal invertebrates and other fauna for comparison in longitudinal studies as changes and improvements are made in the reserve.
- To gauge the health of the reserve by the number of species and variation of invertebrates and nocturnal fauna.
How:
We will monitor and record a variety of invertebrate species using specialist equipment - multispectrum lamps and moth sheets.
Species will be photographed and images uploaded onto our iNaturalist project to generate data that will also contribute to citizen science. Please sign up to the iNaturalist app to upload your photographs so we can log our observations for our ongoing biodiversity monitoring www.inaturalist.org And please join our project here: https://www.inaturalist.org/.../yalukit-willam-reserve...
There are several stations in distinct areas of YWNR with an opportunity for movement between stations to observe the different invertebrate species across the reserve. Locations have been revised due to works in the Southern Wetlands.
Small groups will conduct surveys across other areas of the reserve to identify additional nocturnal fauna such as possums, bats, frogs, and fish.
Survey time for the invertebrate stations will be approximately 3hrs if the conditions are favorable - though can extend later.
Please arrive on time for orientation and set up, and you are welcome to stay as long or short as you like thereafter.
Bring:
Warm clothes (loose long sleeves, long pants)
Closed toes shoes
Snacks and water/thermos
Camera/phone with fully charged battery
Torch or head lamp
Insect repellent - in case there are mozzies about (use sparingly)
Optional: Picnic rug or chair if standing for long periods may
be challenging
The dates and times for the 2026/27 season are:
12 September 2026 5:30 pm
10 October 2026 7:00 pm
7 November 2026 7:30 pm
12 December 2026 8:00 pm
9 January 2027 8:15 pm
6 February 2027 8:00 pm
13 March 2027 7:15 pm
10 April 2027 5:30 pm
8 May 2027 5:00 pm
Times are based around the new moon and scheduled approximately 30 minutes prior to sunset to allow time for set up.
Come and meet some of the cutie crawlie critters that call the reserve home!