Nest-box update
Just a brief update on the 14th August post Anyone at home? – our remote camera eventually did record a Tuan (aka Brush-tailed Phascogale) near the nest-box, but unfortunately did not capture it entering or leaving the box.
This adult phascogale has to be a female since all the adult males would have died abruptly from stress-related disease shortly after mating in May/June. We are reluctant to inspect the nest-box at this time, for fear of her abandoning the nest. So the questions remain: is this really her nursery nest site, does she have young in the pouch (there may be up to 8) or are they already at the stage of being left at the nest at night? The gestation is about 30 days and the newborn are permanently attached to the teats for about 7 weeks.
We’ll keep you informed if we get any further pictures, especially of young.
Focus On Fauna 