The Arbortech team remove branches from a large Sugar Gum that had been dropping limbs uncontrollably at Rostrevor College. Rather than remove this dangerous specimen, the college accepted our proposal to create a habitat tree.

Lee McCormick working hard on the first stage of the process to the creation of an artificial spout. This hollow would most likely be used by Duck species.

Matt Lyon, splitting out sections of wood from inside the stem to eventually establish the new hollow. Hollows such as this form naturally over many decades in stem that are storm damaged and decayed. We hope this work will dramatically boost habitat values and breeding numbers in the area.

Michael Potts working on the tree using rope and harness. Limb removal points are shaped using a variety of techniques to reproduce the appearance of storm failures. This technique also hastens the natural decay process by providing suitable niches for a wide range of wood decaying micro-organisms.

Ample space is needed inside of the hollow for the larger parrots to successfully breed. In this case a hollow is being made for Galahs by cutting out numerous blocks of wood from the main trunk.

The Galah hollow is now almost complete. Only a few timber blocks remain. The size of the floor area of the hollow influences how many chicks some species of bird will raise. In the case of Galahs this is usually only 1 or 2.

With the hollow and faceplate complete the cover is fastened in place. The location of the entrance hole and size of the opening are critical factors to successful occupation.

This hollow on a side limb was being made for Adelaide Rosellas. Only one breeding pair of Rosellas will be found in a single tree, even if many hollows are present.

Fastening the cover plate of the hollow securely and with minimal gaps is the final stage in creating a successful hollow for wildlife.

Encouraging large birds to nest demands suitably large spaces in the correct locations. In this case the target species was the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo. The hollow was around 8m above the ground. The creation of large internal cavities requires considerable effort and skill on the part of the Arborists involved.

In the final step the large faceplate for the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo hollow is being attached. The spatial relationship between the opening and the base of the hollow is an important factor that must be taken into account when creating suitable nesting hollows.

This space just seems made for a small bird such as an Australian Ringneck. Matty Lyon, one of the Arbortech team crafted it with consummate skill in the curving section of the limb.

Attaching another face plate high in the tree. The uninterrupted lines of the branch after the work is completed mean the hollow is virtually unnoticeable from the ground unless you know its there.

At 15m above the ground and with few possible anchor points, the only way this sort of work can be completed safely is from an elevated work platform. The remaining surrounding trees have very few hollows but provide a great setting for the new habitat tree.

The team take a break at the end of the day to admire their handiwork. It would take another 50 years or more to gain this many hollows (10 in total) for a wide range of wildlife in the one tree. By all accounts birds were arguing over the hollows almost immediately.