Ecology intern finds rare field work opportunity on Yorke Peninsula
Self-proclaimed ‘bird nerd’, ecology student Noah Morris is gaining hands-on experience in a unique rewilding project with the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board.
Now in his final year of his Bachelor of Science (Wildlife Conservation Biology) degree at the University of Adelaide, Noah first became involved with the Landscape Board in 2024, when he volunteered to monitor brush-tailed bettongs on southern Yorke Peninsula as part of the Marna Banggara project.
Marna Banggara, an ambitious project that aims to restore southern Yorke Peninsula’s landscape, is jointly funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
Inspired by his initial experience, Noah reached out again this year to take part in the project as an intern.
“It’s just such a unique experience,” he said.
“Doing this – seeing these animals in this part of the world – is something you just don’t typically get to do.”
In October, Noah took part in an intensive two-week program to monitor the population of brush-tailed bettongs, known as yalgiri to Narungga people.
The process includes trapping the marsupials, recording biological and ecological data, and assessing their population health.
Toward the end of his internship, Noah will help analyse the data collected, which is vital to deepening the understanding of the local bettong population.
While deeply engaged with this bettong-related work, Noah’s passion for birds is never far from view.
With binoculars in hand, he was on the lookout for bird life throughout the monitoring sessions and said he is glad to be surrounded by people who share similar passions for the local wildlife.
“This project has been such a great experience, and to do it with people just as interested in nature as I am has been really amazing. I’m learning so much from being in the field.”
Looking ahead, Noah hopes to stay involved in hands-on conservation projects after graduating and is excited about future opportunities in ecology and wildlife protection.
For more information about the Marna Banggara project, please go to www.marnabanggara.com.au, or contact the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board on 8841 3444.
