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On Sunday 19 August 2012, ACT Parks and Conservation Service and fotpin conducted the second kangaroo survey of The Pinnacle Nature Reserve and adjacent lands.

The survey employed the sweep count methodology used in 2011 (see pinnacle sweep count 2011 for details). Two sweep counts were carried out, commencing at 9 am and 1-30 pm, preceded by a detailed briefing from Don Fletcher (ACT PCS). Over the day 47 adults and 4 children volunteered to help with the count, ensuring plenty of help to form a line between Springvale and William Hovell Drives, over a distance of up to 1.7km.

In the morning sweep we counted 666 kangaroos, and in the afternoon 687. An average of these figures was used as the final estimate, giving us a value of 677. This is less than the number estimated from the sweep counts in 2011, which is consistent with the population having been culled by the ACT Government in June 2012, and with the reduced feed available in 2012 compared with 2011 (putting natural pressure on the population).

The size of The Pinnacle kangaroo population will be used by ACT Parks to help make informed management decisions. Fotpin Committee supports this approach - such as conducting kangaroo culls - where this is needed to protect the overall ecological health of the reserve. In addition, the native grass restoration project monitors the effect of grazing on groundlayer biomass and groundlayer species composition and abundance; the annual kangaroo survey has useful inputs to this research.

Many thanks to everyone who participated and their supporting families for making the survey a success.

Some of the Pinnacle's ever-helpful kangaroos line up to be counted on Sunday morning (Photo: David Tongway)
Briefing the morning sweep team (Photo: Susan Cox)	Counters return from the afternoon sweep (Photo: Susan Cox)

Back to Kangaroos on The Pinnacle