26 June 2025
Wildlife Queensland is proud to recognise the work of our project officer, Maaike Hofman, whose recent contribution to published research is helping shed light on how artificial hollows can support one of Australia’s most threatened arboreal marsupials, the southern greater glider (Petauroides volans).
The study, published in Ecological Management & Restoration, focused on a bushfire-affected site where the 2019–2020 fires had destroyed critical habitat, including many old, hollow-bearing trees. With tree hollows suitable for greater gliders taking more than 200 years to form, the researchers set out to test whether nest boxes could provide suitable short-term shelter for these heat-sensitive, hollow-dependent animals.
A new home among the ashes
At the site, 30 nest boxes of four different designs were installed. Within just 34 days on average, greater gliders began moving in. Over the course of a year, motion-activated cameras recorded all 30 nest boxes being occupied—a promising sign that gliders are quick to accept artificial refuges, even after fire has devastated their habitat.
Importantly, usage remained consistent across seasons, indicating the gliders were not just exploring the boxes but relying on them year-round. While all designs were used, some performed better than others when it came to internal temperatures.
What gliders revealed about nest box design
The research showed that the best-performing box, made of uninsulated wood, stayed almost 2°C cooler than the outside air on warm days. However, that was still well short of the natural hollows at the same site, which averaged more than 7°C cooler. Notably, gliders were observed perching at the box entrances during hotter periods, probably to regulate their body temperature.
“This research shows that gliders will use artificial hollows, but it also reminds us that nothing beats a real tree hollow for long-term survival,” said Maaike Hofman, Wildlife Queensland project officer and co-author of the study.
Guiding Wildlife Queensland’s conservation work
Although Wildlife Queensland was not involved with the research, the findings are directly relevant to our conservation work. As we continue to install and monitor nest boxes for greater gliders across Queensland, this study provides valuable insights into improving box design and understanding glider behaviour, particularly in a warming climate.
Maaike’s involvement in the study ensures we stay at the forefront of practical, research-backed solutions to help protect and conserve Australia’s vulnerable hollow-dependent fauna. Read the full study here.
What you can do:
- Learn more about Wildlife Queensland’s Queensland Glider Network.
- Support the Queensland Glider Network by adopting a glider.
- Report a glider sighting.
- Download Wildlife Queensland’s A Revegetation Guide to the Threatened Gliders of Southern Queensland.
- Subscribe to our eBulletin Talking Wildlife to learn more about your local wildlife, plus Wildlife Queensland’s latest news, offers and events.