What good are woodwork projects? Well, they can be good for many things, but one which I would not first consider is environmental preservation. According to an article entitled Workshops aid phascogales from the online version of the Southwest Australian newspaper The Wagin Argus, a woodwork project is being used to build nestboxes for the endangered phascogales, a marsupial native to the region. This easy woodworking project has aided the endangered animals and helped preserve the environment.
The project involves building simple wooden boxes which the phascogales use as nests. Workshops on how to build the nestboxes were given in the area by local woodworker Arthur Kershaw, who is also interested in helping the phascogale. He designed the boxes to be constructed almost entirely out of recycled materials and simple enough to be done in anyone’s woodshed using mainly handheld tools. Blueprints for the boxes have been made with the possibility of future workshops if there is demand for them. The need for them has arisen out of trapping and a lack of old eucalypt hollows in which the phascogales can nest.
The red-tailed phascogale, which is the species that this woodwork project is helping, is a small marsupial native to Western Australia. They are tree-dwelling, nocturnal, and only weigh one to two and a half ounces. In addition to habitat loss due to agricultural development, another possible reason for their endangerment is predation by cats and foxes.
I think this is a great example of how woodwork projects can be used to preserve the environment. The extinction of any species is a tragedy and this simple action is helping to avoid that for the red-tailed phascogale. It also shows the beauty of working in an organic medium such as wood — it fits in perfectly with the environment with no adverse effects. These nestboxes are helping to ensure a strong population of phascogales in the region for future generations.
A simple, low tech woodwork project has proven to be a great help to preserving an endangered species in Western Australia. This is just one more reason to get involved in the exciting and noble craft.
While building the nesting boxes has certainly served its purpose, commercial nesting logs are available at many local gardening outlets nowadays. I have used these successfully for especially barbets found in our area.
 |
Easy-to-Build Backyard Projects (Home Improvement) (English and English Edition) List Price: Sale Price: $3.90  |
DescriptionFor any do-it-yourselfer, nothing is more rewarding than completing a project that’s not only functional, but also makes a welcome addition to the home. Among these projects, outdoor furniture has always been a DIY favorite... |
 |
Outdoor Woodwork: 16 Easy-To-Build Projects for Your Yard & Garden List Price: Sale Price: $9.99 |
DescriptionThere's more to a cultivated country spread or city terrace garden than the plants. People increasingly see their gardens as outdoor rooms, and they want to furnish and decorate them as attractively and comfortably as any other part of the home... |
 |
Easy Carpentry Projects for Children (Dover Children's Activity Books) List Price: Sale Price: $2.38 |
DescriptionThis unique woodworking primer teaches boys and girls age 7 and up basic carpentry skills through easy-to-make projects: bird feeder, sailboat, tie rack, flower box , and 11 more. Young carpenters will beam with pride at having constructed useful objects to keep or give as gifts... |
 |
Woodwork Pattern Book: 80 Projects to Make By Hand List Price: Sale Price: $16.38 |
DescriptionThis inspirational source book contains over 100 practical wood-based projects that can be made by hand. Each task detailed helps you to develop your woodworking skills, not through a series of exercises, but by making objects that—whether simple or more advanced—are useful and well designed... |
 |
Step-By-Step Woodwork Projects: Over Twenty Practical Projects For Your Home Sale Price: $21.32 |
DescriptionMake professional-looking furniture for your home--on your very own! Choose from over 20 projects: key racks, a hall stand, an elegant glass coffee table, a child's bed/desk unit, and many more handsome pieces... |
 |
The Weekend Woodworker's Project Collection: 40 Projects for the Time-Challenged Craftsman List Price: Sale Price: $13.91 |
DescriptionPick a Project, Finish It in a Weekend Do you have time only during weekends to immerse yourself in your woodworking? If so, then The Weekend Woodworker's Project Collection is for you. This book has 40 projects from which to choose and, depending on the level of your woodworking skills, any of them can be completed in one or two weekends... |
 |
Humorous Country Characters for Woodcarvers: Step-by-Step Instructions for 22 Projects (Woodwork Series) List Price: Sale Price: $2.50 |
DescriptionHere is a rich assortment of comical caricatures for intermediate and advanced whittling enthusiasts. 22 imaginative projects include Bronco Ben, Baccarat Jack, The Tijuana Kid and 19 other hilarious characters... |
 |
The Big Book of Weekend Woodworking: 150 Easy Projects (Big Book of ... Series) List Price: Sale Price: $11.69 |
DescriptionEvery woodworker will want to own this colorful, information-packed, mammoth resource for weekend crafting. It's filled with 150 classic projects, and features an introductory section that walks readers through the various planning stages... |
Incoming search terms:
Related posts:
