‘Tree hollows are animal homes’ is a new series of designs inspired by the relationship between the many Australian animal species that use hollows and the trees that provide them. This #3 design includes illustrations of 19 animal species that use hollows in the Eucalypt Woodlands of south-eastern Australia.

Previous designs in the series are #1 Eucalypt Open Forest and #2 Eucalypt Tall Open Forest.

This design is available on posters, art prints and other goodies from my Redbubble store.

Bulk orders of the detailed poster design can be arranged by emailing paula.peeters@paperbarkwriter.com     Click here for wholesale prices.

A simplified version of this design is also available as a Organic Cotton Tea Towel.

The tree featured in this poster is inspired by the River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis. I spent many childhood summers along the Murray River amongst these trees, and those memories no doubt influenced the final illustration!

Hundreds of Australian native animal species use tree hollows for shelter and to raise their young. This is one reason why the conservation of trees is so important for the survival of our native animals. The older and larger the tree, the more likely it is to form hollows. Which means that areas of old-growth forest, and even large, old remnant trees in paddocks, roadsides and backyards, tend to be particularly rich in animal homes.

Animal species tend to use certain hollow types, and some animals are more fussy than others. The illustrations in these designs were informed by the advice and published research of the following experts:

Associate Professor Ross Goldingay, Southern Cross University

Professor Philip Gibbons, Australian National University

Melanie Venz, Senior Zoologist, Queensland Herbarium & Biodiversity Science

Daniel Ferguson, Ecologist, Queensland Herbarium & Biodiversity Science

Professor David Watson, Charles Sturt University

Graham Carpenter, general bird and plant legend of South Australia

All mistakes regarding hollows are my own!

The detailed poster design (below) is also a collaboration with Professor Don Butler, Australian National University, who provided the map and data about the pre-clearing and current extent of Eucalypt Woodland in Australia.

Thank you to everyone mentioned above, and to Dr Ray Carpenter, for your support and interest in this project.

Here is the design:

This design includes illustrations of 19 animal species that use hollows in the Eucalypt Woodlands of south-eastern Australia, a map showing the current and pre-clearing extent of this vegetation type, and ecological information and references.

Above: Close-up of poster text and map.

References:

Gibbons, P.P. and D.D. Lindenmayer 2002 Tree hollows and wildlife conservation in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Australia

Goldingay, R.L. 2009 Wildlife Research 36:394-409

Goldingay, R.L. 2011 Australian Journal of  Zoology 59:277-294

Mackowski, C.M. 1984 pp. 553-67 In: Possums and gliders, Smith & Hume (eds).

Morcombe, M. 2003 Field guide to Australian birds. Steve Parish Publishing, Archerfield.