Create a Lizard Lounge

Create a Lizard Lounge
Paving and concreting and clearing logs have meant a loss of habitat for lizards and skinks. These little creatures are an important part of the biodiversity of the school grounds.
Consider creating a lizard lounge for these little animals. You don’t need a big area but somewhere that gets the morning sun is best. You will need:

• Terracotta pipe (or similar). You can use a log, but remember by moving a log you may be disturbing the home of many other creatures.
• Low growing native plants like Poa grasses to offer protection and food. Lizards particularly like yellow flowering plants so check with the local nursery for some suggestions. .
• Shallow water bowl with rock in the middle. The lizards can sun bake on the rock and use it to access the water.
• Leaf mulch and bark
• Solar light to attract insects

Actvities
Make a 3D model of a lizard lounge.
Do before and after drawings of the area
Try Nature Writing – observe the lizard lounge area and what is happening in the area.
Identify the various species of lizards and insects in the area

For information about lizards and how to create a lizard friendly space check out the following websites:

The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts http://www.environment.gov.au/land/publications/firewood-kit/lizard.html

Museum Victoria
http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/lizards/

Australian Museum
http://www.amonline.net.au/herpetology/