All quiet in Yarra State Forest (VIC)

[David M]

I visited the Ada Tree in Yarra State Forest last Sunday and was quite surprised at how quiet it is after sunset. Presumably the diurnal animals retire and it takes a while before the nocturnal animals become active. Even after the nocturnal animals became active however, there was very little activity, just some frogs, possums and a few other things. Generally, it was surprisingly quiet.

Any thoughts on why it is so quiet?

[icefest]

... because all Australian megafauna is extinct and the rest are well on their way too?

Honestly, I think it's just too close to civilisation and the forest has been disturbed too recently.

[MickyB]

I have often been in Sherbrooke Forest at night and it can also be quiet. Possums, owls and frogs are commonly heard but not much else. Occasionally you hear twigs/branches breaking from wallabies jumping through the scrub. A couple of times I have also heard bats. Common sense, but the quieter you are the more chance you'll have of seeing/hearing animals. A tip I learnt years and years ago for seing nocturnal animals was to cover your torch with red cellophane as most nocturnal animals can't see red.