Hi MichE1, If you get the chance, a close up photo of the left and right faces of Rosenberg's Goannas allows the individuals to be identified. Over the years, that will show whether this population is mainly residents (mature RGs are faithful over years to a small home range), or mainly dispersing sub-adults. There have been several records of this species in the last few years in the Birrigai - Tidbinbilla Nat Res area.
Good to know. We see two regularly at Birrigai in different areas so I’ll try to get the close ups. This one is currently living in a rabbit hole and sits watching the kids at campfires very unphased!
Unphased = male. Daytime campfires presumably. In summer they often use rabbit warrens for a few days to weeks. Rabbits leave or are eaten. Sometimes the entrance used by the goanna(s) remains visibly active while the other entrances can be seen to be disused. In about the next 3 weeks they move to a winter burrow which is always self dug, with its entrance beneath a rock. Winter burrows are in places with good solar radiation (eg high on rocky ridge) even if the air is colder. They reappear in about late September. I'm interested to come out to see this one if that would be OK?
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