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In this issue we’ll take a close look at how to go about creating
a welcoming environment for native birds in your garden. In future issues
of PAWS, we’ll be focusing on frogs, reptiles, insects and mammals.
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The
brightly coloured Crimson Rosella is still a frequent visitor to
backyards where there are plenty of mature trees and a variety of
seeds, berries, blossoms and nectar to feed on.
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Australia has a wonderful
diversity of bird life, and as visitors to your garden they bring colour,
personality and music, not to mention free pest control! We have also
been foolish enough to introduce many non-native species such as indian
mynahs and sparrows, which will happily strut their stuff in your garden
given half a chance. How then to encourage the former while discouraging
the latter?
Plants
decide the menu
The first and most
important thing to consider is the plant selection. Whether the native
birds in your area feed on seeds, fruit, nectar, insects or small animals,
the plants in your garden play a major role in deciding the menu. Today,
many local councils provide information on local plant species and can
help source seedlings – some progressive councils even provide them
for free!
- Seed-eaters will
benefit from native grasses such as kangaroo and wallaby grass, as well
as some rushes including lomandra and juncus. Native parrots such as
rosellas love the seeds of she-oaks. Bottlebrushes and bush peas are
also attractive to seed-eaters.
- Nectar-loving
birds have a wide selection, with grevilleas, banksias, paperbarks,
bottle-brushes, tea-trees and angophoras being good providers. A point
to note here is to avoid hybrid grevillea varieties as their constant
supply of nectar will tend to encourage noisy miners who will dominate
your garden with their territorial behaviour, chasing away other birds
large and small.
- Attracting insects
is a great way of increasing the variety of bird life in your garden.
Butterflies, moths, beetles, caterpillars, spiders and others all provide
food for many bird groups. Many honeyeaters rely on insects to feed
their nestlings on a high-protein diet. Insect-attracting plants include
wattle, hakea, melaleuca, leptospermum, banksia and bush peas. Larger
birds such as kookaburras and magpies also love a meal of a fat, juicy
insect. Leaf litter, compost and rotting logs will provide a regular
source of these treats.
Creature
comforts for native birds
Now that the menu
has been taken care of, the birds must be made to feel comfortable. Shelter
from predators is a key consideration.
- Smaller birds
such as wrens will love the thicket created by many ferns, blackthorn
and the more densely foliaged acacias. They also provide a nesting environment,
as well as a welcome escape from the likes of the noisy miner.
- Larger birds
will appreciate tree branches for perching, and hollows, especially
in eucalypts, for nesting.
- Bird baths are
a great idea, but they must be kept clean, and placed close to dense
shrubs to provide a safe escape route in case of attack by cats or other
predators.
- Cats and native
birds are not a great mix – if you do have cats, make sure they
have bells on their collars, and encourage your neighbours to do the
same. Better still, keep them indoors, as a stealthy cat will still
be able to get within striking distance even with bells on their collar.
Next
issue – attracting and caring for reptiles in your garden. Until
then, happy gardening!
Would you
like to give us some feedback on this article? Contact
the PAWS Team
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