The inaugural Great Aussie Backyard Bird Count occurred recently and if you missed it don’t fret it will be on again next year. You may even like to get a head start and commence birdscaping your block for the local flock.
The Aussie Birdcount website has some great planting advice along with some plant focused resources from Trees In Newcastle’s Habitat Garden page
- Plant for vertical and horizontal structure-variety is the spice of life
- Plant for shelter by creating dense protective thickets or rambling climbers amongst trees
- Plant for food. Nectar and seeds are both important and mulch is great for insects
- Plant local plants that provide the right food and shelter
- Create diversity- small birds love variety
- Plant below trees- Noisy Miners find dense plantings less attractive
- Planting for seasonality means food will be available all year round
- Remove exotic species that produce berries and replace with local natives
- Reduce lawn area by planting native grasses for the seed eaters
- Use small gardens effectively by planting fewer species in greater numbers
- Provide fresh water
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| Grey Butcherbird Nest at Stansfield Reserve |
As part of Threatened Species project a full round of Spring Bird surveys were carried out on 15/10/14 around Coal Point-Carey Bay under overcast skies and “wintery” cold conditions. In spite of the weather the highlights were
- White-browed Scrubwren and Eastern Whipbird at Burnage Reserve,
- Superb Fairy-wren, Brown Thornbill and Yellow-faced Honeyeater at West Ridge and
- Nesting Grey Butcherbirds at Stansfield reserve.
The full report produced by Tom Clarke on the 2014 Spring Survey can be viewed here.
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