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Residents have become increasingly interested in attracting native birds to their backyard. However, did you know that by feeding birds a diet of bread and honey or sugar and water can have a disastrous effect on their health? Here are some tips on the best ways in which you can attract Ryde's beautiful
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Powerful Owl | birdlife.
Create a suitable environment by planting native trees and shrubs which belong to the Ryde area. Some recommended bird attracting plants are:
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Lorikeets
Banksias, Paperbacks, Eucalypts.
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Honeyeaters
Nectar bearing plants such as Bottlebrushes, Grevilleas, Banksias.
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Blue Wrens and other small insect feeding birds
Low spiky bushes such as Hakeas and some Grevilleas offer protection and attract insects for them to eat.
A bird bath will also attract birds, however, it must be kept clean and placed in an area away from the reach of cats. If you have a cat, make sure that it has a bell on its collar.
Many Australian birds, such as Galahs, use hollow limbs for nesting. If the trees in your garden have hollow limbs, which are potentially dangerous, you can cut the limb to a smaller size then secure it to the tree with the hollow end pointing outwards so that the bird can fly into it.
Often you may find blue tongue lizards and smaller skinks in your garden. These lizards like to live under rock crevices or among logs and grass. They are not venomous and rather than biting they rely on bluff to scare predators away. You are lucky to have these lizards in your backyard as they eat snails and slugs which may be damaging your vegetable patch or garden plants.
As a resident of Ryde, you are fortunate to be living in an area which contains some significant bushland areas and wildlife corridors. By landscaping your garden with local native plants you will be helping our wildlife by providing a small habitat which is an extension of the bushland corridor.
Birds in Backyards Program
Have you noticed that many smaller native birds have gradually disappeared from suburban areas, replaced by bigger, more aggressive birds? In many areas, there are fewer birds altogether.
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Rainbow Lorikeet |
Our lives are poorer with birds disappearing from our gardens and parks.
Birds are a vital component of nature, fulfilling many functions in ecosystems. They control insect populations, pollinate plants and spread seeds, and are a food source for many animals. Without birds, the natural balance is severely disturbed.
Birds in Backyards is a research, education and conservation program focusing on the birds that live where people live.
If you would like to know more about how to encourage greater variety of birds to return to your backyard and local park, the ‘Birds in Backyards’ website can assist you with information about Australian birds and their habits, and how to create bird-friendly spaces in your garden and local community. You can also provide bird survey data from your own backyard.
Membership is free. For further details go to www.birdsinbackyards.net.
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