In the wake of wild weather, Backyard Buddies wants you to know that your garden can provide a safe haven for many birds and animals.
“It’s only early in 2013, and yet already a wide range of natural disasters have hit many parts of the county,” said Ms Susanna Bradshaw, CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. “We’ve seen bushfires, floods, heatwaves, cyclones and more.”
“The often forgotten result of wild weather is that many of the native animals that survived the initial impact are still doing it tough. Their habitats, food sources, and nesting territories have been struck hard,” said Ms Bradshaw.
“As affected areas recover, animals and birds may move to new areas to look for food, clean water and shelter. So now more than ever, suburban gardens are going to be an important refuge. And there’s a lot that you can do to help them out,” Ms Bradshaw said.
“For your garden to be an oasis for native animals, it needs to provide good habitat,” Ms Bradshaw said. “To start, take a walk in your nearest natural bush area. Have a look at what plants are around. If you can recreate a patch of that same environment in your own backyard, it will become a haven for native animals,” said Ms Bradshaw.
“Next, visit your local nursery and ask for local native plants. These are the best suited ones to your conditions and won’t need much water or attention. Don’t just get flowering plants—try to get a few different things, such as native grasses, fruiting plants, and lots of spikey, spiny bushes,” said Ms Bradshaw.
“One of the most important things you can do to help animals and birds is plant an understory in your garden. This is a layer of shrubby plants growing under trees and taller plants. By filling up open and empty areas with dense plantings, native birds and animals will have somewhere to hide and feed, and you’ll see less introduced birds,” Ms Bradshaw said.
“You don’t have to tear out all the non-native plants in your garden to attract birds and animals. Start small by planting a few natives between your existing plants and go from there,” said Ms Bradshaw. “Every locally native plant counts toward looking after our backyard buddies.”
Backyard Buddies is an environmental education program run by the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. It provides easy tips on how to make your garden safe and friendly for native animals. Find out more, and sign up for a free e-newsletter ‘B-mail’, at www.backyardbuddies.net.au.
