Growing native plants to attract birds

Eastern RosellaPhoto: R. Gleeson

Why a Native Garden native plants which occur naturally in our area are best adapted to local conditions such as soil and climate. With proper planting and care they should require less maintenance than most exotics.

Apart from looking good a native garden greatly benefits the environment. Plants and animals co-exist, each relying on the other for survival, so it is important that your garden attracts a broad range of birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Ku-ring-gai Council’s Fauna Friends Starter Packs consist of local plants which are known to attract birds, lizards, frogs, insects and butterflies. We recommend that you supplement the plants in the Fauna Friends Starter Pack with a variety of local native plants. this brochure lists some suggestions.

so, get planting and enjoy your garden’s increased diversity!

Hints for native gardens:

• Mulching your garden discourages weed growth and retains water. Mulch with leaf litter or prunings.

• encourage wildlife into your garden by providing a range of shelters. these could include hollow logs, overhanging flat rocks, dense shrubs and nesting boxes.

• Don’t use pesticides or snail bait. As well as killing the insects, bees, lizards, frogs and birds which are beneficial to your garden, they are passed up the food chain.

• Cutting off spent flowers from a young plant will encourage bushier growth.

• We recommend limited use of a slow release fertiliser. Frequent use and regular fertilisers help to feed weeds.

• Remember that your plant will grow! select plants that are suitable to the space available.

Learn more:

Flora For Fauna - www.floraforfauna.comBirds in Backyards - www.birdsinbackyards.netAustralian Museum - www.amonline.net.au/sand/news/

attracting.htm

Fauna Friends Starter Packs are available for purchase from Ku-ring-gai Council Nursery

430 Mona Vale Rd, St Ives.Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. Tel: 9424 0376

Contact Ku-ring-gai Council818 Pacific highway, Gordon nsW 2072locked Bag 1056, Pymble nsW 2073

T: 02 9424 0000 F: 02 9424 0001E: kmc@kmc.nsw.gov.auwww.kmc.nsw.gov.au

PRinteD on 80% ReCyCleD stoCK

Birds in their environment• Birds are one of the most frequently observed visitors

in backyards. some varieties found in Ku-ring-gai include species of parrot, honeyeaters, wrens, magpies and kookaburras.

• you can encourage birds into your garden by planting the right type of natives, providing nest boxes and fresh water.

increasing the number of birds in a garden will assist the environment by:

• Reducing the number of insect pests• Pollinating flowers, thereby encouraging increased

amounts of seeds and fruit• Assisting in the dispersal of seeds and therefore the

growth of new plants• Assisting the breakdown of dead leaves and mulch

by turning over the top layers in search of insects and worms

Plant local native grevilleas rather than the popular hybrids available in most nurseries. Although hybrid varieties have large pretty flowers they also encourage aggressive birds such as the Noisy Miner

– Birds in Backyards

Yellow-faced honeyeaterPhoto: D. WilKs

How plants attract wildlife• Plants provide protection and shelter for birds. small

species such as finches and wrens love to hide in dense shrubs.

• Plants provide a variety of food sources to bird species including nectar, fruits and seeds. they may also attract insects and lizards which some birds will eat.

• Plants provide materials which birds use in their nests such as twigs, leaves, vines and soft bark.

Plants which attract birdsGRouNd CovERs

Maidenhair FernKidney Weed

Adiantum aethiopicumDichondra repens

Groundcover plants attract small lizards and foraging birds

GRassEs/ RusHEs

Kangaroo Grassspiny headed Mat Rushsword Grass/ saw sedgeGymea lily

Themeda australisLomandra longifoliaGahnia sieberianaDoryanthes excelsa

Provide seeds and nesting material for birds

CLimBERs sweet sarsaparilla Smilax glyciphylla Provides nest-making material and attracts fruit eating birds

FERNs Bracken Pteridium esculentum Provides shelter and nesting materials for small birds

sHRuBs/ smaLL TREEs

Flax Wattle Graceful Bush Pea tea treeMyrtle Wattle Prickly MosesGolden Wattle hop BushBush Pea Mountain DevilDwarf Applehairy hakeaBushy needlebushold Man Banksiahair-pin Banksiaheath-leaved BanksiaRed spider-flowerWhite spider-flower

Acacia linifoliaPultenaea flexilisLeptospermum Acacia myrtifoliaAcacia ulicifoliaAcacia longifoliaDodonea triquetraPultenaea daphnoidesLambertia FormosaAngophora hispidaHakea gibbosaHakea sericeaBanksia serrataBanksia spinulosaBanksia ericifoliaGrevillea speciosaGrevillea linearifolia

Prickly foliage provides a safe refuge for small birds. has sweet scented flowers that also attract butterfliesProvides shelter, nesting material and attracts insect eating birds

TREEs Blueberry AshBottlebrushlillypillyshe-oakPaperbark

Elaeocarpus reticulatusCallistemon sppAcmena smithiiAllocasuarina littoralisMelaleuca spp

Attracts nectar, seed, insect and fruit eating birds

Plan your gardenGarden structure is important when encouraging wildlife into your backyard. trees, shrubs, groundcovers and grasses of different heights provide the necessary food, shelter and nesting sites for a range of animals.

�Canopy

middle Layer

Ground Cover

other shelter