Chapter 12: Attracting Wildlife Threats to Wildlife to Your Property Clearing native vegetation for agriculture, urban development or other purposes has greatly reduced the amount of habitat available for native wildlife. Many patches of remaining vegetation are small or degraded and unable to provide the food and shelter that wildlife need. Habitat is also often situated in islands that are separated by towns, farms and roads that prevent wildlife from safely traveling between patches of vegetation. The loss of understorey including small tees, shrubs and groundcovers, weed invasion, excessive burning, livestock grazing, and tidying up to create lawn and parkland style gardens all contribute to this problem. Native Plants and Attracting Wildlife Attracting wildlife to your property requires habitat that provides food and shelter and allows breeding and migration to other areas. Tree hollows that take decades to form, provide native animals such as small mammals, bats and birds, with refuge from weather and predators, and provide safe sites for roosting and breeding. Removing living or dead hollow-bearing trees displaces wildlife that depend on them for survival. If you have no mature trees on your property, breeding and nesting sites can be created by installing nestboxes for wildlife. These are cheap and easy to make, or are also available commercially. While tree hollows or nest boxes may provide shelter and an area for breeding and raising young, native wildlife also need a diverse natural environment where all forms of native vegetation including trees, shrubs, and groundcovers are represented. Creating vegetation layers and maintaining fallen trees, dead wood, and leaf litter also provides habitat for ground dwelling animals including small mammals, reptiles and insects. It is important that vegetation also provides food such as nectar and seeds, and that it is representative of species found in the local area as local wildlife are adapted to these conditions. Introduced species such as willows, pines and conifers do not produce hollows suitable for native wildlife and along with other non-local plant species may become environmental weeds that have little benefit to wildlife. Wildlife Corridors and Waterways When creating wildlife corridors on your property try to link them with other areas of wildlife habitat, such as hollow bearing trees or remnant vegetation. Working with your neighbours and local community may permit the connection of remnant vegetation and creation of corridors on a larger scale, which will be of benefit to native wildlife movement and breeding. Also see: Chapter 10 - Why Vegetation Matters Chapter 11 - Where the Water Flows - Wetlands, Creeks and Drains Chapter 7 - Getting on Top of Weeds Chapter 15 - What about Pests? Key Contacts: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (within DECC) Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority Local Wildlife Rescue Group
Fencing and protection of vegetation along waterways, drains, wetlands, and farm dams, not only protects wildlife habitat, but maintains water quality and bank stability, and will encourage the regeneration of native vegetation. If you do not have these types of water sources on your property, a pond planted with wetland vegetation such as sedges and rushes will create wildlife habitat and attract frogs and birds. Feeding Wildlife By planting or maintaining a variety of local native vegetation which provide food such as nectar and seeds year round, there is no need to feed native wildlife. Feeding wildlife can create dependence on non-natural foods that do not meet healthy dietary requirements. Such practices may also create higher that usual population numbers which can result in damage both to your property and the environment. Feeding stations may also be a focus for predators and the spread of disease. Other sources of disease for native wildlife are domestic animals; so ensure your cat is inside at night, and be aware of your dog s activities if you have koalas or other wildlife on or near your property. Wildlife and Pest Control Aside from the pleasure of having native wildlife on your property, additional benefits include their ability to aid in natural pest control. Nectar loving small mammals, birds, and insects such as native ants, bees and wasps may also aid in pollination of your garden, vegetable garden or orchard. Conservation on Private Land There are a range of measures and assistance available to landowners to protect wildlife, and habitat on their property. These include Land for Wildlife, Wildlife Refuges, and Voluntary Conservation Agreements. These conservation programs range from non-binding pledges (Land for Wildlife) to conservation of the property in perpetuity (Voluntary Conservation Agreement). Contact NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service if you would like to find out more information about these conservation programs.
Key Resources Nestboxes for natives: Replacing lost hollows to shelter native birds and mammals - Sheet 5 (Jul. 2001) Birds Australia Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053. 03 9347 0757. mail@birdsaustralia.com.au Discusses nests and tree hollows, design, materials and placement of nestboxes, and nestbox dimensions. http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/infosheets/05_nestboxes.pdf Keeping frogs in your garden (Factsheet 2) and Establishing frog habitat on your property (Factsheets 3) (April 2006) Frog and Tadpole Study Group PO Box 296, Rockdale, NSW, 2216. 0419 249 728. www.fats.org.au Details how to establish or modify garden ponds and dams to provide habitat and breeding grounds for native frogs. http://www.fats.org.au/publications_files/ff206.pdf http://www.fats.org.au/publications_files/ff306.pdf Let nature feed itself and Living with possums New South Wales Wildlife Information and Rescue Service PO Box 260, Forestville, NSW, 2087. Rescue Tel: 1800 614 188. Email: info@wires.org.au What feeding native wildlife unnatural foods can do, and enjoying wildlife without feeding. / Removing possums from your roof, possum traps, and how to make a possum nestbox. http://www.wires.org.au/docs/let_nature_feed_itself.pdf http://www.wires.org.au/docs/living_with_possums_how_to_make_possum_box.pdf Encouraging birds on your farm - Tips and Tools Factsheet (August 2005) Meat and Livestock Australia Level 1, 165 Walker St, North Sydney, NSW, 2060. 02 9463 9333. www.mla.com.au Learn how to improve bird habitat areas and create new bird habitat areas which attract more birds onto your property to control pests. http://www.mla.com.au/nr/rdonlyres/8dc7abcc-1e1d-49c5-9b35_226c2a524f4a/0/tipstoolsencouragingb irdsontoyourfarm2005.pdf Natural tree hollows - essential for wildlife, Integrating Wildlife - conservation and farm management, Native shelterbelts - benefits to wildlife (Conservation and Land Management Notes 5-7, 1999) New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (within DECC) PO Box A290, Sydney South, NSW, 1232. 1300 361 967. info@environment.nsw.gov.au Details what tree species produce hollows and which wildlife use tree hollows, how farm management can benefit farm health and productivity and integrate wildlife conservation, how to use native shelterbelts for stock protection, pest control and wildlife benefits. http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/factsheet5_tree_hollows.pdf http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/factsheet6_integrating_wildlife.pdf http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/factsheet7_native_shelterbelts.pdf Key Tips for Fish Friendly Farms New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Locked Bag 21, Orange, NSW, 2800. 02 6391 3100. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au Details seven actions which you can do to benefit fish life in the streams on or near your property, specifically in relation to snags, vegetation, crossings, runoff, stock water, floodgates, and wetlands. www.wetlandlink.com.au/content/file_download/21 Land for Wildlife, Wildlife Refuges, and Voluntary Conservation Agreements New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (within DECC) PO Box A290, Sydney South, NSW, 1232. 1300 361 967. info@environment.nsw.gov.au Details the three programs for conservation on private land through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/content/conservation_partners
Other Resources Revegetation and Wildlife: A guide to enhancing revegetated habitats for wildlife conservation in rural environments Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts GPO Box 787, Canberra, ACT, 2600. 02 6274 1111. www.environment.gov.au Format: PDF / Book Publishing Date: 2000 ISBN: 0642547122 Discusses the ecological approach to revegetation in rural landscapes and wildlife habitat requirements, and how to enhance the value of revegetation for wildlife. http://www.environment.gov.au/land/publications/revegwild/pubs/revegwild.pdf Wildlife on Farms by Lindenmayer, D. CSIRO Publishing PO Box 1139, Collingwood, VIC, 3066. 03 9662 7500. ww.publish.csiro.au Format: Book Cost: Yes Publishing Date: 2003 ISBN: 06430688X Defines what is wildlife habitat, discusses integrating farm management and wildlife conservation, and outlines numerous animals and the habitats they need. http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/21/pid/3547.htm Wildlife and Farm Dams by Hill, D. and Edquist, N. Victorian State Government Bookshop 356 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000. 1300 366 356. www.bookshop.vic.gov.au Format: Book Cost: Yes Publishing Date: 1991 ISBN: 0724152539 Guide to wildlife conservation on farm dams, showing some practical and inexpensive steps which can be taken to attract wildlife including water catchment management and vegetation lists. https://www.bookshop.vic.gov.au/basket/product_details.asp?id=26779 The Nestbox Book by the Gould League Gould Group PO Box 1117, Moorabbin, VIC, 3189. 03 9532 0909. www.gould.org.au Format: Book Cost: Yes Publishing Date: 2000 ISBN: 1875687343 Website Websites: Easy to follow instructions for making nestboxes for more than 20 Australian birds and mammals, includes photos and diagrams. http://www.gould.edu.au/shop/product.asp?pid=73&cid=9 New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change www.environment.nsw.gov.au Federal Department of Environment and Water Resources www.environment.gov.au Backyard Buddies - NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/content/backyard+buddies Native Animal Factsheets - NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/content/native+animal+fact+sheets+by+title Conservation Partners Program NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Conservation http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/content/conservation_partners Frog and Tadpole Society Group of New South Wales www.fats.org.au New South Wales Wildlife Information and Rescue Service www.wires.org.au Native Animal Trust Fund Inc. www.users.bigpond.com/natf/ Birds Australia www.birdsaustralia.com.au Birds in Backyards - Birds Australia www.birdsinbackyards.net
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