Supporting Backyard Biodiversity
An Australian native Blue Banded Bee is safe to forage in a pesticide-free garden. Image Credit: Stella-Rae Zelnik.
The best place to start supporting biodiversity is in your own backyard. Encouraging biodiversity will increase both bird life and pollination in the garden while providing wildlife corridors for native creatures to safely traverse in urban areas.
It's easy and fun! Why not start with:
Creating habitat for local species. Try including native plants and logs and rocks in your garden. Native grasses and other native plants are much more likely to attract native birds, butterflies and insects.
Planting native plants of different heights. Ensuring a variety of vegetation and habitat types by planting different varieties of local native plants will increase the variety of birds and native animals and insects in your backyard.
Providing water for native animals. Water is essential for creating a comfortable habitat for native animals, especially in dry climates such as Canberra. Providing water off the ground is a great idea for birds, as they are often reluctant to drink at ground level due to fear of predators.
Creating a frog pond. Creating a pond surrounded by native grasses and water plants will attract frogs. Coarse wire mesh over the top of the pond will protect frogs from cats and other predators. Keep an eye out for snakes enjoying the water and the frogs too.
Ditching pesticides and herbicides. Pesticides and herbicides kill birds, reptiles and frogs if they eat insects sprayed by pesticides. If you must use them, try using ones made from natural ingredients, such as pyrethrum.
Keeping the cat in. Keeping your cat inside at night, and putting bells on their collars, are simple ways of protecting the environment for the local fauna. Native animals feed at night, making them easy prey for cats.
Keeping garden waste out of bushland. Dumping garden waste in the bush encourage the spread of unwanted weeds that can out-compete native plants.
Composting kitchen and garden waste. Composting garden waste and kitchen scraps will help creating a thriving habitat in your backyard by increasing garden nutrients and soil biodiversity.
Removing major environmental weeds from your yard. Invasive weeds are a major problem in Australia’s ecosystems. The best way to manage invasive weeds is early detection and eradication. More information on invasive species and tips to manage weeds in your backyard and property is available here.