Imagine you're a native animal - bird, mammal, frog, reptile or invertebrate - searching for a place to live. Where would you choose to make a home?
All animals have the same basic requirements:
- regular food supply;
- reliable source of water;
- places of refuge;
- opportunity to raise their young; and
- safety from threats.
How to meet these needs will differ between species, so an important first step when planning a habitat garden is to decide which animals you want to attract and to learn about their habits.
It's also a good idea to visit their natural environment and observe its structure, so that you can create similar conditions in your garden. In forests, which support many of the small mammals, birds and frogs that have been most affected by human habitation, there's a complex layering of soil, leaf litter, ground cover plants, understorey shrubs, small trees and large canopy trees.
When walking through the forest, take notice of the rocks, fallen trees, pools and gullies, which also form a vital part of the ecosystem that native animals need in order to survive and thrive.
So, having completed your research, what are the basic principles of habitat gardening?
- Plant and preserve local native plant species - the animals in your area will have evolved alongside local native plants, which they may use for food, shelter, refuge or raising young. To use an example from our own backyard, we live in a forest that provides habitat for the rare and threatened Glossy Black Cockatoo. This bird has been particularly affected by land clearing because it feeds only on the seeds of certain types of Casuarina and Allocasuarina trees. It also nests in tree hollows, which are mainly found in old or dead trees. The survival of this species therefore depends on preservation of the trees they require for feeding and nesting.
Avoid the use of poisons in your garden - small birds and frogs are both important indicators of the health of our environment. In Queensland, as in many other parts of the World, they are in serious decline. Some species, such as the once common Southern Dayfrog, are now considered to be extinct and several others are close to extinction.
One of the reasons for this decline is the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Frogs have moist, permeable skin which makes them particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of pollution. Pesticides and other chemicals also affect insectivorous birds by limiting and poisoning their food supply; it really is best not to use them in the garden unless absolutely necessary.
- Provide a pond or other permanent water source - a permanent supply of fresh water will encourage animals to live in, rather than just visit, your garden. This can be as simple as making a depression in the ground, covering it with a waterproof lining and surrounding it with rocks and plants. For information about providing water in your garden for wildlife, go to: Queensland Frog Society and Birds in Backyards.
- Remove pest species - most people don't like to harm animals but some introduced pest species are so damaging to the ecosystem that they should not be allowed to exist in your backyard. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Common Myna, Red Fox and Cane Toad as among 100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species.
Keep pets under control - unrestrained domestic dogs and cats are responsible for killing millions of native animals every year. According to the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, dogs are one of the main causes of koala death and each pet cat, if allowed to roam, will kill an average of 16 mammals, 8 birds and 8 reptiles every year.
If you have dogs or cats, thoughtful and responsible ownership involves keeping your animals under curfew, particularly at night. Cats should be desexed to limit their tendency to wander and prevent them from reproducing. They should also be fitted with bells or an electronic sonar collar, which will alert birds to their presence.
