Photo credit Australian Geographic
Waverley Council, Office of Environment and Heritage, Greater Sydney Landcare Network, 20:20:20, Habitat Stepping Stone, Urban Ecologists and community members are about to embark on a three year Environmental Trust grant that aims to increase the habitat connectivity in the Bronte and Tamarama sub catchment.
Specifically, the Council would like to see the Superb Fairy Wren disperse through Council Parks, drainage systems and private gardens inwards from the coast again.
A total of 2-3000 people will be engaged by the collaborative of project partners, ultimately hoping that 250 of them will actively improve their habitat elements so that the Wren can travel and nest across a broader range again.
Only 20 years ago, there was numerous other small birds seen and appreciated in from the beach, but now only a handful of Wren families remain, some New Holland Honeyeaters and Willy Wagtails. In very lucky cases, one may still see the Spotted Pardalote around Bronte and Tamarama, but these too have almost disappeared. Larger predatory birds, including the native Noisy Miners, compete for food and territory in large families and the smaller birds simply can not cope with this. Cats are another obvious example.
Environmental messages promoting conditions required for the Fairy Wren to infiltrate people’s gardens again will be delivered via door to door communication, special events and other promotion including social media.
Landscape gardening advice will also be provided by Waverley Council to residents who would like to get involved with the program, in addition to free native trees, shrubs and ground covers.
If you have any questions about the program, or would like to see something similar happen on the private land in your local council area, please get in contact with Local Landcare Coordinator, Xuela at xuela.sledge@greatersydneylandcare.org or mob: 0410 616 139
