Wildlife in the Gardens

Koalas are regularly sighted, mostly round the barbecue area and first parking area but also in big old gums at the far end of the Rainforest Walk at the western end of the Gardens. Wallabies are around, though shyer than the koalas, and there is an abundance of bird life, including an active scrub turkey mound. Stay still and quiet for a few minutes in virtually any part of the Gardens the birds will be heard and seen.

Koalas

Though not strictly rainforest animals, koalas are animals of the forest edges and since we have cleared the Lantana and other weeds from the area their presence in the Eucalyptus forest and other parts of the Gardens has increased. They like it here and are very tolerant of us working beneath their trees. In fact we occasionally see them on the ground even when there are people around. A recent sighting of a mother and baby thrilled all of us. Koala habitat in the Northern Rivers area is decreasing as more clearing takes place for housing and farming. We are in regular contact with Friends of the Koala (FOK) who give us koala advice and deal with sick or injured animals. More Eucalpyts have been planted by Council in the phytocapping area immediately across the road from BBQ area.

Birdlife

As the rainforest plants in the Gardens grow and mature they are creating an environment that is very attractive to birds. Added to that is the now disused settling pond adjacent to the Gardens which attracts large number of water birds including pelicans. The Brunswick Heads Bird Watching group periodically visits the site and sends us a listing of their sightings. Green Corps teams have added to that list and people working on site also report birds which have been sighted. A recent new visitor is the Black Kite (Milvus migrans). This bird is not usually found along this coastal region but has been seen in quite large numbers around the Gardens and Waste Facility for the last several months. Our most recent bird count totals over 100 different species.

Wallabies

The wallabies most regularly sighted in the Gardens is the Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). They are quite shy but are usually around the site. Although beautiful, they can cause damage to young plants by eating the leaves but also they can ring bark older trees by eating the bark. We put wire cages around vulnerable plants.

Make a Native Bee Box

You will need:

12 mm Plywood (or similar) exterior timber
1 sheet 3 mm Perspex 175 mm x 175 mm
2 x 6 mm x 50 mm cup head bolts
4 nuts and washers
12 mm bird mesh (approx. 500 mm x 500 mm)

Cut the plywood to the following measurements:

1 Base - 175 mm x 175 mm
2 Sides - 200 mm x 190 mm
2 Sides - 190 mm x 195 mm
1 Top - 200 mm x 200 mm
1 Entry block - 70 mm x 70 mm

Assemble the four sides to make a box (190 degrees vertically)
Secure the base internally
Secure the top externally
cut the box in half - horizonantally
Mount the entry block, centred on the bottom half front
Drill 10 mm hole sloping up by approximately 15 degrees in centre of the block
Drill a 6 mm hole for drainage close to a corner in the base
Drill the two 6 mm securing bolt holes along the vertical centreline of the rear of the box, 25 mm and 160 mm from the base (some star picket holes differ so best to check) insert and tighten the two bolts
Cut the bird mesh into a 16 square x 16 square (approx. 200 mm x 200 mm)
Remove centre 8 square x 8 squares
Bend the edge rows on all four sides down to 90 degrees and staple in place flush with the top of the bottom half of the box
Cut a strip 5 square x 44 square of bird mesh and secure in a circle inside the top half of the box 3 mm down from the top
Place Perspex on top of bird wire and secure the lid.