The diversity of plants, animals and micro-organisms within an area (biological diversity or biodiversity) is highly dependant on the amount and distribution of vegetation and resultant habitats within an area.

Throughout the Central Coast, areas of bushland often occur in small isolated patches along creeks, hills and ridges. These areas contain a variety of species of plants and animals, many of which form an isolated population. Developed urban areas can fragment patches of bushland and impact on the biodiversity of an area. However many fauna species have sufficient mobility to travel through urbanised areas to the adjoining bushland. Creating suitable habitat in school yards and house yards can provide local wildlife with increased opportunities to survive within these altered landscapes.

Habitats – The Keystone of Biodiversity

• The variety and complexity of habitats of an area or ecosystem increases the levels of biodiversity in that area.
• These habitats are present in the vegetation, geology, soils and aquatics of the area.
• Changes to habitats by disturbance, removal, simplifications or other pressures (changes to moisture, nutrients, light, pests, etc) will result in changes to the biodiversity.
• Urbanised areas are highly disturbed and fragmented and remnant habitats are often not representative of the original environment. However small remnant patches may still be present in the urbanised areas and are vital for connecting larger patches and providing refuge for native animals.
• The presence of foraging (food), shelter and breeding sites are the principal components of a species habitat. Increased amounts of cover and vegetation within a site will generally increase the types of habitat present. Ground cover such as rocks, logs, leaf litter and native grasses provide micro-habitat for insects and other invertebrates which in turn are predated on by birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals.
• Where the various components of a habitat have been altered, disturbed or placed under long term stress, the biodiversity values of the area are reduced.
• Restoration of disturbed habitats or in some cases the creation of additional habitat, can slow and reverse the decline in biodiversity.

Creating a Native Garden

• Plant a variety of native plants including flowering and seeding plants and groundcovers for fauna.

• Replace areas of lawn with seeding native grasses.
• Plant disease resistant, local native plant species which are also more water efficient.
• Use native plants from the local area where possible.
• To find out more visit the Native Plants page.

Providing Habitat - Hollow Havens and Safe Shelters

• Maintain ground cover, including leaf and bark litter as shelter and foraging habitat for small invertebrates.
• Logs and rocks placed throughout the yard provide habitat for frogs, mammals, lizards and invertebrates.
• Plant a variety of plant layers, such as grass, low shrubs, tall shrubs and canopy tree species to provide a variety of roost, nest and shelter sites.
• Provide shallow water dishes in shady areas for native birds.
• Create an aquatic habitat area with pond, rocks and aquatic plants for frogs, lizards and insects.
• Maintain and protect mature trees with hollows. They provide shelter and nesting sites for mammals and birds.
  
• Place constructed nest boxes in large trees to provide additional roosting and nesting sites.
  

Natural Foods for Fauna

• Nectar is a key food source for small to medium sized bird species, such as the Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater.

• Seeds generated by native grasses provide an ideal food source for finches and parrots, seeds from Allocasuarina trees provide the only food source for the Glossy Black-cockatoo.
• Sap produced by various eucalypt species, particularly Bloodwoods and Grey Gums provide a food source for Squirrel Gliders and Yellow-bellied Gliders.
• Fruit and berries from Pittosporum, Lilly Pilly and native fig species provide food for Grey-headed Flying Fox and Fruit Doves.
• Insects are a vital component of many native animals diet (e.g. Microbats, frogs, reptiles). Insects are attracted to flowers and leaf litter.
• Fungi are a large component of the diet of many small mammals (e.g. Potoroos) and insects.

Other ways to help native animals

• Download a Nature Watch Diary  and record your wildlife observations. 
• Report sightings of green and golden bell frogs and bush stone-curlews to Council via the Species Sighting Form.
• Report threatened species sightings to National Parks and Wildlife on 4320 4200.
• If you find injured animals contact Wildlife ARC on 4325 0666 or WIRES on 3423 2326.
• Join 'Land for Wildlife' or 'Habitat for Wildlife' with the CEN. Visit www.cccen.org.au.
  

• Visit the helping native animals in our area page to find out more.

Useful Web links

• Wild watch in your backyard - www.abc.net.au/wildwatch/

• Create Frog Habitat - frogsaustralia.net.au
• Land for Wildlife and Habitat for Wildlife programs through the Community Environment Network - www.cccen.org.au/
• Backyard Buddies program - www.environment.nsw.gov.au/buddies/BackyardBuddies.htm

Further Reading

• Grant, Peter (2003) Habitat Garden, ABC Books, Sydney
• Molyneux, W, & Macdonald, R (1993) Native Gardens How to create an Australian Landscape, Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst, NSW
• Pizzey, Graham (2000) The Australian Bird Garden – Creating Havens for Native Birds. Harper Collins, Sydney
• Australian Geographic 1997, ‘Your Backyard Wildlife Haven’, The Journal of the Australian Geographic Society, poster Supplement to Issue 45, January-March. 
• Casey, K. 2001, ‘Attracting frogs to Your Garden’, Envirobook, Annandale, NSW.
• Lindenmayer, D., Claridge, A., Hazell, D., Michael, D., Crane, M., MacGragor, C. & Cunningham, R. 2003, ‘Wildlife on Farms: How to Conserve Native Animals’, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, VIC.