New Holland Honeyeater feeding on nectar from a banksia
from Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds
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No garden is complete without birds. In Canberra, the proximity of bushland and open parklands provides the opportunity to attract many species of native birds to your garden. Native trees and shrubs are essential if you wish to attract the widest range of native birds. Tall trees and prickly shrubs also provide shelter and protection from predators.
Planning your Native Garden
You can increase the pleasure and satisfaction you get from your native garden by careful planning and plant selection. You should try, if possible, to create a mixture of over-storey, middle-storey and under-storey using trees, large shrubs, small shrubs, wildflowers and grasses. This combination will attract native birds which feed on nectar, insects, fruit and seeds. Dense and prickly shrubs can also be planted to provide protection from predators at ground level. Try and plant some species which flower in winter when food is scarce. Birds are attracted to plantings which create small dense patches of green interfacing with open sunlight.
Water for Birds
Birds are attracted by water to drink and to bathe in. Some COG members have found that water features are as important in attracting birds as native plants. If possible water depths varying from 3 to 8 cm should be used. Bird baths must be out of reach of cats (at least 1.7 m above the ground) and preferably under a shaded branch or perch where birds can enter and leave safely. You must really choose between having a free roaming cat and having birds - the two are not compatible. Alternatively, you could build a back yard cat run allowing room for your cat to exercise, whilst protecting native birds in the rest of your garden.
Bird baths need regular refilling and cleaning to remove green algae and the exotic berry seeds which are regurgitated by Pied Currawongs.
Nest Materials Warehouse
In early spring, a small platform placed high in the garden offering a supply of suitable nesting materials is another way of attracting birds to your garden. Suitable materials are human or animal hair, small lengths of wool, dry soft grass, teased out cotton wool and clean carpet fluff or underfelt.
Non-native Plants
Some non-native trees and shrubs do attract common berry and seed eating birds such as Crimson Rosellas, Silvereyes, Pied Currawongs, and Common Starlings. Some of these plants however, are not recommended for planting as the seeds are spread by birds, and germinate and thrive in native bushland, where they have become serious environmental weeds.
Undesirable plants include cotoneaster, firethorn, privet, crab apple, rowan, ornamental plum and hawthorn. Pied Currawongs now have large permanent urban populations in Canberra, which feed predominantly on exotic berries during colder months, spreading the seeds into natural areas. During the breeding season these same flocks predate heavily on many species of small birds and their nestlings.
Non-recommended Natives
In a recent major survey of weeds in the ACT, two non-local natives; Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana) and Green Wattle (Acacia decurrens) were found to be invaders of Canberra's bushland. It is recommended that these species not be planted, especially if you live near nature conservation areas. Many similar non-invasive species are available.
Putting out Food
The continual artificial feeding of native birds is not recommended as it may lead to a long term decrease in numbers through increased dependence on artificial food, obesity, nutritional deficiencies and ultimately reproduction failures. However, during winter and spring small amounts of wild bird seed or chopped fresh meat can be placed out for birds provided this is done infrequently and at irregular intervals. Do not use processed human food.
Plants Needing Little Water
Many plants you can grow require very little water in addition to natural rainfall. By appropriate siting, you can make better use of wet, dry, sunny and shady areas in your garden, and reduce the costs of watering.
SOME RECOMMENDED PLANTS
* Species with forms native to Canberra region
# Species requiring only minimal watering
Most species and hybrids of Acacia, Banksia, Callistomen, Calothamnus, Casuarina, Epacris, Eucalyptus, Grevillea, Hakea, Hibbertia, Leptospermum and Melaleuca attract native birds.
Nectar producing
| Botanical Name
| Common Name
| Height
(metres)
| Spread
(metres)
| Flower Colour, Season |
| Anigozanthos flavidus
| Kangaroo paw
| 1
| 0.5
| Pink, yellow, green, spring-autumn
|
| Banksia ericifolia
| Heath Banksia
| 4
| 3
| Gold, Late autumn-winter
|
| Banksia integrifolia
| Coast Banksia
| 6
| 3
| Gold, autumn to spring
|
| Banksia oblongifolia
| Fern-leaved Banksia
| 1.5
| 1.5
| Yellow-green, autumn-winter
|
| *Banksia marginata
| Silver Banksia
| 5
| 3
| Yellow, Late autumn-winter
|
| Banksia paludosa
| Marsh Banksia
| 1
| 1.5
| Green
|
| #Banksia spinulosa
| Hairpin Banksia
| 3
| 3
| Gold, Late autumn-winter
|
| Callistemon brachyandrus
| Prickly Bottlebrush
| 3
| 2
| Red gold tipped, summer
|
| Callistemon citrinus
| Crimson Bottlebrush
| 4
| 2
| Crimson, spring & autumn
|
| Callistemon salignius
| Willow Bottlebrush
| 3-5
| 4
| Crimson, spring -summer
|
| Callistemon viminalis
| Weeping Bottlebrush
| 5
| 3
| Red, summer-autumn
|
| #Correa reflexa
| Common Correa
| 1
| 1
| Green, orange or Red, winter
|
| Correa 'Mannii
| Mann's Correa
| 0.5
| 2
| Dusky pink, autumn-winter
|
| Correa 'Dusky bells'
|
| 1
| 2
| Pink, winter
|
| *Epacris breviflora
|
| 1
| 1
| White, spring
|
| *Eucalyptus cinerea
| Argyle Apple
| 10
|
| White, spring summer
|
| *Eucalyptus dives
| Broad-leafed Peppermint
| 8
|
| spring
|
Eucalyptus leucoxylon
var. meglocarpa
| Yellow Gum
| 10
|
| Red/pink white, autumn-winter
|
*Eucalyptus mannifera
ssp. Maculosa
| Brittle gum
| 10
|
| autumn
|
| *Eucalyptus nortonii
| Mealy Bundy
| 8
|
| autumn
|
| Eucalyptus sideroxylon
| Iron Bark
| 15
|
| Pink, winter
|
| #Grevillea arenaria
|
| 2
| 2
| Red/yellow-green, spring-summer
|
| #Grevillea baueri
| Bauer's Grevillea
| 1
| 1
| Red/pink-white, winter-spring
|
| #Grevillea juniperina
| Prickly Grevillea
| 2
| 2
| Yellow to red, winter-spring
|
| *#Grevillea lanigera
| Woolly Grevillea
| 1
| 1
| Red/pink-white, winter-spring
|
| Grevillea robusta
| Silky Oak
| 15
|
| Gold, Late spring
|
| #Grevillea rosmarinifolia
| Rosemary Grevillea
| 2
| 3
| Pink to white, winter-spring
|
| Hakea petiolaris
| Pin-cushion Hakea
| 5
| 2
| Red-white, autumn-winter
|
| Lambertia formosa
| Mountain Devil
| 2
| 1
| Orange to red, Most of year
|
| Melaleuca armillaris
| Bracelet Honey Myrtle
| 5
| 3
| White, spring
|
| *#Melaleuca parvistaminia
| Swamp Paperbark
| 4-5
| 3
| White, spring
|
| Melaleuca lateritia
| Robin Red Breast Bush
| 1
| 1
| Red, spring-summer
|
| Melaleuca wilsonii
| Violet Honey-myrtle
| 1
| 1
| Lilac to pink, spring
|
| Melaleuca violacea
|
| 0.5
| 1.5
| Mauve, spring
|
|
Insect Attracting
|
| *Chrysocephalum apiculatum
| Yellow Buttons
| 0.5
|
| Yellow, Most of year
|
| *Chrysocephalum semipapposum
|
| 1
| 1
| Yellow, summer-autumn
|
| #Leptospermum laevigatum
| Coastal Tea-Tree
| 5
| 3
| White, spring-summer
|
| *Leptospermum lanigerum
| Woolly Tea-tree
| 3
| 3
| White, summer
|
| #Leptospermum scoparium
| Manuka
| 3
| 2
| White or pink, spring-summer
|
| *#Olearia phlogopappa
| Dusty Daisy-bush
| 1.5
| 1
| White, blue, pink or mauve, summer
|
| Olearea tenuifolia
|
| 1
| 1
| Blue-mauve, spring-summer
|
|
Fruit & Seed
|
| *#Acacia lanigera
| Woolly Wattle
| 2
| 2
| Golden, spring
|
| *Acacia mearnsii
| Green/Black Wattle
| 10
|
| Golden, spring
|
| #Acacia retinodes
|
| 6
| 3
| Cream, winter-spring
|
| *Allocasurina verticillata
| Drooping She-oak
| 10
|
| *Callitris endlicheri
| Black Cyprus Pine
| 10
|
|
| *Coprosma hirtella
| Rough Coprosma
| 2
| 1.5
| Red fruits, summer
|
| *#Dianella revoluta
| Flax Lily
| 1
| 1
| Blue, Late spring-summer
|
| *# Dianella tasmanica
| Flax Lily
| 1
| 1
| Blue, Late spring-summer
|
| *#Dodonea viscosa
| Native Hop-bush
| 2
| 1
| Green-red fruits, summer
|
| Einadia nutans
|
| 0.5
|
| Red or yellow fruits.
|
| Enchylaena tormentosa
|
| 0.5
| 1
| Red or yellow fruits.
|
| *Grasses / Sedges- Themeda, Danthonia, Chionochloa, Poa, Gahnia, Juncus
|
|
Shelter & Nesting
|
| *Acacia melanoxylon
| Blackwood
| 20
|
| *Callistemon pallidus
| Lemon Bottlebrush
| 3
| 2
| Yellow, summer-autumn
|
| Grevillea rivularis
|
| 2
| 4
| Pink, Most of year
|
| Grevillea shiresii
|
| 3
| 3
| Greenish-blue, winter-spring
|
| *Hakea sericea
| Silky Hakea
| 4
| 3
| White or pink, winter-spring
|
| *Kunzea ericoides
| Burgan
| 4
| 4
| White, spring-summer
|
| Melaleuca linariifolia
| Snow in summer
| 10
|
| White, spring-summer
|
| *Clematis aristata
| Old Mans Beard
| Climber
|
| White, spring
|
| Pandorea pandorana
| Wonga-wonga vine
| Climber
|
| Variable, spring
|
|
Plants Needing Little Water (additional to those indicated # above)
|
| Acacia acinacea
| Gold dust wattle
| 2
| 1.5
| Golden, spring
|
| *Acacia buxifolia
| Box-leaved wattle
| 2
| 2
| Golden, spring
|
| Acacia cultriformis
| Knife leaf wattle
| 2
| 2
| Golden, spring
|
| Acacia decora
| Graceful wattle
| 2
| 3
| Golden, spring
|
| *Acacia rubida
| Red-stemmed wattle
| 4
|
| Yellow,spring
|
| Acacia spectabilis
| Mudgee wattle
| 5
|
| Golden, spring
|
| *Acacia verniciflua
| Varnish wattle
| 4
|
| Yellow, spring
|
| Acacia vestita
| Hairy wattle
| 4
|
| Yellow, spring
|
| Allocasuarina nana
| Stunted She-oak
| 2
| 2
|
|
| Baeckea virgata
| Tall Baekea
| 1-4
| 3
| White, summer
|
| Callistemon brachyandrus
| Prickly Bottlebrush
| 3
| 2
| Red-gold, spring-summer
|
| Callistemon macropunctatus
| Scarlet Bottlebrush
| 3
| 3
| Red-gold, summer-autumn
|
| Callistemon phoeniceus
| Lesser Bottlebrush
| 2
| 1.5
| Brilliant red, summer
|
| *Callistemon pinifolius
| Pine-leaved Bottlebrush
| 1.5
| 1.5
| Green or red, summer
|
| Calytrix tetragona
| Fringe Myrtle
| 1.5
| 1.5
| White to pink, spring-summer
|
| Cassia artemisioides
| Silver Cassia
| 2
| 1.5
| Yellow, spring to autumn
|
| Cassia nemophila
| Desert Cassia
| 2
| 2
| Yellow, spring
|
| Correa calycina
|
| 2
| 2
| Green-yellow, winter
|
| Correa glabra
| Rock Correa
| 2
| 2
| Green, winter
|
| Correa schlechtendalii
|
| 2
| 1.5
| Red& green, winter
|
| Grevillea aspeniifolia
| Fern-leafed Grevillea
| 3
| 4
| Red, Most of year
|
| Grevillea 'Canberra Gem'
|
| 2
| 2
| Pink or Red, spring
|
| Grevillea iaspicula
| Wee Jasper Grevillea
| 2
| 2
| Red & cream, spring-summer
|
| Grevillea lavandulacea
| Desert Grevillea
| 1
| varies
| White to deep pink, Most of year
|
| Grevillea sericea
| Pink Spider Flower
| 1
| 1
| White to deep pink, Most of year
|
| *Grevillea victoriae
|
| 2
| 2
| Rusty red, winter-spring
|
| Grevillea 'White Wings'
|
| 3
| 6
| White, winter-spring
|
| Hakea gibbosa
|
| 3
| 1.5
| Cream, spring
|
| Kunzea ambigua
| White Kunzea
| 3
| 2
| White, spring-summer
|
| *Kunzea parvifolia
| Violet Kunzea
| 2
| 3
| Pink, summer
|
| *Lomandra longifolia
| Long-leaf Mat Rush
| 1
| 1
| Yellow, spring
|
| Melaleuca decussata
| Totem-poles
| 2
| 2
| Off white, spring-summer
|
| Melaleuca hypericifolia
| Hillock Bush
| 6
| 3
| Rusty red, spring-summer
|
| Melaleuca incana
| Grey Honey Myrtle
| to 3
| 2
| Cream, spring-summer
|
| Melaleuca micromera
|
| 1.5
| 2
| Yellow, spring
|
| Melaleuca thymifolia
|
| 1
| 0.5
| White or mauve, summer
|
| Melaleuca wilsonii
| Violet Honey Myrtle
| 1-2
| 2
| Mauve-purple, spring
|
| *Xanthorrhoea australis
| Grass tree
| Spike to 4
| 2
| Cream, spring
|
More Reading and Help
There are now several excellent books available on planning and caring for native gardens. The Canberra Branch of the Society for Growing Australian Plants (SGAP) sells a range of native plant publications and has frequent sales of cheap and hardy locally grown plants. Some SGAP members also undertake native garden planning and landscaping commercially.
Suggested References
- Native Gardens in Canberra G A J Butler, ANU Press 1979
- Australian Native Gardening -Made Easy Dick Chadwick Little Hills Press 1985
- The Austraflora Handbook Bill Molyneux et al Globe Press 1985
- Wildflowers of the Bush Capital Ian Fraser & Margaret McJannett Vertigo Press 1993
- Field Guide to the Native Trees of the ACT National Parks Assn (ACT) 1993
- Australian Native Plants John Wrigley & Murray Fagg 3rd Edn Collins 1988
- Native Trees and Shrubs of South-Eastern Australia Leon Costermans 1992.
- Attracting Birds to Australian and New Zealand Gardens Clifford B Frith. Doubleday Sydney 1985.
- Birdscaping Your Garden G.M.Adams Rigby Adelaide 1980
- A Garden of Birds Graham Pizzey Penguin Books Melbourne 1988
- Birds in Australian Gardens T Kloot & E.M.McCulloch. Rigby Adelaide 1980.
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