Go Greener

Biodiversity update at SCEGGS

One of the school goals for this year is to explore ways SCEGGS can become a more bio-diverse inner-city school environment. The most common species of birds seen in our SCEGGS garden are the rainbow lorikeet, the white cockatoo and the Australian white ibis. Smaller birds are becoming a rarity in urban areas due to a loss of habitat. Examples of birds we would like to encourage are the superb fairy wren, willie wagtail, new holland honeyeater, silver eye and the welcome swallow.

We have chosen an area near the frog pond, at the back of the Old Girls Building to create a small bird habitat. Plants and grasses have been chosen to encourage not only birds, but insects as well. We have considered local native plants and have no showy flowering grevilleas or callistemons which are likely to attract the larger bird groups. The larger birds are known to scare away the smaller species. Some of the plants are prickly for the protection of these smaller birds and will grow to different heights in order to create a variety of spaces for birds, bees and insects.

The following species have been planted by Innes McManus, our school gardener:

Hakea sericea – Silky hakea
Grevillea linearifolia – White spider flower
Grevillea sericea – Pink spider flower
Westringia fruitcosa – Coastal rosemary
Acacia Floribunda – Wattle
Melaleuca thymifolia – Honey myrtle
Melaleuca armillaris – Bracelet honey myrtle
Isopogon anethifolius
Indigofera australia – Australian Indigo
Bursaria spinosa
Lambertia Formosa – Mountain devil
Maleuca hypericifolia – Red flowered paper bark
Poa labillardei – grass
Dichilachne macrantha – grass
Juncus continius – reed

At home, you might want to look at areas in your own garden which could be adapted to provide a safe habitat for small birds. Check the bird species which come into your garden by sitting for twenty minutes to count them. Is there something you could easily do to help these endangered species? Many Councils have information on their websites to guide you and native plant nurseries can be a great resource as well. Below are some resources we found useful.

The City of Sydney urban habitat creation guide

Native plants guide for the Eastern suburbs

Birds in backyards website

Habitat network resources

And of particular interest are diagrams on arranging plants for a bird habitat.

Finally, you might also want to participate in the Aussie Backyards Birds count which will be held this year between 18 – 24 October.