Recommendations

Hi Jackie

If you're keen to attract local birds to your property then, in my opinion, you can't go past planting species that are indigenous to your area. The reason for this is that over millions of years your local birds have evolved together with the local vegetation. One is dependent on the other. In other words, local plant species provide exactly the right habitat for your local birds & your local birds provide exactly the right features for the regeneration of your local plant species.

There are other very good reasons for planting local species:

• they're adapted to the local soil & climate and therefore are more likely to survive than non-local species
• being adapted to your local soil & climate you won't need to spend much time maintaining them. Now is a good time to plant as the ground is wet & spring with its warmth is near. Only water your local species next summer if there's a long, dry spell. After that any that don't survive without watering don't deserve to have their genes passed on to the next generation!
• they contribute to rather than detract from the local ecology
• they preserve the character of your area. Personally, I find it rather jarring to see, for example, a row of book pines next to a piece of natural bushland
• you won't be contributing to the number of weeds that infest local areas. Yes, native plants that aren't local to your area can become weeds & destroy the ecology of the South Maroota area

To provide conditions for many of your local birds, not to mention butterflies & other native critters, don't forget understorey plants such as native lillies & grasses. Replicating, as far as possible, what exists naturally in your area will attract a more diverse range of bird species.

It's a good idea to visit your nearest piece of natural bushland or even intact roadside vegetation to get an idea of the indigenous vegetation of your area. (Google Earth tells me there's lots of bushland around South Maroota.) Observe the way plants are grouped together & take note of open spaces between groups of plants because these spaces are important for various bird species. For example, fairy-wrens & magpies.

If you have any natural bushland near your property or even local plant species on your property it's not a bad idea to allow them to regenerate into your property. This takes time but the process can be speeded up by controlling weeds near the natural bushland or plant species. Before controlling weeds ensure that your not destroying any native plants that have already regenerated. The value of this longer term approach is that you're sure to be getting the appropriate genetic material on your property.

There may even be a local native plant nursery or landcare group which would be able to advise on species local to your property. If you can get hold of plants grown from local seed you'll have the right genetics for your area. National Parks & Wildlife Service would probably have plant lists for national parks near you. If there's an NSW organisation like Trees for Life in SA you may even be able obtain plants grown from local seed.

Having revegetated 17.5 hectares of land over 25 years I can attest to the immense satisfaction to be gained from watching at least the partial restortion of a piece of the local ecology. Good luck with your project, Jackie, & let me know if you have any comments or questions.