June 24, 2022
How can humans help support native Australian bird wildlife in our constantly changing modern landscape?
We have continued to develop our society – roads, infrastructure, housing, commercial space, transport etc. It is only natural that our native wildlife has evolved to be part of an ecosystem with a rapidly changing landscape. Feeding, breeding, and shelter have had to adapt to survive changes that have impacted the decreasing availability of suitable native landscapes.
For birds, in particular, we have identified changes in behaviour that, to humans, are undesirable. These include:
- Large-scale flocking of birds who together feed on agriculture crops or productive horticulture (impacting crops by an average of 45%)
- Damage to public and private infrastructure (often due to roosting or shelter)
- Feeding in “unintended” areas causing damage and rubbish, e.g. Bins.
The answer to improving human versus bird interactions is relatively simple – balance.
Balance can be achieved but providing for birds:
- Native landscapes in suitable climates for birds to feed, shelter and breed;
- Breeding boxes in landscapes to protect from introduced predators;
- Feeding programs to ensure sufficient food and water sources are available for all birds;
- Native wildlife support programs in high-density areas ensure suitable parks and landscapes with appropriate native plants and designs.
At the Bird Advocacy Foundation (BAF), we promote better outcomes for our native bird species. We work with a range of partners to drive new initiatives which promote the availability of food, water and shelter for the preservation of our bird wildlife. Our research suggests that many challenges faced between humans and birds can be remedied with proactive planning and the implementation of wildlife support strategies.
