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Welcome to the April issue of Sustainable Shellharbour. This month we're focusing on interactive citizen science nature projects you can get involved in from your own backyard. We also have details of useful on-line resources about wildlife, local native plants and sustainability at home. Keep reading for details.
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Autumn Birds in Backyards survey
Here in Shellharbour we’re lucky to have a huge array of birds that visit suburban backyards, from Laughing Kookaburras to Magpies and New Holland Honeyeaters.
Now we all have more time at home, why not help BirdLife Australia find out how our urban birds are doing by submitting a Birds in Backyards survey? Birds in Backyards surveys can be submitted at any time, and as often as you like. Visit the Birds in Backyard website to get involved, or download the free Birdata app.
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New Holland Honeyeater visiting a backyard in Shellharbour.
Image by Aidan Pawson.
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Record frogs from your backyard with the FrogID app
Do you ever hear frogs calling in your backyard? Striped Marsh frogs and Peron’s Tree frogs are common visitors to backyards in Shellharbour.
By downloading the Australian Museum’s FrogID app, you can submit recordings of frogs you hear calling. The FrogID validation team are working from home and will listen to your recordings and work out what frog species you have recorded. These valuable recordings are helping scientists to map frogs across Australia and discover where frogs are most at risk from habitat loss, disease and climate change.
You are encouraged to record frogs you hear calling daily – even if it’s the same Striped Marsh frogs calling. Regular recordings are valuable data for the FrogID project.
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A Striped Marsh frog spotted visiting a home in Shellharbour.
Image by Aimee Elliott.
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Find out more and download the free app here. You can also follow the FrogID project on Facebook.
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New Growing Illawarra Natives website
The Growing Illawarra Natives website was recently launched by Urban Biodiversity Illawarra. Five years in the making, the website showcases native plant species local to the Illawarra region, and provides tips on sourcing and growing them. It covers hundreds of plant species, and includes photos, ideas on garden design, plant stockists and tips on attracting local wildlife. 100% community-led and developed, the website is a great resource for gardeners, landscapers and those interested in bush regeneration. Check it out here.
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Image by Tracee Lea ©.
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Wild Pollinator Count
Ever notice any pollinating insects, like native bees, European honeybees, or butterflies visiting flowers in your garden? The Wild Pollinator Count gives you an opportunity to contribute to wild pollinator insect conservation in Australia.
The next count is from April 12 – 19, so why not get out into your backyard, watch a flowering plant for ten minutes and see what you can observe?
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A native Teddy Bear bee photographed by Thomas Daley
in his backyard in Albion Park Rail.
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You don’t need to be an insect expert, you don’t need fancy gear, and you may be surprised by what you see! Find out more and get involved at https://wildpollinatorcount.com/.
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ClimateWatch
Want to help improve the understanding of how changes in temperature and rainfall are affecting the seasonal behaviour of Australia's plants and animals?
ClimateWatch, a national program developed by Earthwatch Australia, Bureau of Meteorology and the University of Melbourne, enables every Australian to become a citizen scientist by collecting and recording data that will help shape the country’s scientific response to climate change.
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You can record sightings of the behaviour of selected plants and animals you see in your backyard or local area, such as the flowering, fruiting or leaf change of Illawarra Flame trees, or the presence of Orchard Swallowtail Butterflies.
Find out more here or download the ClimateWatch app.
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Shellharbour's results from Aussie Backyard Bird Count
Back in October, we encouraged local residents to join in BirdLife Australia’s annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count and submit sightings of birds they spotted in the Shellharbour City Council area.
Results show in the Shellharbour area 164 people observed 9,922 individual birds from 21 – 27 October. A total of 160 different bird species were recorded. This is a brilliant effort, and a big increase on the 2018 results.
The top three birds observed most frequently in 2019 was the same as in 2018, being the House Sparrow, Silver Gull and Rainbow Lorikeet.
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‘Reddall Gulls’ – Silver Gulls at Reddall Reserve. Image by Cassandra Olsen.
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These bird counts are a valuable tool for Birdlife Australia to fill a knowledge gap — more is known about Australia’s threatened birds than Australia’s common backyard birds. Now is your chance to get involved and complete the Birds in Backyards Autumn Survey about birds you notice in your backyard!
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Shellharbour City Libraries sustainable living and organic gardening e-magazines
Although all of our libraries including City, Warilla, Albion Park, Oak Flats, and Shellharbour Village are closed, there is still a range of online resources all our library members can access at home. Explore thousands of free eBooks, eAudiobooks, e-Magazines and more HERE!
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Plant in the veggie garden now
April is a great time for planting:
• Broad beans
• Snow peas
• Green peas
• Garlic
• Broccoli
Council’s nursery on River Oak Place, Oak Flats is closed to the public for walk-in retail sales. However, we will still be taking orders and providing quotations over the phone and via email. Our normal hours of operation 7.30am to 3.45pm Monday to Friday will still apply. All payments will be via credit card over the phone and a tax invoice will be issued. Pickup and delivery options will be available. Contact 42216191 or nursery@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au.
For information on food gardening ideas check out Council's Grow Local Illawarra Edible Garden Guide on Council’s website. Don’t forget you can also borrow great gardening magazines like ABC Organic Gardener from the library or free on-line if you are a Shellharbour City Libraries member.
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COVID-19 updates from Shellharbour City Council
In response to the evolving situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19), Council is doing all it can to protect the wellbeing of our customers, our community and our staff.
All events, public programs and activities (including Nature Talks in the Library, BushCare and LandCare, the Tinkerage and the Wild About Shellharbour Nature Photography Competition) have been postponed. A number of facilities are closed, and we have introduced a range of changes in how we deliver our services to help protect you and our staff.
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