It’s been said that travelling abroad is a sure way to increase your appreciation of what you have at home. This is true for me, particularly in one regard. A few years ago, I spent six weeks travelling Italy from the tip of the toe, right up to the top of the boot, and in that entire journey I think I saw only five or six different types of bird. I absolutely love New Zealand, and each time I visit, the raw beauty of the land never fails to inspire awe. But for all of its (remaining) natural beauty, New Zealand has a surprising lack of wildlife, when compared to our own lucky country.
So why? Why is Australia so replete with wildlife that even on my small patch of land, I regularly get visits from over 90 species of birds, marsupials, frogs and reptiles? I’m no scientist, and I leave the answers to someone who knows more than me. But one thing I am sure of is the presence of …
TREES.
In New Zealand, Kauri forests were reduced from 1.5 million hectares before European settlement, to just 7000 hectares by the start of the twentieth century. Just read those numbers again. Take a moment to absorb them. From 1,500,000 to 7000. There are a lot less zeros in that second figure, aren’t there? I’m sure that Italy and most of Europe have lost similar treasures over the centuries.
Since Europeans came to Australia, we’ve cut down almost HALF of our country’s native forests. And that has put tremendous pressure on our wildlife. But the good news is that the other half are still standing, despite the continual onslaught of development. And if we can somehow bring ourselves to protect what’s left of our native forests, our amazing, diverse, beautiful collection of wild animals might have a chance of surviving long enough for our great-grandchildren to enjoy them.
There’s one problem though. Australia’s animals are unique in many ways, but particularly in how they breed. Many species of birds and marsupials are hollow nesters, and will only breed when a suitable cavity can be found for them to lay eggs or nurse young in. And where are hollows found in nature? You guessed it.
TREES.
But not just any trees, they have to be mature trees, species like Eucalypts. I’m talking trees that are over one hundred years old, and sadly, we keep cutting them down before they reach anywhere near that age. Let’s not forget that it’s not only the wildlife who will miss out when we’ve cleared the other fifty percent of Australia’s bush. Our kids will too.
Hollow Promise: I pledge to retain mature trees and to install nesting boxes on my land, which will support a variety of animals including, among others; Feathertail and Sugar Gliders, Mountain and Common Brushtail Possums, King Parrots, Rosellas, Lorikeets and Ducks. I promise that I will maintain the nesting boxes so that our most welcome visitors can continue to bring their grandkids to meet mine.
A tree change without trees is a future without birds.
Please make a hollow promise today.