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What birds that call Adelaide Botanic Garden home?
Supporting urban wildlife
Adelaide Botanic Garden is a unique urban habitat containing wetlands, open lawns, and a large variety of plants, providing an important sanctuary for wildlife. Over 50 species of birds regularly visit the gardens and as many as 100 species have been observed here.
It is important to ensure we respectfully observe and respect the wildlife to ensure they continue to call it home. We welcome you to observe the birds but please avoid disturbing or feeding them.
The importance of urban greenspaces
With our population increasing and more people living in apartments or houses with little to no backyard, the need for healthy greenspaces has never been more important. Not only do trees and parks provide homes for our native wildlife and give us space for outdoor recreation, but they also help to reduce urban heat.
Four ways to attract native birds to your garden
Native Plants - the right plants will provide food and shelter, while also attracting insects.
Don't be too tidy - many birds feed on insects, and insects need places to live. It's ok to tolerate some natural scruffiness!
Water - all birds need to drink, especially in hot weather. A bird bath is a great idea. Keeper water off the ground and keep it clean.
Be mindful of pets - With cats and dogs, supervise or limit their time in your backyard to give birds a chance to visit.
Our most common birds
Australian Wood Duck | Chenonetta jubata
These birds nest in tree hollows - look out for fluffy ducklings in the spring. Soon after hatching, the ducklings leap to the ground from as high as 15 metres!
Rainbow Lorikeet | Trichoglossus haematodus
These colourful birds depend on tree hollows and feed primarily on nectar and pollen. They are social, acrobatic and noisy!
Australian White Ibis | Threskiornis molucca
As many wetlands have disappeared these adaptable birds have found an important sanctuary in cities especially the Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Parklands. (Pic credit: Kevin Williams)
Noisy Miner | Manorina melanocephala
These birds are social, noisy and territorial often seen chasing away other birds. Providing bushy shelter helps smaller birds avoid harassment. (Pic credit: John Fennell)
Adelaide National Park City
The international National Park City Foundation awarded Adelaide National Park City status in 2021. This made Adelaide the first city in Australia and the second in the world (after London) to receive the honour.
Being coin a National Park City means that our city has demonstrated that nature is important. It is the beginning of a movement to improve city life through everyday actions to enjoy the outdoors.
Have you noticed a strange looking unit near the First Creek Wetlands at Adelaide Botanic Garden? Did you know this machine is collecting valuable biodiversity data which will be used to safeguard South Australia's Myrtleceae trees against a deadly disease.
We caught up with Mount Lofty Botanic Garden horticultural supervisor Mark Oborn to get some insider tips for visiting the garden during autumn colours.