Birds, Bees and Creatures
Whilst the coastal dunes, river sand flats and river mud flats at Shoalhaven Heads provide habitat to a remarkable range of water birds, the native trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses and flowers of our Botanic Garden have also become home to a wide range of birdlife and other wonderful creatures. Although not often there all together at the same time, some 20 to 30 species are counted as regular Birds of the Garden.
There are always plenty of Rainbow Lorikeets [Trichoglossus haematodus] - not called "Clowns of the Bush" for nothing!
The day our Garden had over 5,000 visitors ...
... a bee swarm taking over the visitor information box!
The introduction of native stingless bees [Tetragonula carbonaria] has become a valuable asset to the Garden as they are great little pollinators
Eric the echidna wanders through on occasions
Crimson Rosellas [Platycercus elegans] love the seed pods formed when Grevilleas finish flowering
Brush Wattlebird [Anthochaera chrysoptera] seeks nectar, berries and insects
Eastern Spinebill [Acanthorrhynchus tenuirostris] a colourful honeyeater, often seen at flowers of Banksia, Callistemon, and Grevillea
From the insect eaters to the insects, like this Red-winged Stick Insect. Who knows what you'll find in the Garden!
Moth or Butterfly? Or dinner for some hungry bird or animal!
The beautiful, aptly named, Jewel Bug is often seen on the Elderberry [Sambucus australasica]
Some of the local wildlife keep an eye on what's going on