Banyule is home to a wide range of native wildlife including:
224 species of native birds
23 kinds of reptiles
22 mammal species
12 types of frogs
9 species of native fish and an enormous number of invertebrates
Some species such as the Noisy Miner, Australian Magpie, Red Wattlebird and the Common Brushtail Possum have adapted well to urbanisation and are commonly found in parks and gardens. Others, such as Latham’s Snipe and the Eltham Copper Butterfly, have very specific requirements for survival and are only found in restricted areas of habitat.
To monitor the variety and spread of Banyule’s wildlife, Banyule Council has established a database of all birds and animals in the area. If you see any interesting or unusual species please let us know. We also provide information and advice on how to protect our local wildlife.
Banyule Parks and Reserves
Banyule City has a wealth of open space and parklands including areas of exotic and native vegetation of historical and environmental importance. As well, the city has over 70,000 street trees. Street trees provide shelter, shade and wind protection to the urban landscape and create a more attractive and livable environment. Because people are not always aware of the importance of street trees we have developed two new programs to encourage community interest and involvement in this important area.
Eltham Copper Butterfly
The Eltham Copper Butterfly – was first discovered in Eltham in 1938. It was thought to be extinct in 1956, until a small population was found again in 1986. It is listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and is considered vulnerable. It prefers a woodland habitat with an understorey containing the shrub Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) and a ground layer of native grasses, mosses and leaf litter.
Its survival is closely linked to a genus of ants (Notoncus). Females lay eggs during summer on the shoots, stems and sometimes leaf litter of Sweet Bursaria. The larvae hatch after 10-14 days and shelter and develop in ant’s nests located around the plant roots. Larvae emerge at night to feed on the Bursaria leaves, where they are constantly attended by the ants. In return for protection and care the ants feed on secretions of sugar and amino acids from the larvae. This is also thought to keep the larvae free from fungal and bacterial disease. Adult butterflies emerge in early to mid summer.
The main threats to this butterfly are destruction and fragmentation of habitat and weed invasion. Competition with introduced wildlife and changes in fire regimes can also have a negative effect on populations. Banyule City Council in conjunction with other land managers are actively involved in managing the butterfly by: population monitoring, protecting and improving habitat, education and ecological burning. The Friends of Eltham Copper Butterfly are active in protecting the butterfly and restoring its habitat.
Latham’s Snipe
Latham’s Snipe spend the winter time breeding in Northern Japan, migrating a distance of 7,000 km to Australia in early Spring. They are found along freshwater streams, swamps and wetland areas. During the day, they spend much of their time squatting under cover of tussocks and low shrubs in open grassland areas or sheltering amongst reeds. They are shy, wary birds and if disturbed will stay still until the last minute and then suddenly fly up in the air before finding another place to hide. They feed usually at dawn and dusk, probing in soft ground for beetles, insects, invertebrates and plant material. Drainage of land has contributed to the decline of Latham’s Snipe numbers over recent years. These birds have been found in wetland areas in Banyule including Banyule Flats.
Sugar Glider
The Sugar Glider has a remarkable ability to glide from tree to tree. This is achieved through a flap of loose skin which extends between the fifth finger of the hand to the first toe of the foot. The animal launches itself from a tree, spreads its limbs to expose the gliding membrane and directs its glide through subtle changes in the curvature of the membrane. Glides of up to 50 metres have been recorded.
Sugar gliders rarely descend to the ground. Gliding serves as both an efficient means of exploiting patch food resources and an effective way of reducing the risk of predation.
Old growth trees with hollows are important in providing nesting sites for the species.
Sugar gliders have a sweet tooth — their diet consists of flower nectar, acacia gum, eucalypt sap and insects.
Sugar gliders are highly social — at least as far as marsupials go — with nests often comprising up to seven adults and their young. Huddling together serves the nest occupants well during spells of cold weather, although the species is also capable of becoming torpid during cold weather, that is, its body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure drop for a few days at a time while the animal is in a state similar to hibernation.
In Banyule, sugar gliders are mainly found in areas with established wattles, where they feed on tree gum.
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