Native Wildlife

Home to species found nowhere else in the world, the Tweed stands as a critical biodiversity hotspot and a vital refuge for unique animals and plants. Explore the resources below to learn more about our local fauna.

Backyard Buddies
creating a habitat haven in your backyard: www.backyardbuddies.org.au

Birds in Backyards –
Birds in backyards

Amphibian Research Centre

Eremaea eBird
Find birds and share your sightings

Biodiversity in my Backyard (by Rita de Heer):
www.mullumyard.blogspot.com

Birdlife Northern NSW:
www.birdlife.org.au/locations/Birdlife-northern-nsw

Birds in Backyards
online Bird Finder: www.birdsinbackyards.net

Build your Own Nest Box booklet:
www.brunswickvalleylandcare.org.au/resouces

Flora for Fauna:

Frogs – North Coast of NSW
https://www.frogs.org.au/frogs/ofNSW/The_North_Coast

Hollow Log Homes nest boxes:
www.hollowloghomes.com

Native Bees:
www.sugarbag.net (link not working)

Reptiles:
www.reptilesofaustralia.com

The Atlas of NSW Wildlife
BioNet search: www.bionet.nsw.gov.au

Tweed Shire Council
Koala Info: www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/Koalas

Tweed Shire Council
Wildlife Info: www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/Wildlife

Other helpful resources

Friends of the Koala
24 hour koala rescue hotline 02 6622 1233. Koala care, rescue and rehabilitation organisation on the Northern Rivers providing volunteer opportunities, koala conservation advocacy, koala food tree nursery and habitat restoration.
Saving our Koalas
Not-for-profit organisation assisting landholders to plant Koala habitat in the Tweed.
Team Koala
Koala conservation advocacy and education.
Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers
24 hour wildlife rescue hotline 02 6672 4789. Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organisation providing training and volunteer opportunities.

Local Groups to get involved with

Trees are essential for native wildlife to find food, shelter, and places to roost and nest. Hollow-bearing trees are especially important because many species use these hollows daily and seasonally to nest and raise their young.

In New South Wales, at least 174 animal species rely on tree hollows, including 46 mammal species, 81 bird species, 31 reptile species, 16 frogs and countless invertebrates. Among these species, 40 are threatened, and the availability of hollow-bearing trees is crucial for their survival.

Tree hollows take hundreds of years to form but are disappearing quickly and are not easily replaced. However, we have the opportunity to take action and make a difference.

How you can help

Let’s work together to protect the homes of the wildlife we love.

Keep and protect all trees with hollows, even if they are dead.
Allow native vegetation to regrow and regenerate.
Leave fallen logs and debris on the ground.
Learn about the importance of tree hollows as homes and share this knowledge with your neighbours and community.
Consider installing nest boxes as a last resort if there are very few natural hollows.
Register a hollow and add a wildlife sighting – Citizen Science | Hollows As Homes

Visit Home is where the hollow is | Threatened species | Environment and Heritage for more information.

Download the Nest Box Guidelines

Wild BNB Habitat supplies habitat solutions to support the recovery of vulnerable wildlife, increase localised biodiversity and assist to heal, restore and enhance landscapes

Nest boxes and tree hollows

Flying Foxes
Flying-foxes are vital to our ecosystem; without them, many animals—including koalas—would lose their natural habitats. Learn about the critical role these pollinators play, the threats to their survival.

Bush-Stone Curlews
The Bush Stone-curlew (also referred to as the Bush Thick-knee, Weeloo, or Angelbird) is classified as an Endangered species in NSW. This status indicates a high risk of extinction in the near future. Find out more about what you can do to protect them.

Threatened Species

Tweed Coast Koala Plan of Management
View the Regional Koala Mapping
Tweed Koala habitat restoration mapping – showing planting and bush regeneration work that has been undertaken to create new and improved habitat for koalas
Council is involved in a range of koala and koala habitat conservation initiatives – visit Tweed Shire Council’s Koala webpage to find out more

Koalas

Run by volunteers, Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers help to rescue, rehabilitate and release native animals in the Tweed. They educate residents and encourage regeneration of our unique habitat.

What to do if you find injured wildlife:

Call their 24 hotline on 02 6672 4789
Find out what to do

Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers (Native Fauna)

Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience, Botanical Gardens of Sydney
The Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience (ReCER) uses innovative science and technology to investigate the factors impacting the distribution and assembly of plant species.

What The Flora!? (Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience) Podcast Series on real solutions to protecting plants and our future. From hand pollinating tiny, endangered orchids with toothpicks to battling plant diseases with DNA science, What the Flora!? is your chance to see cutting-edge conservation in action.

Tweed Shire Council Biodiversity Information

Australian Fungi

WEForest Earth

Australian Plant Image Index

Caldera Fungi

Florabank
native species seed management

How to Propagate Australian Plants

Threatened Species

PlantNET- NSW Flora Online (link not working www.plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au)

Rainforest Plants of Australia
Rockhampton to Victoria: Interactive USB key and information system (2014)

How to Propagate Australian Plants: www.anbg.gov.

au/PROPGATE/plant01.htm

Threatened Species: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/

animals-and-plants/threatened-species

PlantNET- NSW Flora Online: www.plantnet.rbgsyd.

nsw.gov.au

Rainforest Plants of Australia – Rockhampton to Victoria: Interactive USB key and information system (2014) www.rainforests.net.au/product/rainforest-plants-of

australia/

Online Resources

Land for Wildlife program – Do you have space for nature on your property? The Land for Wildlife provides free guidance and hands-on resources to help you protect local wildlife habitat alongside your daily land use. Register your interest and a Council officer will visit to check eligibility. Find out more and sign up at Land for Wildlife – Community Environment Network

Tweed Shire Council Biodiversity and River Health Grants – Need a hand with your restoration project? Council offers Biodiversity and River Health Grants to help landholders and community groups bring local ecosystems back to life. These grants provide both the funding and the expert advice you need to care for your patch of Country.