Habitat Gardening for Birds online course

Learn how you can support native Aussie birds by creating a habitat garden at home.

Photographed by Jeremy Edwards. South-eastern Crimson Rosella

What’s the course about:

You’ll learn from bird experts and garden design gurus while exploring the essential features of a habitat garden and discovering what birds need to thrive.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, by the end of the course you’ll be equipped to design, establish and maintain a habitat garden to attract and support a diverse array of local birds, as we guide you through each step of the way.

So, get ready to spread your wings – your neighbourhood birds will thank you! And we can’t wait to see the wonderful habitats you create.

Course Overview

Course Duration: This course will take about 4 hours to complete, but you should allow extra time to: research your property, local birds and plants; create your garden plan; and put it into action, to establish your habitat garden. After you’ve finished the course, you’re free to revisit it as often as you need while you plant out your habitat garden.

Features of the course:

6 videos
30 written lessons
Expert knowledge from habitat garden design professionals and ornithologists
Bird and plant profiles
Connect with others in the community forum
Local resources and nursery directory
Video tour of a micro habitat garden in the middle of Melbourne
Loads of extra resources to inspire and help you on your way
Troubleshooting info

Topics covered:

Why is habitat gardening important?
What birds need to thrive
Features of a bird habitat garden
Food and habitat preferences
Find out who’s visiting your garden
Bird ID for beginners
Explore your local birds
Getting to know your space
Your climate zone and soil
How to sketch your growing space and decide what goes where
Preparing garden beds
How to plant native plants
Ongoing garden care (including tree care & maintaining a bird bath)
Dealing with wildlife and the impact of pets
Caring for sick or injured wildlife
Wildlife safe pest control
Nest boxes
Other ways to support birds

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this course for?

Birders who want to support birds at home, even if they don’t know much about gardening.
Gardeners of all experience levels who wish to support birds.
Anyone who loves Australian native plants but is unsure which ones to plant.
Anyone who wants to encourage native birds to their garden.
Renters and homeowners.
People with any room to grow (even if it’s a balcony with a couple of pots).

Who teaches the course?

Our presenters – Emmaline Bowman from STEM Landscape Architecture & Design and Mars Reid from Bili Nursery & Landcare – collaborated to develop the course curriculum with BirdLife Australia’s team of researchers.

How much does the course cost?

The course is free, but we welcome a donation to BirdLife Australia to help us continue to create resources like this.

I’m based in another country, can I still take this course?

No. This course is specifically designed to focus on the unique birds and gardening conditions in Australia.

Can I get personalised help with my garden plan?

Direct one-on-one advice isn’t available, but the community forum is a great place to share your ideas and questions with peers. The course also provides guidance on connecting with local experts and resources to help you create a bird-friendly garden in your area.

How do I access the course?

The course is online, via the BirdLife Australia Learning Hub, which you can access with a MyBirdLife login. If you don’t have one, it’s easy to set one up (see below).

Can I do the course on my mobile or tablet?

Yes.

Do I get a certificate of completion at the end?

Yes!

Register for this course

What happens next?
Once you’ve completed the form, you will be added to our waiting list for the course. We will contact you as soon as a spot becomes available.

- Programs
  
  Urban Birds
- Share