Wednesday, 5 March 2025
Want to attract more native birds to your backyard, but don’t know where to start? Our brand-new Habitat Gardening for Birds online course has got you covered!
Brought to you by our Birds in Backyards team, our free Habitat Gardening for Birds course provides practical, step-by-step guidance on designing, creating and maintaining habitat for your local native birds at home.
Land clearing and habitat loss and fragmentation are among the biggest threats to native birds today.
As their habitat continues to be destroyed across the country, more birds are taking refuge in our backyards and towns and cities – and today, around 30% of Australia’s threatened species can be found within our urban centres.
Small changes can make a big difference for native birds, and the best way you can help the birds in your backyard is by providing them with habitat for feeding, nesting and shelter. Our new Habitat Gardening for Birds course will show you how.
“People are increasingly aware of the pressures birds face in urban environments, but they often don’t know where to start when it comes to creating bird-friendly spaces. This course gives them the tools and confidence to make a real difference.” – Dr Holly Parsons, BirdLife Australia Manager Priority Sites and urban bird expert
Developed in collaboration with landscape architects, horticulturists and BirdLife Australia researchers, our Habitat Gardening for Birds course is tailored to Australian gardening conditions and the specific needs of our native birds.
Our team of bird experts and garden gurus will teach you everything you need to know about growing your own bird-friendly garden ‒ from plant selection and garden structure, to managing common challenges like aggressive birds and pest species.
You don’t have to be a green thumb or own acres of land to take part, either – it’s suitable for anyone in Australia who wants to help attract and support native birds, no matter your level of experience or the size of your outdoor space.
Participants design and implement their own garden plan to transform their outdoor space into bird-friendly habitat, while learning valuable gardening skills and tips for living with and caring for wildlife.
By focusing on sustainable, long-term habitat solutions, participants will also deepen their appreciation and understanding of their own backyard and local native plants and birds.
Our Habitat Gardening for Birds course is available online through the BirdLife Australia Learning Hub and can be completed on a phone or computer.
To take part, you’ll first need to register by logging in or creating a MyBirdLife account.
Spots are limited, so once you’ve registered your interest you’ll be added to our waiting list. The next round will open in April 2025, and we will contact you as soon as a spot becomes available.
This course is free and flexible. While it takes around 4 hours to complete, you can take it at your own pace. Once you’ve finished, you can revisit the content whenever you need – and you’ll even get a certificate at the end!
Once you’ve joined the waiting list, check out our Habitat Gardening for Birds video series on YouTube!
Presented by gardening gurus Emmaline (STEM Landscape Architecture & Design), Mars (Bili Nursery & Landcare), and Emma (The Heart Gardening Project), this 6-part series offers an introduction to habitat gardening and practical tips and resources for transforming your outdoor space into a haven for nature.
This project is proudly supported by Australian Communities Foundation through The Hamer Sprout Fund.
Conservation starts in your backyard. The plants that we choose for our gardens can provide most, sometimes even all, of the food, shelter and nesting resources that urban birds require. So when you are deliberating over which plants to add your garden, it’s useful to consider the following.
Learn how you can support native Aussie birds by creating a habitat garden at home.
You may not know it, but there’s a lot you can do for Australia's birds from the comfort of your own home — from creating a bird-friendly garden to submitting a seasonal survey — you can make a difference by taking action in your own backyard. Find out more about the Birds in Backyards project.
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