Source: Auckland Council
Think kowhai and tui.
They go together like gin and tonic or Barbie and Ken.
Native plants and birds are made for each other, which is why Auckland Council is using the power of native birdsong in a radio campaign that launched this week to urge urban homeowners to plant natives in their gardens.
The goal of the campaign is to enlist Aucklanders’ help to increase the region’s canopy cover to 30 per cent – currently, the city only has 18 per cent urban canopy cover. Increasing canopy cover across the city brings with it cultural, social, economic, and environmental benefits, like improved water and air quality, greater biodiversity, shade and a reduction of carbon dioxide through carbon sequestration.
When it comes to attracting birds into backyards, Auckland Council’s Head of Natural Environment Design Sam Hill says birdsong has a relaxing, calming effect on people.
“Birdsong is known to have a positive impact on health; it helps improve mental wellbeing, and when we plant natives in our gardens, we entice those native birds back.
“The bird-plant relationship is connected; you can attract specific birds to your yard by planting the right plants which in turn helps support the region’s biodiversity.”
A diverse range of native plants and shrubs in the back garden is the best way to attract native birds. The plants host seasonal fruit and nectar, and serve up insects that native birds have shaped their entire life cycles around. This creates a safe environment for them; a place to shelter, a place to nest.
“Any garden can be made more attractive to the human eye and a bird’s eye, even if it is only small,” says Sam.
“Select a range of native plants that provide food all-year-round, and that native backyard birds depend on. Make sure your backyard is a safe place for native birds to visit. If you don’t have enough food sources in your garden, it may not be filled with birdsong,” adds Sam.
Auckland Council can help recommend natives that thrive in specific areas of the region. To find out more visit OurAuckland.
To help reach its urban canopy target, Auckland Council is implementing a winter planting programme, the Ngahere Street Tree Project, which will see the council plant 11,000 trees on street verges in Auckland over the next ten years.
The 2024 planting season starts soon with the planting of 2,002 new trees on road corridors across 15 areas of the Auckland region.
The 2024 planting schedule is:
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May – July: Papakura (141 trees); Manurewa (271 trees)
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June – July: Ōtara-Papatoetoe (294 trees); Whau (72 trees); Henderson-Massey (100 trees); Rodney (19 trees); Kaipātiki (33 trees); Ōrākei (26 trees); Waitematā (42 trees); Albert-Eden (6 trees); Puketāpapa (30 trees); Howick (123 trees)
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July – September: Franklin (55 trees); Māngere-Ōtāhuhu (554 trees); Maungakiekie-Tāmaki (236 trees).
Aucklanders can play their part in increasing Auckland’s forest canopy by planting natives as they potter in the garden this autumn, and when listening to their favourite radio station throughout the day over the next month, they’ll hear sounds of common native birds found in Auckland, and hopefully see them in backyards soon.
Read more about Auckland’s Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy here.
