Prominent Bondi developer RnB Property Group is making its mark in Byron.

The developer, who is currently delivering boutique developments Mangata and Allara in Vaucluse, has filed for a boutique shoptop development on Byron Bay's dress circle Marvell Street.

The near $11 million plans, for an amalgamated site across 5 Marvell Lane and 8 Marvell Street, will see 10 three-bedroom apartments developed across a four-level building, above two ground floor retail spaces and basement parking, accessed from Marvell Lane.

<img alt="Marvell Ln, Byron Bay 2481 NSW" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="621b55e5-5b0a-40c0-984a-47d716814e1b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Byron%20bay%20da%20pers.png?VersionId=MJyJqMzfMqom4a.l9EIiIZW8cYP24Mf1" />

The apartments, designed by&nbsp;SRH Architecture, will range in size between 114 sqm and 220 sqm.

SRH’s architectural plans indicate a contemporary façade treatment with varied setbacks to address both Marvell Street and Marvell Lane frontages.&nbsp;

Landscaped common areas are proposed, including 134 sqm of gardens, while deep planting is incorporated to improve the interface with surrounding properties.

BASIX commitments show the project exceeding NSW sustainability targets, achieving a water score of 49 against the target of 40, and an energy score of 61 over the target of 60. All apartments have been designed to achieve compliance with thermal performance standards.

<img alt="Marvell Ln, Byron Bay 2481 NSW" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="be1365f4-91b0-4c79-9e30-b91c6867140b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Marvel%20St%20byron%20bay.png?VersionId=PXxTyxp.HkNEQxiIwuUDlbQn2f.UC_l5" />

The development would involve the demolition of a single storey cottage on the site.

RNB Property Group has developed across Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs for decades. They met with the Byron Bay Council prior to the recent submission. They only received one written submission from locals, who requested a redesign of the building to respond more&nbsp;to the local context through form, material palette and native landscaping.

Changes to aspects of the design have been undertaken in response to the feedback.

Joel Robinson

Eastern Suburbs developer heads north to Byron's Marvell Street

Once home to MacRobertson’s Garage and Workshop, a small corner of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/fitzroy-vic-3065">Fitzroy</a> is soon to host a new sculptural landmark, with its design intent rooted in the textures and stories of the streets around it.

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/chapter-group">Chapter Group</a> in partnership with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cdl-australia">CDL Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/crema-group">Crema</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/fitzroy-fitzroy-411-421-smith-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">Fitzroy Fitzroy</a> comprises 63 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments behind the heritage brick façade.

&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a> led the design process with a clear vision.

“What really inspired our vision for Fitzroy Fitzroy was to create almost a sculpture that could sit on the actual heritage base itself,” says Koos de Keijzer, Founder and Principal at DKO.&nbsp;

The design team shaped the western side of the nine-storey building into a chamfer, opening interiors to light and views while defining the building’s distinctive form.

The façade’s rhythm is broken by recessed loggias.

"We feel quite strongly about loggias, an outside area that sits inside and is quite protected from the wind and from the sun. We've also got these Juliet balconies where&nbsp;the wall starts to open up just to captivate the outdoors and bring it indoors.”

&nbsp;

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Inside, DKO crafted flexible layouts to encourage residents to live their own way.

“We really wanted to create something which people have an individual say on how they live,” says Michael Drescher, DKO's Interior Design Director.

Kitchens feature two contrasting stones, a durable surface at the cooktop and a natural stone island, with abundant storage and built-in banquet seating to encourage shared meals and socialising.&nbsp;

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Bathrooms carry the same stone for a cohesive aesthetic, informed by hotel design cues to create “a high level of glamorous” while remaining highly functional.

On levels seven and eight, apartments are tucked behind the building’s chamfer, creating outdoor terraces that range from expansive entertaining areas to sheltered, intimate spaces beneath the pitched rooflines.&nbsp;

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Residents also have access to a rooftop retreat with panoramic views, alongside the Smith Club, a private lounge for social gatherings, and a laneway arcade linking Smith and Leicester Streets, a deliberate nod to Melbourne’s arcade culture.

For de Keijzer, the outcome is a project that feels inherently local, that that is “truly authentic in a Fitzroy context”.&nbsp;

Fitzroy Fitzroy is already 70 per cent sold, attracting predominantly local owner-occupiers. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/cobild">Cobild</a> is expecting to complete construction in Q4 2025, with residents moving in shortly after.

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For Koos de Keijzer, Founder and Principal at DKO, the outcome is a project that feels inherently local, that that is “truly authentic in a Fitzroy context”

Fitzroy Fitzroy: Designed by locals, rooted in place

Chevron Island is set for a little slice of New York with the upcoming completion of Greenwich, the newest development by Ention Properties.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenwich-surfers-paradise-30-anembo-street-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Greenwich</a>, a boutique 15-level development with just 46 apartments on Anembo Street, just off Chevron Island Park, has been designed by Ferro Chow to look like Manhattan's famous Flatiron Building.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6647 project_image_fid=171555]

Ention has refined the design and the make-up of the building over several years, reducing the number of apartments and increasing the internal floor areas of the apartments.

The remaining apartments for sale, which start from over 100 sqm and range in size up to the 209 sqm, penthouse-style offering, start from just over $1,129,000. There are a handful of two and three-bedrooms remaining, each with views over the Gold Coast skyline and waterways from the balconies and living areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6647 project_image_fid=183797]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ferro-chow-architects">Ferro Chow Architects</a> led the design, placing emphasis on curved forms, expansive arched floor-to-ceiling windows, and a natural palette that connects the interiors with the parkland and river landscape.&nbsp;

Each apartment features wide-plank oak flooring and a refined materials palette, including marbled stone kitchens and premium Miele and V-ZUG appliances.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6647 project_image_fid=183798]

Greenwich’s amenity is anchored by a rooftop pavilion dedicated exclusively to residents, comprising an infinity-edge pool, daybeds, poolside cabanas, a BBQ area, and a yoga and relaxation lawn.

The elevated vantage point offers sweeping city and water views, complementing the project's positioning at the quiet residential end of Chevron Island, but also just off the Thomas St village strip.

Jayde Pezet, Director at Pezet Matheson, says buyers have been drawn to the central location of the development, abutting public open space, with water and skyline views.&nbsp;

"Greenwich offers residents unparalleled walkability to HOTA, waterways, Surfers Paradise golf course, beaches and dining precincts.&nbsp;Also the stunning architectural design of the towers facade coupled with exquisite rooftop amenity has drawn attention from buyers and local residents alike."

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Jayde Pezet, Director at Pezet Matheson, says buyers have been drawn to the central location of the development, abutting public open space, with water and skyline views

Ention Properties release final Greenwich, Chevron Island apartments ahead of September completion

Three years after completion, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> on the Parramatta River remains one of the suburb's most distinctive residential towers, not just for its 46-storey presence on the water, but for its integration of the Southern Hemisphere’s first fully robotic car park, now well-proven in daily use.

Delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a> and EQ Construction and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the $300 million development brought 414 apartments to Parramatta’s CBD fringe at a time when the city was undergoing rapid transformation into Sydney’s second CBD.

The nine-level basement, combining three conventional parking levels with six automated levels, was designed and installed by German firm Lödige Industries using its Cubile technology. The system has now been in continuous operation for three years, handling 327 vehicles through five transfer cabins.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5369]

Residents drive into the cabins, and flat robots move their cars to available bays without ramps or human intervention. The technology is compatible with all common cars and SUVs up to 2.5 tonnes and typically retrieves vehicles within minutes via a smartphone app.

By storing up to 60 per cent more vehicles than a conventional design, the automated format reduced excavation depth during construction and continues to deliver operational benefits, including lower emissions from underground vehicle movements and improved resident safety.

NOVM CEO and Executive Director Adrian Liaw said the decision to adopt the technology was aligned with the team’s focus on both efficiency and resident experience.

“For The Lennox we wanted both a modern functionality and timeless aesthetic combined with our customary meticulous quality and craftsmanship. The automated parking technology from Lödige Industries offers both the innovative functionality and luxurious user experience we were keen to create and the performance we needed to see.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5371]

The Lennox offers a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, all designed with open-plan living areas that extend to private balconies.&nbsp;

Interiors are finished in neutral tones, complemented by engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops and integrated appliances, while many residences on the upper levels enjoy expansive river and district views.

Resident facilities are centred around The Watermark precinct, a 20-metre indoor heated pool, outdoor terrace, BBQ areas, gym, fitness studio and conference room. Ground-floor retail fronts the river walk, linking directly to public open space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5370]

Since The Lennox’s completion, Parramatta has continued to experience population growth and infrastructure investment, with the light rail under construction and the Metro West line expected to link the CBD to Sydney in around 20 minutes.&nbsp;

Waterfront residential opportunities remain limited, with most prime sites either developed or earmarked for public use. In a market where on-site parking ratios are trending down in new approvals, The Lennox’s combination of a high-capacity robotic car park and established riverfront address continues to differentiate it among completed stock.

A limited selection of apartments at The Lennox remain available, with immediate occupancy.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

Riverfront living with Australia’s most advanced residential parking system at The Lennox, Parramatta

Melbourne-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/progressio-developments">Progressio Developments</a> has timed the launch of its latest residential project to perfection.

Their new development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-camberwell-936-938-toorak-road-camberwell-vic-3146">Crest Camberwell</a>, taps into a significantly undersupplied market in Camberwell, where new apartment projects are increasingly rare. Progressio is not only filling that gap but also catering to a broader range of buyers—something that's uncommon in boutique apartment buildings, which typically feature uniform configurations and price points.

Located on a prime Toorak Road site, just a short walk from the bustling Burke Road commercial strip, Crest Camberwell comprises just 12 exclusive apartments.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=9177 project_image_fid=350647]

Prices at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-camberwell-936-938-toorak-road-camberwell-vic-3146">Crest Camberwell</a> start at $770,000 for the one-bedroom apartments. The two-beds are priced at $1.49 million, and the large three-bedroom residences, with two parking spaces, are $1.66 million.

Designed by Melbourne-based architecture studio <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/splinter-society">Splinter Society</a>, Crest’s architectural expression draws on Camberwell’s heritage character, incorporating brick-inspired materials and bronze detailing.&nbsp;

The building’s massing and orientation are designed to capture green views while integrating with the established streetscape.&nbsp;Natural materials including travertine, textured concrete and timber feature throughout, both externally and internally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=9177 project_image_fid=350647]

The interiors prioritise scale and natural light, with open-plan layouts that extend to large balconies equipped with full-height sliding doors.&nbsp;

Integrated appliances from Fisher &amp; Paykel and V-ZUG, along with custom joinery, brass tapware and stone benchtops, are standard inclusions across all residences.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=9177 project_image_fid=350650]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-camberwell-936-938-toorak-road-camberwell-vic-3146">Crest</a> incorporates landscape design by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/john-patrick-landscape-architects">John Patrick</a>, with a focus on low-maintenance planting and visual cohesion between the building and surrounding environment.&nbsp;

At ground level, greenery softens the building’s street presence and enhances resident privacy.

The development has been designed with energy efficiency in mind, achieving a 7-star rating. Features include double glazing, solar passive design principles, and materials selected for thermal performance and durability.

Farey &amp; Co is marketing Crest Camberwell. They are fielding enquiry from local downsizers predominantly, those who are looking for a well-located apartment in a small block with few neighbours.

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Crest Camberwell fills low-density gap in prestigious suburb

Native Birds

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GUSET OBSERVATION
Glossy Black-Cockatoos used to be common on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island until possums started eating their eggs and chicks. After volunteers helped protect nest hollows and erect safe nest boxes, the population more than doubled.
But how do you measure such success? How do you compare cockatoo nest protection with any other investment in conservation?
Unfortunately, we have few ways to compare and track the different efforts many people may be making to help conserve our natural treasures.
That’s why a group of us from a dozen Australian universities along with scientists and private researchers around the world have created <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.13220">metrics of progress</a> for both our understanding of how to manage threats of different intensity, and how well that management has been implemented. We also provide guidance on what still needs doing before a threat no longer needs active management.
For the first time, we looked at every threatened bird in Australia to see how well – or not – they are managed. Hopefully, we can use this to avoid compounding our disastrous <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/13/a-national-disgrace-australias-extinction-crisis-is-unfolding-in-plain-sight">recent track record</a> of extinctions in Australia.
The state of Australian birds
What we did differently was collect the same data across different species, which meant we could compare conservation efforts across all bids.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/246799/original/file-20181122-182062-zfg4ry.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/246799/original/file-20181122-182062-zfg4ry.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The mallee emu-wren is unique to Australia and endangered due to habitat loss. <a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/128578170@N06/24288853338/in/photolist-D1jHTq-4b9JJc" target="_blank">Nik Borrow/Flickr</a>
When we applied these metrics to Australia’s 238 threatened bird species, the results were both encouraging and daunting. The good news is that we understand how to reduce the impact of about 52% of the threats – although of course that means we know little about how to deal with the other 48%.
But the situation is decidedly worse when we consider how effectively we are putting that research into practice. Only 43% of threats are being managed in any way at all – and just a third of the worst threats – and we are achieving good outcomes for just 20%.
But at least we now know where we are. We can celebrate what we have accomplished, appreciate how much needs doing, and direct our efforts where they will have the greatest benefit.
The threats to our birds
Introduced mammals, particularly <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320717302719" target="_blank">cats</a>, have been (and continue to be) a significant threat to Australian birds. Although we have successfully eradicated feral animals on many islands, saving many species, they remain a grave threat on the mainland.
The effect of climate change is becoming the top priority threat for the future. About half of all threatened birds are likely to be affected by increases in drought, fire, heat or sea level. Given the policy prevarication at a global level, targeted research is essential if birds are to be helped to cope.
By looking at multiple species, we can also identify what helps successful conservation. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/emr.12335" target="_blank">Monitoring</a>, for instance, has a big impact on threat alleviation – better monitored species receive more attention.
There is also – unsurprisingly – a strong connection between knowledge of how to manage a threat and successful application of that knowledge. Often policy people want instant action, but our work suggests that action before knowledge will squander money.
Where to from here?
So what can we use this analysis for? One use is helping species <a href="http://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news/no-surprises-no-regrets-identifying-australias-most-imperilled-animal-species" target="_blank">close to extinction</a>.
Using the same approach for multiple species groups, it is apparent that, while birds and mammals are in a parlous state, the most threatened fish are far worse off. We can also identify some clear priorities for action.
Finally, we must acknowledge this work emerged not from a government research grant, but from a non-government organisation (NGO). BirdLife Australia needed an overview of the country’s performance with threatened birds and was able to draw on the volunteered skills of biologists and mathematicians from around the country, and then the world.
Indeed, one of the future projects will be using the new assessment tool to see just how much of the conservation action around the country is being driven by volunteers, from the many people who contributed their knowledge and skills to this paper through to those keeping glossy black-cockatoo chicks safe on Kangaroo Island.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/107432/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Alienor Chauvenet, Lecturer, Griffith University
April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland
Brendan Wintle, Professor Conservation Ecology, University of Melbourne
David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
David M Watson, Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University
Elisa Bayraktarov, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland
Hayley Geyle, Research Assistant, Charles Darwin University; Hugh Possingham, Professor, The University of Queensland
Ian Leiper, Geospatial Scientist, Charles Darwin University
James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland
Jim Radford, Principal Research Fellow, Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University
John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University
Les Christidis, Professor, Southern Cross University
Martine Maron, ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland
Molly K Grace, Postdoctoral Fellow in Zoology, University of Oxford
Paul McDonald, Associate professor, University of New England
Sarah Legge, Associate Professor, Australian National University
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/for-the-first-time-weve-looked-at-every-threatened-bird-in-australia-side-by-side-107432" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

For the first time we’ve looked at every threatened bird in Australia side-by-side

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GUEST OBSERVER
The fourth <a href="https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/" target="_blank">Aussie Backyard Bird Count</a> has just ended, with nearly 2 million birds from 635 species submitted to the BirdLife Australia app. The count, which is in its fourth year, has created a national database of birds found in our backyards.
We don’t know yet exactly how many people participated this year, but more than 60,000 people submitted checklists in 2016. Participants span the whole country, though participation is highest in our urban areas. By surveying our backyards (rather than “good” bird spots), these citizen scientists provide ecologists – like me – with information from urban areas we would not otherwise sample.
This includes data on a range of common bird species that are not frequently analysed because these species are believed to be secure. One of the most surprising results is a decline in the frequency of occurrence of the laughing kookaburra across southeast Australia.
Counting birds
Everyone has a bird story – and fortunately for ecologists, everyone is willing to share them. With 85% of Australia’s population living in cities and towns, birds are an important connection to our natural environment.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/192541/original/file-20171031-18711-13owlfd.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/192541/original/file-20171031-18711-13owlfd.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Source: BirdLife Australia
But birds are also <a href="https://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.2326/osj.9.3?journalCode=jorn" target="_blank">good environmental indices</a>. They’re generally easy to measure, they respond quickly to environmental change and we know a reasonable amount about the ecology of most species.
Between 1998 and 2014, BirdLife Australia volunteers collected a significant amount of data. This was used to develop a terrestrial bird index in 2015 – a bird “Dow Jones” to track our biodiversity. It was here that the decline in kookaburras was first identified.
The data were drawn from BirdLife Australia’s ongoing atlas project, now called <a href="https://birdata.birdlife.org.au/" target="_blank">Birdata</a>. However, there are biases in this data set, as people obviously like to go birdwatching where they will see more birds. This may inflate the frequency of encountering some species and decrease the chances of encountering others – particularly rare and cryptic species.
For the last four years, we’ve asked volunteers to add to this data by counting birds around their home for a week in October, when many birds are highly active and visible. These counts complement the data already available in Birdata by allowing access to backyards across Australia, which are generally poorly represented in the larger data set.
While there are still limitations in the Backyard Bird Count data, such as the risk of mis-identification, for common species like the laughing kookaburra we can generally be confident that the identification is correct. Even if the same bird is counted multiple times, our models report only a species’ presence or absence, so inflated numbers don’t affect the trend.
Are kookaburras really declining?
The below figures show modelled trends for the kookaburra across metropolitan Melbourne and Sydney. These figures are derived from the volunteer-collected Birdata, much of which comes from green spaces and remnant vegetation in these landscapes.
I wondered whether these declines are true changes in the populations, or reflect a change in the way kookaburras are using the landscape, possibly moving into the matrix of urban backyards that just don’t get surveyed. Looking solely at the backyard count data, I found similar trends in the reporting rates of kookaburras as those in the models, supporting that this decline is at the population level. What started out in 2014 as a way of engaging the broader community with their birds is now collecting useful ecological data.
Further exploration of the ABBC data across other capital cities found some interesting things. In both Perth and Hobart, where the kookaburra is considered an introduced species, the birds are recorded more frequently than in Melbourne and across the ACT. In Perth, increases in 2016 compared to previous years suggest an increase in the species there.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/192539/original/file-20171031-18700-ecicwi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/192539/original/file-20171031-18700-ecicwi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Modelled trends for Kookaburras from 1998-2014. Source: Unpublished models/K. Herman/BirdLife Australia, Author provided
The figure on the left is for Melbourne, and on the right is for Sydney. The reporting rate shows the percentage of surveys where kookaburras were recorded as present. The thick black line is the modelled trend (with confidence intervals in dashed line), the pink line shows the statistically significant linear trend, the thin black line shows the monthly calculated reporting rate, and the green spots show acceleration (or a favourable change) in the trend. Note that due to modelling method, the ends of figures tend to blow out as there is no data from which to predict trend.
While three years does not make a trend, Aussie Backyard Bird Count data from heavily urbanised areas suggest we are seeing a decline in this iconic species in the eastern capitals. Likely reasons for this are the loss of nesting hollows and possibly reductions in the availability of prey as we increasingly modify our urban landscapes. We don’t really know as this is not an area that has been researched.
We need citizen scientists
Collecting enough data (especially from the backyards of towns and cities) to detect these kinds of changes can be an overwhelming task. This is where citizen science programs like the Aussie Backyard Bird Count can help.
As well as helping ecologists track large-scale biodiversity trends, it also gives people the chance to connect with their natural environment and gain a greater appreciation of our unique fauna.
As with all citizen science projects, there are limitations in the data being collected. However, the Backyard Bird app has been designed to make counting as simple and standardised as possible, providing confidence in the tally of common and “iconic” species, and filling in the gaps found in other data sets.
The good old kookaburra is neither rare or cryptic. If anything, if people are seeking out “good” bird habitat to survey we would expect that kookaburras would be one of those species subject to inflated reporting. But this is not what we encountered.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/86469/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">If we are starting to see declines in species that we have traditionally considered secure, what does this mean for those that are already at risk? Once all the data from the Aussie Backyard Bird Count have been collated and vetted we will continue to explore the developing trends in Australia’s urban birds. Increasing engagement and awareness in our communities can help ensure our backyard birds are still around to count next year.
Kerryn Herman is a research ecologist at Deakin University.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/citizen-scientists-count-nearly-2-million-birds-and-reveal-a-possible-kookaburra-decline-86469" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Counting birds sheds new light on our cities: Kerryn Herman

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Life in the city can be stressful – for birds just as much as people. For humans, cities are expressly designed to put roofs over heads and food within easy reach, but the opposite can be true for many urban birds. They can find food and shelter harder to come by in the concrete jungle – with some notable exceptions.
For any species in any habitat, survival is about problem-solving and adapting to the environment. So what street smarts do city birds need? And why do some species, such as lorikeets, crows and ravens, seem to dominate our urban landscapes?
In general, urban birds must be bolder than those that remain in natural habitats, as can be seen by the boldness (or “habituation”) with which some species will forage for food with people nearby. But they also need to be able to avoid or retreat from unfamiliar objects or situations if they seem dangerous.
City birds also need to withstand exposure to a wide range of pathogens. A study of birds in Barbados found that urban birds have enhanced immune systems relative to their country counterparts.
While we have changed the environment in which some birds live, reducing resources in terms of food and shelter and increasing the number of pathogens that may impact their health, some birds have largely benefited from the new way of life.
<h2>Winners and losers</h2>
Within the urban ecosystem, there are winners and losers in the bird world. The suburban landscape, for example, now provides more nectar from flowers than native vegetation due to the gardens that people have established. This is a big help to nectar-feeding parrots such as Rainbow Lorikeets.
A recent study in Sydney found that the lorikeets benefit from the increased abundance of flowers in urban areas, and their numbers were higher in the leafy suburbs than in bushland.
But if urban areas are such a rich source of nectar, why are some nectar-feeding species declining?
The Regent Honeyeater feeds mainly on nectar and other plant sugars. It has been seen in orchards and urban gardens, but is listed as critically endangered by the federal government.
This is partly because widespread clearance of woodland habitat has led to the increase of the aggressive Noisy Miner and Red Wattlebird. These species find it easy to “bully” other birds in open habitats. Noisy Miners have been observed pulling apart Regent Honeyeaters' nests as they were being built.
Regent Honeyeaters, in contrast, are less adaptable to changed landscapes, because they are migratory and rely on detailed knowledge of existing food sources. If these resources are changed or removed, they may not have enough interconnected patches of habitat to move safely towards new resources – potentially leaving them vulnerable to cats, foxes and aggression from other birds.
Habitat loss can threaten some bird species or even leave them at risk of dying out if they do not locate alternative resources. The ability to find new food sources therefore becomes a valuable survival skill.
<h2>What’s more useful: flexibility or intelligence?</h2>
For some bird species, flexibility in finding food is crucial in making a successful switch to urban environments. One example is the Grey-crowned Babbler, which is endangered in Victoria, but my colleagues and I have documented it living in a suburban area in Dubbo, New South Wales.
This species usually nests in coniferous woodland and forages in the leaf litter beneath the trees. But in Dubbo, we saw these birds feeding on lawns, in playgrounds and even in leaf litter along a train track at the back of urban housing, sometimes visiting backyards along the way. This suggests that these birds can survive the loss of their woodland habitat by being sufficiently adaptable to life in the suburbs – as long as they can continue to find enough food, disperse between nearby groups and have access to native nesting trees.
For other species, such as crows and ravens, intelligence seems to be the key. These species can survive anywhere in the urban sprawl, including places where trees are scarce but rubbish bins are everywhere. Crows and ravens can literally pull food out of a bin and eat it – clearly a learned behaviour that has resulted from problem-solving.
These birds are highly opportunistic and social, allowing them to learn new ways of adapting to the almost complete removal of their natural environment.
<h2>Survive and thrive</h2>
What we can deduce from these examples is that some birds, like Rainbow Lorikeets and Grey-crowned Babblers, can adapt successfully to the urban sprawl as long as some characteristics of their habitat still remain. Other species, such as crows, have gone a step further and worked out how to survive purely on urban resources – effectively making a living in an environment that is completely unnatural to them.
This suggests that the more we urbanise an area without natural aspects, the less bird diversity we will have – and the more our urban areas will come to be dominated by those few species that are hardy, clever or adaptable enough to thrive.
Luckily, some councils in Australia and cities throughout the world are bringing the natural aspects of the forest back into the concrete jungle, so that a wider range of birds might survive here. More research is needed to work out exactly what each species will need, but planting more native plants is always a good start.
Kathryn Teare Ada Lambert is associate lecturer, University of New England and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kathryn-teare-ada-lambert-186436" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Blocks and flocks: why are some bird species so successful in cities?

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GEUST OBSERVER
Some Australian birds are pushing out other species, and even damaging trees. Noisy and bell miners are two of Australia’s most aggressive bird species. Found throughout eastern Australia, in recent years their numbers have increased at the expense of our smaller birds.
Both myna species are spreading to new areas, largely due to human destruction of habitat. Noisy miners are able to invade areas where habitat has been modified, particularly gardens.
Bell miners, meanwhile, can invade areas that have invasions of weeds in the understorey such as blackberry and lantana that they use for nesting.
The good news is we can help stop the spread of these birds, by putting native plants in our gardens.
<h2>Good birds gone bad</h2>
Both species of these miners (genus Manorina) have been found to reduce bird diversity through their aggressive behaviour, and have been associated with eucalypt dieback.
Human disturbance has been linked to increasing numbers of noisy miners. One study in the box-ironbark forests of southeast Australia, found that noisy miners an move into areas of smaller fragments and unhealthy trees.
They then chase away other birds, reducing the number of species and potentially having knock-on effects on ecosystems. The problem is so serious that noisy miners are listed as a national threatening process.
More research is needed to find out why bell miners are becoming more common. But our research has found that bell miners show similar behaviour to noisy miners. They have a distinctive call that travels for tens of metres through the forest.
Bell miners cause Bell Miner Associated Dieback in trees. It is thought that their feeding and breeding behaviours lead to the death of eucalypts on the east coast of Australia. They also take over habitat that would be used by other birds.
<h2>Are the birds to blame?</h2>
Where miners are normally found in lower numbers, disturbances by people can tip the balance in their favour. This includes increasing noise levels, removing corridors of connecting native vegetation, creating gardens with exotic plants, building cities, houses, parks, logging and introducing invasive species that create thick understories.
These disturbances increase the habitat available for these two species, allowing them to increase in number and drive out the smaller birds that compete for their food sources.
Noisy miners particularly favour open areas that don’t have thickets of shrubs of smaller trees underneath the canopy. Conversely, bell miners prefer thick understoreys, particularly those create by introduced weeds such as lantana.
So if we are causing these birds to increase in number, how can we reduce their numbers and re-create the original habitat where all species could co-exist?
<h2>Build a bird-friendly garden</h2>
You need to create a multi-layered habitat of ground covers, small and medium shrubs, and trees that provide food and shelter locations all year for a variety of species.
These plant species need to have diverse structures, and should be close together to form dense, protective thickets, including climbers within medium-to-tall shrubs and trees, nectar-bearing and seed-bearing plants. Mulch can also encourage insect life for insectivorous birds.
Plants should also be local species that grow naturally in the area and are suited to the climate. Native birds that live in the area will then visit your garden as another food source in their territory.
Reducing weeds in your garden and neighbouring bushland (many weeds are derived from garden plants) can help native species. General natives can also be planted if you can’t find local natives in your local nursery.
Even in gardens where noisy miners dominate, smaller birds can survive in a dense understorey.
Meanwhile, a thin midstorey with fewer leaves may help to reduce bell miner abundance, as suggested by our recent study near Kyogle, New South Wales.
You should also consider the timing of flower and fruit production, to ensure that there is always food available for birds. You should also remove fruiting plants such as cotoneaster and blackberry that attract predators such as currawongs, to help reduce predation on smaller bird species.
Using chemical-free weed and pest control and mulching garden waste can also increase the food available for birds.
Lawns can also be replaced with native grasses that produce seed to attract finches and other seed-eaters such as crimson rosellas. Birds also need fresh water, which you can provide with a pond or bird bath. This should be placed within vegetation to ensure birds feel safe from predators.
<h2>Why are native gardens important?</h2>
Local biodiversity can be maintained by native gardens, ensuring long-term ecological sustainability. Small birds and other wildlife benefit from planting native species.
Many species are negatively affected by the current structure of gardens such as lawns, few scattered trees and the placement of concrete and houses without any access to nesting habitat.
Gardening in Australia needs to be changed to favour more native species and provide structure on a landscape scale that includes a variety of gardens.
 
Kathryn Teare Ada Lambert is research associate, University of New England and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kathryn-teare-ada-lambert-186436" target="_blank">here</a>.
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