IN THE wake of wild weather, Backyard Buddies wants you to know that your garden can provide a safe haven for many birds and animals.
Backyard Buddies is an environmental education program run by the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. It provides easy tips on how to make your garden safe and friendly for native animals.
"It's only early in 2013, and yet already a wide range of natural disasters have hit many parts of the county," said Ms Susanna Bradshaw, CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.
"As affected areas recover, animals and birds may move to new areas to look for food, clean water and shelter. So now more than ever, suburban gardens are going to be an important refuge. And there's a lot that you can do to help them out," Ms Bradshaw said.
How to create an animal friendly garden:
* Put up a nest box or two to provide a safe home for native birds, possums, microbats and other buddies.
* Keep your cat indoors as much as possible.
* Leave leaf litter, rocks, fallen branches and logs around your backyard. This will attract insects, skinks and lizards.
* Establish a pond for native frogs, fish and water-plants. Birds, lizards and other animals will come for a drink and a meal.
* Put in a bird bath and keep it topped up with fresh, clean water.