Spring is breeding season for many of our local wildlife, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled when walking through our beautiful bushland or stunning coastline, but please remember our native fauna are protected by law and should not be harmed or interfered with. 

We have a staggering 540 native fauna species who call the Northern Beaches home. At least 69 of these are considered threatened species, while many more are ‘locally significant’ species — although not threatened, they are ’significant’ because they are in decline and may not form part of Sydney’s future urban landscape.

While these animals are reliant on our bushland reserves and our national parks, they may even find respite in our bushy back yards.

Some of our precious 'locally significant' fauna friends include:

• Over a hundred bird species such as the migratory Noisy Pitta and the Buff-banded Rail with its distinctive orange-brown band on its streaked breast.

• Numerous mammals including the Lesser Long-eared Bat, Goulds Wattled Bat, New Holland Mouse, and the Native Rakali or Water Rat - our equivalent of an otter!
• Well known marsupials such as the Swamp Wallaby, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Sugar and Feathertail Gliders and Marsupial Mouse or Antechinus.
• Reptiles such as the beautiful Diamond Python, Jacky Lizard, Thick-tailed Gecko and Long-necked Turtle.
• At least eight amphibians including the Freycinet’s Frog and the Tyler’s Laughing Tree Frog.

Our beautiful beaches also provide habitat to numerous marine, coastal and rock platform species such as sea hares, octopi, White’s sea horses and weedy sea dragons.

Head to our coastland and you might see a Gull-billed Tern, a White-bellied Sea Eagle, or if you’re very lucky even Manly’s endangered Little Penguin!

So as we move through September and continue our celebration of National Biodiversity Month, see what amazing species you too can spot on your doorstep. You may also want to find out how you can attract more precious wildlife to your backyard.

For more information on our native animals.

To celebrate Biodiversity Month join our expert at one of our upcoming Spotlighting Walks.