Become a member because Aussie animals need homes too!
The Habitat Restoration Fund (HRF) was created in 2006, by a group of people who wanted to take a more hands on approach to preserving their local environment.
The fund was established on Boonwurrung and Bunurong land. We pay our respects to elders past and present and extend our respect to indigenous people who are present today.
HRF is unique to other environmental protection groups because:
- Our focus is the on-ground implementation of projects.
- We organise the long term maintenance and legal protection of projects up-front to ensure long lasting positive impacts.
- We work on private as well as public land.
- We employ professional environmental contractors to work alongside volunteers.
- We provide opportunities for disadvantaged people to get involved in meaningful activities.
- We are non-political.
View our projects across Australia
With your help, we can provide homes for Aussie animals
Our Aims
The Habitat Restoration Fund was created to enhance our natural ecosystems on both private and public land.
We aim to:
- Reconnect fragmented ecosystems by revegetating corridors
- Educate school children and the general community about the importance of preserving habitats for wildlife.
- Repair habitats for endangered flora and fauna through weed control, revegetation and more.
- Repair wetlands, creeks and river ecosystems
- Form an active, cooperative and supportive relationship between community groups, Governments and environmental stakeholders
- Involve the general community in meaningful โhands-onโ projects.
Wildlife on the Brink
Australia has one of the worst extinction rates in the world.
More than 1000 species of flora and fauna have been driven to extinction since European settlement. Some species being proclaimed extinct as early as the 1850โs. We currently have hundreds of species at immediate risk on extinction. Land-clearing, feral animals, weeds and pollution continue to destroy their habitat.ย
Having once inhabited large areas of Australia, these animals are now only found in a handful of isolated locations. Once the habitat is gone, dependent species of wildlife go with it.
Just 0.1% of the original native grassland habitat is life in Australia. 70% of wetlands are already gone, and most of what is left is severely degraded by weeds and agricultural practices. This has decimated water-dependent birds, fish and frogs across the country.
Upcoming Events
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They look like an alien life force. ๐
So these aren’t an invasive plant? Someone told me when I was out west that they were invasive. Which I thought was a shame because they’re so pretty.
Absolutely stunning
State flower of SA
Donate or Become a Member
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Barn Owl T-Shirt – Black
$39.50 Select options -
Barn Owl T-Shirt – White
$39.50 Select options -
5 Pack Raptor Gift Cards with Envelopes
$29.95 View product -
2 Pack Powerful Owl Gift Cards with Envelopes
$11.95 View product -
A Journey Along Balcombe Creek, Winty Calder
$16.00 View product -
Peninsula Perspective – Book by Winty Calder
$16.00 View product -
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(Tax deductible)
Board Members
Greg Fitzgerald
After Greg realised how much stress the natural systems are under, he joined the HRF wanting to make a difference. With years of enjoyment from the bush, he believes the great thing about HRF is that they get the work done and use all available resources for the betterment of the natural habitats.
Barbara Long
Barb has a passion for projects that combine communityย involvement and the environmental rehabilitation of ecosystems. She brings compliance and governance skills to the HRF and an understanding of the importance ofย effective communication with key stakeholders; industry, government and community.
Sarah Hudson
A board member of the HRF since 2008 Sarah was drawn to the philosophy behind the organisation in providing wildlife corridors for our native fauna. She is passionate about the environment and sustainability and hopes that the HRF can truly make a difference in the world.
Joan Pittendrigh
Jo has been in love with the bush for as long as she can remember. With great concern she has witnessed the bush areas around Melbourne face increasing pressure.ย She joined HRF because we need organisations to help save and repair theย ever diminishing areas we have left of our indigenous habitat.
Michael Naphtali
Michael became interested in habitat restoration when he worked on his property in Red Hill. He now wants to see the Mornington Peninsula free of pines, pittosporums and all other woody weeds.
Daniel Brindley
As an Environmental Advisor and UNAA award recipient, Daniel has always been in close contact with the natural environment, having grown up on the family property in the middle of Greens Bush National Park and mentored by prominent environmentalists.
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We loved meeting you all at our stall at the Dromana Community Market over the weekend. We had some lovely discussions about how to move away from the use of SGARs towards more ecologically safe alternative methods of rodent control and gave plenty of advice on how to make your properties as wildlife friendly as possible. ๐จ
A big thanks to everyone who came along to make a purchase or just to say hello and of course a massive thanks to those on our team who took the time to man our stall.
What do you think, should we come to a market near you soon?
#dromanamarket #communitymarket #owlsafezone #saveourowls #powls #lovethepen #rotary #australianartists #australianfauna #australianflora #wildoz #conservationvolunteers #natureconnection #habitatrestoration #wildlifegarden #HRF
Weโre holding a stall at the Dromana Community Market this Saturday 27th November, come on down and say hello!
Not only will we be selling our stunning Owl Tees and birds of prey greeting cards designed by @donnamitchellart and inspired by Steven Castanโs @estebanthenatureman photography, but we will also be so happy to provide you with restoration tips, owl safe methods of rodent control and wildlife friendly gardening advice!
So look out for the โOwl Safe Zoneโ banner and come say hello, we canโt wait to see you there! ๐๐ผ
#dromana #dromanamarket #communitymarket #owlsafezone #saveourowls #silentkiller #powl #birdsofprey #wildlifegarden #habitatrestoration #natureconnection #conservationvolunteers #vicflora #wildoz #lovethepen #HRF
#TongueOutTuesday ๐
How stunning is this Black-tongue Caladenia, ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ช๐ข ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต๐ข! ๐ธ
#Caladenia #orchidaceae #nativeorchids #vicflora #floraofvictoria #australianflora #australianorchids #australianwildflowers #australiannatives #indigenousplants #orchidlover #wildlifegarden #habitatrestoration #natureconnection #lovethepen #loveeastgippsland #HRF #ausgeo #abcmyphoto
What exactly are Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) & why are they an issue?
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Unlike First Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides SGARs persist in the body of deceased/dying animals long after the poison was initially ingested. So when a raptor or any other animal, eats a poisoned rodent itโs also getting a side dish of lethal rodenticides.ย
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In most cases this results in extreme suffering & an untimely death for the raptor. Anticoagulant rodenticides work by inhibiting the bodyโs ability to produce clotting factors, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding & internal haemorrhaging. Although SGARs are designed to kill with a single dose it can take days for the animal to die. So when a rodent consumes a bait containing SGARs it has time to keep coming back & consuming more bait before it slowly dies, resulting in the rat obtaining a more than lethal dose of poison. This is why SGARs are so dangerous to non-target species, as rodents full of poison are able to wander for days before they eventually die, during which time they are easy prey to predators.
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In rare instances where a raptor survives the initial ingestion of a poisoned rat, it doesnโt mean it has escaped harm. SGARs bioaccumulate meaning they build up in the systems of animals over time & can persist in their tissues for months or even years. In fact, a recent study of Powerful Owls found traces of anticoagulant rodenticides in the liver of 37 of the 38 birds sampled, similar studies have also detected rodenticides in Southern Boobooks & Wedge-tailed Eagles.
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Products containing SGARs like Brodifacoum, Bromadialone, Difenacoum & Difethialon are freely available to purchase in hardware stores & supermarkets across Aus. Many countries have already restricted the sale of products containing SGARs to the general public & have instead regulated their use to only licensed pest controllers. We think itโs about time that Australia follows suit & regulates the use of these lethal poisons to protect our native fauna, donโt you?
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Head to our website now to purchase some stunning merch & support our fight against this #SilentKiller
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๐ธ: Kent Stannard: @saveourowls & @whitetag_aus
#TinyTuesday
Check out this itty bitty Early Nancy (Wurmbea dioica)! Never seen one so small!
What spring flowers have you seen recently?โบ๏ธ
#EarlyNancy #springflowers #australianflora #wildflowers #littlethings #vicflora #australiannatives #indigenousplants #wildlifegarden #natureconnection #biodiversity #habitatrestoration #aussiebush #macroflower #loveeastgippsland #lovethepen #australianwildflowers #wildoz #HRF
So how can you contribute to the conservation of our Powerful Owls? Along with implementing some of the actions weโve outlined below you can join our fight against secondary poisoning in birds of prey by purchasing one of our tees or greeting card packs, all the proceeds of which directly support our efforts to conserve raptors and restore the habitat of our precious natives.
๐๐ผ๐๐ผ MERCH LINK IN BIO ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ:
- Donโt use poisons, especially SGARs! Instead, opt for alternative rodent control methods that are less likely to impact our native species such as: manual, electric or even live traps so that any natives caught can be safely released.
- Maintain good property hygiene to make your home less attractive to rodents. Simple measures like storing animal feed in rodent proof containers, removing debris piles and other forms of shelter, removing uneaten pet food overnight, keeping animal enclosures clean and tidy and sealing up any entry points into buildings all go a long way in helping control rodents around the property.
- Slow down at dawn and dusk. Be aware of your surroundings and any animals on the roadside when driving, particularly in low light conditions or at night when many of our natives are most active.
- Make your windows โbird safeโ, particularly large windows that are facing garden or vegetated areas. A range of anti-reflective coverings are available that create a visual barrier for birds without obstructing views for us humans. Refrain from using bright lights near windows at night or close blinds and curtains to again create a visual barrier.
- Retain large old trees on your property as they are an essential habitat resource for numerous species.
We have many more detailed posts on SGARs and alternative rodent control methods to come so stay tuned!
As always we want to show our gratitude to @donnamitchellart for her amazing works of art inspired by the photography of Steven Castan @estebanthenatureman who provided us with these breathtaking images.๐๐ผ