Backyard Biodiversity

Happy New Year!

With the start of 2026 we are pleased to share more details on “Backyard Biodiversity”, a project funded through the Environment Grant program by the Northern Beaches Council. The program aims to bring the community closer to some of beautiful creatures that call Manly Dam home. We will explore some of their weird and wonderful habits, learn about the fauna and help protect them and their habitat.

To help us do this, we are working with Juan Forero, a biologist with wide experience in wildlife research, environmental management and ecological education in Australia and internationally. He specialises in fauna monitoring, bird identification and urban and coastal ecosystem interpretation. Based in Sydney, Juan delivers small-group wildlife tours grounded in ecological science, conservation principles and evidence-based interpretation, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of Australian biodiversity and its ecological processes.

Juan has been scoping routes in Manly Dam, to understand the fauna and decide on best places to view birds, insects, mammals and other cool creatures. On one of my visits with Juan we spotted over 26 species of birds among other creatures.

On one occasion we sat patiently watching a Red Wattle Bird going on it’s feeding rounds nursing a juvenile Eastern Koel. While we all know that Koel’s lay their eggs in that of other birds’ nests, watching a wattle bird feed a juvenile Eastern Koel, much larger in size was quite amusing. If this is the kind of thing that brings you joy, then you’re in the right place.

(Image: Aditi Das Patnaik)

We are looking to open it up to the community to come along one our journey of what we observe in Manly Dam. Watch this space as we discover more. Meanwhile i hope you’re having a wonderful start to the New Year.