Do Botanical Gardens Have Animals

Wildlife

The Royal Botanic Garden and the Domain provide valuable 'greenspace' in the centre of the city. Visitors enjoy observing birds, reptiles, insects, spiders, fish and eels. You can also expect outdoor evening events to be accompanied by the occasional sounds of flying-foxes and possums foraging through the trees.

Many of us enjoy feeding birds and possums, but there are some good reasons why you shouldn't:

Handfeeding can make wildlife aggressive and a nuisance.
Feeding can make wildlife lazy. Animals start to depend on being fed by humans. They become scavengers instead of unique wildlife that we can be proud of.
Human food can make animals sick. Our snack food often contains too much salt and sugar, and can be fatal to birds. Poor nutrition can lead to bone deformities, reduced ability to cope with cold weather and susceptibility to disease.

Frogs, lizards, snakes and spiders:

You may encounter some of these animals in the Royal Botanic Garden and in the Domain. Please be aware that all reptiles are protected by law. Many native reptiles have poisonous bites. Do not attempt to handle them. If you think you have been bitten, seek help immediately - contact a Ranger (0419 270 279) or go to the Garden Shop for first aid.

What to spot in the Garden

This list compiled by Volunteer Guide Jenny Pattison, November 2011. Please note that the list of wildlife is not complete, you can help us increase our knowledge by reporting your sightings of wildlife (especially insects and spiders) by submitting photos through the QuestaGame app.

Note: CW denotes that species is a ClimateWatch indicator species at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. See www.climatewatch.org.au.

KEY: C=Common, Res=Resident, Br=Breeds in Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, M=Migratory, V=Visitor, E=Exotic, CW=ClimateWatch sp

Listed in the Garden since 2000

Find out about the history of bird observations at the Royal Botanic Garden.

Common name	Scientific name	Notes - Key: E Exotic, CW ClimateWatch sp.
Black-Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed	Calyptorhynchus funereus	V
Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike	Coracina novaehollandiae	V
Buff-banded Rail	Gallirallus philippensis	C, Res, Br found in Middle Gardens
Butcherbird, Grey	Cracticus torquatus	C, Res, Br
Channel-billed Cuckoo	Scythrops novaehollandiae	CW M, Br summer migrant, parasitises Currawong's nest
Cockatiel	Nymphicus hollandicus	V
Common Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	CW V, E
Cormorant, Great	Phalacrocorax carbo	V
Cormorant, Little Black	Phalacrocorax sulcirostris	C, Res, Br breeds on island in Main Pond
Cormorant, Little Pied	Phalacrocorax melanoleucos	C, Res, Br breeds on island in Main Pond
Currawong, Pied	Strepera graculina	C, Res, Br
Darter, Australian	Anhinga melanogaster	V
Duck, Australian Wood also called Maned Goose	Chenonetta jubata	C, Res, Br
Duck, Farmyard		C, E
Duck, Hardhead or White-eyed	Aythya australis	V
Duck, Pacific Black	Anas superciliosa	C, Res, Br
Dusky Moorhen	Gallinula tenebrosa	C, Res, Br
Egret, Great	Ardea alba	V
Eurasian Coot	Fulica atra	V
Fantail, Grey	Rhipidura fuliginosa	CW M
Fantail, Rufous	Rhipidura rufifrons	M
Figbird	Sphecotheres viridis	V
Galah	Cacatua roseicapilla	V
Grebe, Australasian	Tachybaptus novaehollandiae	V
Ibis, Australian White	Threskiornis molucca	C, Res, Br
Indian or Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	C, Res, Br, E
Koel, Common	Eudynamys scolopacea	CW M summer migrant, parasitises Noisy Miner nests
Kookaburra, Laughing	Dacelo novaeguineae	C
Magpie, Australian	Gymnorhina tibicen	CW C, Res, Br
Magpie-lark (Peewee)	Grallina cyanoleuca	CW V, C often on lawn below Tropical Centre
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	C, Br, E interbreeds with the Pacific Black Duck
Masked Lapwing	Vanellus miles	CW C, Res, Br
Noisy Miner	Manorina melanocephala	C, Res, Br
Owl, Barn	Tyto alba	V
Owl, Powerful	Ninox strenua	Res Status: Vulnerable; seen regularly since 2009
Owl, Southern Boobook	Ninox novaeseelandiae	V
Pelican, Australian	Pelecanus conspicillatus	V
Pigeon, Feral or Common	Columba livia	C, Res, Br, E also called Rock Dove
Pigeon, Crested	Ocyphaps lophotes	CW C
Rainbow Lorikeet	Trichoglossus haematodus	C, Res, Br in flowering Black Bean Tree and eucalypts
Raven, Australian	Corvus coronoides	V
Rosella, Crimson	Platycercus elegans	V
Rosella, Eastern	Platycercus eximius	V
Royal Spoonbill	Platalea regia	V
Sacred Kingfisher	Todiramphus sanctus	M
Silver Gull	Larus novaehollandiae	C
Spangled Drongo	Dicrurus bracteatus	V
Spotted Turtle-Dove	Streptopelia chinensis	C.E
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo	Cacatua galerita	C, Res, Br often on lawns 25 & 27
Superb Blue Wren	Malurus cyaneus	C, Res, Br seen in Palm Grove, near creek, in Fernery
Tawny Frogmouth	Podargus strigoides	C, Res, Br roosts by day, often in pairs, close to tree trunk
Teal, Chestnut	Anas castanea	C, Br
Teal, Grey	Anus gracilis	C, Br
Tree Martin	Hirundo nigricans	C
Welcome Swallow	Hirundo neoxena	CW C
White-breasted Sea-Eagle	Haliaeetus leucogaster	V
White-browed Scrubwren	Sericornis frontalis	Res, Br seen in Palm Grove
White-faced Heron	Egretta novaehollandiae	C
White-plumed Honeyeater	Lichenostomus penicillatis	V
Willy Wagtail	Rhipidura leucophrys	CW V

You will encounter flying foxes roosting during the day, but most other mammals can only be seen at night. Whilst we are fond of our resident populations of possums, unfortunately many are possums that have been caught in other parts of the city and 'dumped' here. Our land covers only a limited area and cannot support an over-population of possums, so these animals - already disoriented from being removed from their 'home' territories - become even more stressed.

Common name	Scientific name	Notes - Key: E Exotic, CW ClimateWatch sp.
Grey-headed Flying-fox	Pteropus poliocephalus	A bat in suborder Megachiroptera threatened species: vulnerable predated by Powerful Owl CW
Black Flying Fox	Pteropus alecto	A bat in suborder Megachiroptera a small colony in Garden since 2006 predated by Powerful Owl CW
Gould's Wattled Bat	Chalinolobus gouldii	A bat in suborder Microchiroptera commonly seen and heard microbat flying at dusk
Common Brushtail Possum	Trichosurus vulpecular	Possum control predated by Powerful Owl
Common Ringtail Possum	Pseudocheirus peregrinus	Predated by Powerful Owl
Black Rat	Rattus rattus	E, came on First Fleet, pest in Garden, rat control
European Red Fox	Vulpes vulpes	E, fox control, fox has not been active in Garden since 2009
Feral cat	Felis catus	E, cat control

Common name	Scientific name	Notes - Key: E Exotic, CW ClimateWatch sp.
Golden Orb-weaving Spider	Nephila plumipes	Late summer to early winter
Dewdrop Spider	Argyrodes sp.	Kleptoparasitic spider found on Golden Orb webs late summer to early winter
Leaf-curling Spider	Phonognatha sp.	Late summer to early winter
St Andrew's Cross Spider	Argiope heyserlingi	Late summer to early winter CW
Net-casting Spider	Deinopis subrufa	Late summer to early winter, on cliveas in Palm Grove

Common name	Scientific name	Notes - Key: E Exotic, CW ClimateWatch sp.
Eastern Water Dragon	Physignathus lesueurii	Around nursery, Fernery and Tropical Centre, near creek, general insect predator CW
Eastern Blue-tongue Lizard	Tiliqua scinoides	In Cadi, outside Reception, outside Education, in Succulent Garden, around Billabong, on path behind Trop Centre, around Herb Garden; controls slugs, snails, slaters
Saw-shelled Turtle	Elseya latisternum	Tropical Centre, moved by staff between Billabong and Pyramid main pond (Pyramid Oct 2011)

Common name	Scientific name	Notes - Key: E Exotic, CW ClimateWatch sp.
Peron's Tree Frog	Litoria peronii	A local frog, in Billabong, troughs beside nursery general insect predator CW
Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog Other name: Eastern Sedge Frog	Litoria fallax	In Billabong on sedge Lepironia articulata general insect predator around Tropical Centre
Striped Marsh Frog	Limnodynastes peronii	CW

Common name	Scientific name	Notes - Key: E Exotic, CW ClimateWatch sp.
Longfinned Eel	Anguilla reinhardtii	Mostly in Main Pond; all ponds at some time except inside Pyramid; in creek
Mullet		In Main Pond, a native fish
Koi Carp		E , in Koi Carp Pond, see plaque next to pond
Crimson-spotted Rainbow Fish	Melanotaenia duboulayi	In Pyramid and Billabong, native fish from Fraser Is, Qld eats mosquito larvae
Silver Perch		In Fernery, native fish
Gold fish		E, in Fernery

Common name	Scientific name	Notes - Key: E Exotic, CW ClimateWatch sp.
Yabby	Cherax destructo	in Fernery, Billabong, Pyramid ponds eats detritus in ponds

Plants mentioned are examples of that butterfly's larval food plants in the Royal Botanic Garden (female butterfly lays its eggs on that plant). There are more butterflies in the Garden than what are listed here. There are also many moths, some of which are very colourful and are day-flying.

Common name	Scientific name	Notes - Key: E Exotic, CW ClimateWatch sp.
Southern Pearl-white Butterfly	Elodina angulipennis	Rare & Threatened Garden, two Native Pomegranate trees,Capparis arborea colony in the Garden since 1884 COMMON on sunny days all year
Caper White Butterfly	Belenois java	Rare & Threatened Garden, two Native Pomegranate trees,Capparis arborea COMMON
Cabbage White Butterfly	Pieris rapae	E, Rare & Threatened Garden, brassicas CW, COMMON
Blue Triangle Butterfly	Graphium sarpendon	Various plants of Lauraceae and Monimiaceae, esp. Camphor Laurel; in Garden includes Cinnamomum, Planchonella COMMON in warmer months
Macleay's Swallowtail	Graphium macleayanus	Various plants of Lauraceae, Winteraceae, Monimiaceae and Rutaceae, esp. Camphor Laurel CW, COMMON in warmer months
Orchard Swallowtail Other names: Orchard Butterfly, Large Citrus Butterfly	Papilio aegeus	Rutaceae plants e.g. Flindersia australis and native and introduced citrus CW, COMMON in warmer months
Dainty Swallowtail Other names: Dingy Swallowtail, Small Citrus Butterfly	Papilio anactus	Native and introduced citrus CW
Monarch Butterfly Other name: Wanderer Butterfly	Danaus plexippus	E Herb Garden larval plant: milkweeds, in Garden Asclepias curassavica?, Stapelia grandiflora
Meadow Argus Butterfly	Junonia villida	Larval food plants includes Goodenia COMMON in warmer months
Common Brown Butterfly	Heteronympha merope	On native grasses, Poaceae, bed 103b CW
Australian Painted Lady	Vanessa kershawi	Usually Asteraceae plants in Garden: Lavandula spp., Brachyscome spp., Bartlettna sordia, bed 33b COMMON in warmer months
Yellow Admiral Butterfly Other name: Australian Admiral	Vanessa itea	COMMON in warmer months
Yellow Migrant Butterfly	Catopsilia gorgophone	Senna spp . VISITOR late summer and autumn
Common Crow Butterfly	Euploea core	Ficus macrophylla L29, native and exotics in Moraceae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae COMMON VISITOR late summer, autumn
Common Pencil Blue Butterfly	Candalides consimilis	Many larval plants including Castanospermum, Erythrina, Millettia, Macadamia, Stenocarpus, Brachychiton, Harpullia, Cassia, Wisteria
Plumbago Blue Butterfly Other name: Zebra Blue	Leptotes plinius	Flower buds and flowers of Plumbago auriculata (exotic) in NSW; in QLD P. zeylanica (native) CW
Long-tailed Pea-blue Butterfly	Lampides boeticus	Flower buds and flowers of native and introduced legumes in Fabaceae
Common Jezebel Butterfly Other name: Black Jezebel	Cephrenes augiedes	Known as one of the 'mistletoe butterflies' as they breed on plants of the Loranthaceae family COMMON in cooler months
Small Green-banded Blue Butterfly	Psychonotis caelius	Alphitonia excelsa, Red Ash, Bed 30 more abundant in autumn, early winter
Honey Bee	Apis mellifera	E, introduced into Australia about 1822 CW COMMON
Blue Banded Bee	Amegilla sp.	Solitary native bee, feeds on Plectanthrus and mainly purple flowers; 'buzz' pollinator: research on pollination of tomato crops; some nest in mortar Info Booth COMMON in warmer months
Trigona Bee	Trigona carbonaria	Stingless, social, native bee, produces honey 10 000+ bees in nest in upright log in bed 13 (since Oct 07) COMMON
Teddy Bear Bee	Amegilla cingulate	Solitary native bee see www.aussiebee.com for info on native bees COMMON in warmer months
Dragonfly species	Anisoptera	Billabong at Tropical Centre, Glass House tanks, other ponds, creek COMMON
Damselfly species	Zygoptera	Billabong at Tropical Centre, Glass House tanks, other ponds, creek COMMON
Cotton Harlequin Bug	Tectocoris diopthalmus	Attacks Norfolk Island Hibiscus, Lagunaria patersonia CW COMMON
Blowfly	Family Calliphoridae	In Succulent Garden, attracted to smelly carrion flowers ofStapelia
Hover Fly	Family Syrphidae	Mimics a wasp COMMON
Green Lacewing	Mallada signata	Predatory insect biological control agent in Tropical Centre COMMON
Wasp, in figs	Family Agaonidae	Tiny, native fig pollinator specific wasp for each Ficus species COMMON
Moreton Bay Fig Psyllid or Lerp Insect	Mycopsylla ficci	The lerp is the covering, not the insect. Most species are host specific e.g. fig psyllid and eucalyptus psyllid COMMON
Parasitic wasp of Moreton Bay Fig Psyllid	Psyllaephagus sp.	Native wasp, parasitises fig psyllid larvae COMMON
Rose Aphid	Macrosiphum rosae	E, a bug, in Rose Garden, a pest COMMON
Parasitic wasp of Rose Aphid	Aphidius rosae	E, introduced to Garden as biological control parasitises aphids in Rose Garden see Rose Aphid COMMON
Ladybird Beetle	Family Coccinellidae	A predatory beetle larvae and adult eat aphids - biological control in Rose Garden COMMON
European Wasp	Vespula germanica	CW COMMON