The City of Stirling is home to a diverse array of wildlife such as birds, reptiles, spiders, insects, marsupials and mammals. This page provides an overview of wildlife issues, injured and deceased wildlife, and important information regarding selected native species.
Wildlife issues
Feeding wildlife is an illegal offence under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the City of Stirling’s Health Local Law 2009.
Feeding wildlife can damage their health, and severely impact their quality of life through issues such as diabetes, kidney, failure and vitamin deficiencies. This includes feeding bread to the ducks and birds in our parks and reserves. Feeding wildlife can also negatively impact the health of the wider ecosystem, and cause decreased water quality or spread of invasive species. Botulism disease, although caused by naturally occurring bacteria, can increase in wetlands due to excess nutrients and fatally impact bird species.
There are several ways to interact with wildlife without interfering with their natural behaviour. One option is creating a native garden to attract wildlife to your backyard. Visit Rewildperth to find out more about wildlife-attracting plants and backyard projects suitable for your area. If you wish to install bird baths or bird waterers, please make sure you refill with fresh water frequently.
Injured and deceased wildlife
If you encounter sick, injured or distressed wildlife, it’s important to act quickly to ensure their welfare.
Please contact the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW) Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055 for further advice. The 24-hour hotline can offer advice and connect callers to a wider network of experts and registered wildlife rehabilitators such as:
Native Animal Rescue located at 170 Camboon Road, Malaga on 9249 3434.
Western Australian Seabird Rescue on (08) 6102 8464 or 0418 952 683.
If the sick, injured, or distressed wildlife is located on a City reserve or public space, please call the City’s Natural Areas Conservation team to report.
Deceased wildlife should be reported to the City’s Natural Areas Conservation team to handle appropriately. Avoid direct contact with injured or deceased animals to prevent stress, harm or potential health risks to the animal.
Birds
The City of Stirling hosts a variety of bird species such as the boobook owl, tawny frogmouth, honeyeaters, pardalotes, thornbills, splendid fairy wren, variegated fairy wren, and many more. These shrub-dwelling birds are under increasing threat from predation, particularly by domestic cats. Birds such as the endangered Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo and the vulnerable Forest Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo visit large reserves to feed and roost.
You can help support knowledge of birds in the City by recording your sightings using the Bird Life WA Citizen Science app.
Magpie birds are well known for their distinctive songs and territorial behaviour, especially during nesting season. They are highly intelligent birds who are said to recognise up to 100 faces and can form friendships with certain individuals.
Whilst generally not aggressive for most of the year, the City asks the community to take extra care when outdoors during magpie nesting season from August to November. Please be aware that magpies may swoop to protect their young during this time.
Magpies usually swoop from above and fly low and fast over a person, often snapping and clicking their beaks as they pass overhead in warning. However, instances where magpies swoop from below or at ground level have also been reported.
Magpies are a protected native species under the Australian Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Harming them or removing their nest is illegal without a permit.
The City is encouraging residents to be “Swoop Smart” by following these safety tips:
- Stay clear of caution signs and roped off areas
- Plan alternative routes
- Dismount bikes and scooters when caution signage is present
- Do not provoke the magpies
- Supervise children and ensure they wear sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat.
What to do if swooped?
- Immediately cover your eyes and face - avoid looking towards the bird
- Walk away calmly
- Do not run.
Rainbow Bee-eater
The Rainbow Bee-eater migrates from Asia each Spring (October - November) to raise its chicks in underground nesting chambers, which are up to a meter long. The City gives them a helping hand by installing protective mesh and signage over nesting sites during this time.
Please help them by not disturbing their nest holes and keeping dogs under control when walking through the City's reserves.
Snakes and reptiles
Stirling is home to several snake and reptile species, including the bobtail lizard, dugite, tiger snake, king’s skink, and several other small skinks and legless lizards.
Snakes
Spring and summer are the most active times of the year for our reptile friends, with snakes soaking up the sun in our coastal dunes, nearby conservation reserves or occasionally in nearby public areas. Snakes retreat from people and animals and will only become defensive if threatened. Stick to the designated paths in our reserves to reduce your likelihood of an encounter.
If you spot a snake:
- Back away to a safe distance (at least 5 metres) where the animal won’t feel threatened but keep the snake in sight
- If on a City reserve and during office hours, call the City on (08) 9205 8555 and ask to speak to the Natural Areas Conservation team to catch and relocate the snake
- If after hours and/or on private property, contact your local snake or reptile relocating service.
For more information, visit our snake bites fact sheet.
Snake-Necked Turtle
The Southwestern Snake-Necked Turtle is unique to freshwater lakes, rivers and wetlands within southwestern Western Australia. It is currently the only native freshwater turtle found in widespread metropolitan Perth. An important underwater predator, the snake-necked turtle plays a crucial role in the health of aquatic ecosystems. It is currently listed as near-threatened due to low numbers of surviving juveniles as a result of predation, vehicle incidents on roads and destruction of nests. The City is partnering with Murdoch University’s 'Saving Our Snake-Necked Turtle' program to protect nesting females and their nests.
Learn more about how you can get involved by visiting the City’s Volunteering page.
Mammals and marsupials
Microbats
These small, insect-eating bats play an essential role in controlling mosquito and insect populations, particularly around wetlands. They are often found roosting in tree hollows and buildings. The most common bat species in Stirling reserves includes the Lesser Long-eared Bat, White-striped Free-tailed Bat, and Gould’s Wattled Bat.
The City and several conservation volunteering groups have installed bat boxes in reserves such as Lake Gwelup, Trigg Bushland Reserve, Willeton Kestrel Reserve and more. You can help the City by reporting any sightings of microbats using these boxes or logging your observations using the iNaturalist app.
Please remember not to touch or handle microbats. If you find a microbat that you think may need assistance, call the Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055 for further advice.
Southwestern Brown Bandicoot (Quenda)
You may see quendas in reserves such as Star Swamp Bushland, Trigg Bushland, Dianella Regional Open, Space and along our coastal dunes. The presence is often shown by their cone shaped diggings along with the presence of dense undergrowth and shrubs for protection.
With a hop and long snout that sets them apart from rats, they play an important role in keeping reserves healthy by spreading fungi spores and seeds, aerating the soil and recycling organic matter. Conservation efforts focus on restoring their habitats with a healthy understory of plants and protection from invasive species and predators.
Common Brushtail Possum
These nocturnal creatures have been reported in areas surrounding Trigg Bushland, Star Swamp Bushland, and Mirrabooka Bushland. They have a distinctive bushy tail, as well as a silvery-grey colour and pointy ears. In urban areas they are often found in tree hollows, and roof cavities of some homes. They are vital for the dispersion of seeds and pollination. Providing nesting boxes can help support their populations.
Information about their population size and range within the City is unknown. If you have seen a possum in the reserve or in your backyard, please let the City’s Natural Areas Conservation team know.
Insects and native bees
Insects and native bees are crucial for pollination and maintaining healthy ecosystems. The City supports them by planting native plants and creating bee-friendly habitats. Native bees, unlike honeybees, are often solitary and non-aggressive, making them excellent pollinators for gardens.
To learn more about how to protect wildlife in your own backyard visit our Bushland Reserves and Wetlands page.
Native bees
Native bees come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with hundreds of species yet to be named and scientifically described. Many of these species are endemic, which means they exist nowhere else in the world. Supporting these special creatures is easy to do in your own backyard.
Follow these tips to create a bee friendly garden:
- Plant a diverse range of native flowering trees and plants such as Eucalyptus, Grevillea, Callistemon, native peas, banksias, scaevola etc
- Garden Plants such as salvia and lavender are also great for native bees
- Create bee hotels using untreated timber for cavity nesting species
- Leave patches of bare ground for ground-nesting species
- Leaf-cutter bees love plants with broad, soft leaves like native wisteria.
- Minimise pesticide use
- Provide a shallow water source like a saucer with pebbles
European bees
The European honeybee can have a negative effect on our bushland and native species by taking up nesting hollows and deterring native bee species. Where nests pose a safety risk, the City may engage with a contractor to remove beehives in our bushlands, parks and streetscapes.
To report beehives that pose a safety risk in public reserves, please fill in our online form. Visit the website for more information on the City's beekeeping rules.
