Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

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Emailfieldofmar-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Tree habitats

Tree habitats

What are trees?

Trees are usually tall with a single trunk at the base and a canopy of branches and leaves at the top.

Australia has thousands of species of native trees including eucalypts, wattles, she-oaks and paper barks. 

The local Darug people of the Sydney basin use the word daramu to describe trees.

A Sydney red gum tree with a pink trunk and green leaves.
Image: There are over 900 species of eucalypt trees in Australia. One tree can provide a range of habitats for multiple animals.

Trees as habitat

Trees produce leaves, seeds and nectar that provide food for many animals. Alive or dead they provide nest sites including hollows for mammals, birds and reptiles.

Dead tree in a farm paddock
Image: Once trees die they still provide essential habitat. Animals will continue to nest in or on them. As branches fall to the ground they help to create new habitats.
Rosella bird on branch
Image: Rosellas feed on seeds and nectar from flowering plants. They create their nest in tree hollows.
Beetles in gum blossom flowers
Image: Beetles collect nectar from flowering trees. The beetles may also become food for other animals.
Spider and cicada shell on a tree trunk
Image: Jumping spiders will hunt other invertebrates on or under tree bark. Cicadas climb up tree trunks to emerge from their shells.
Kookaburra on a branch of a tree
Image: The branches and canopy of trees provides protection for some animals from predators. Predatory birds such as the kookaburra use tree branches as a perch to search the ground for food.
Ringtail possum in drey made of twigs woven into a ball shape
Image: Ringtail possums create a nest called a drey using small branches and leaves. They feed on flowers, nectar and leaves.
Lizard in tree hollow
Image: Tree hollows provide homes to many animals including skinks.

Tree hollows and nest boxes

Most trees take around 100 years to form tree hollows. An artificial hollow can be provided by a nest box. Each animal has specific requirements for a nest box.

Bush tail possum in hollow in branch of a tree
Image: Nearly half of Australia's mammals including many possums need tree hollows for breeding.
Rectagular nest box made of timber with a lid and hole
Image: Nest boxes are an artificial tree hollow. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes to suit different types of animals.

habitat book
Image: Habitat digital book

Find out more

Habitat is a special digital book that investigates the needs of living things through detailed text, interactive activities, videos and stunning images.

Explore the value of habitats such as trees, shrubs and ground cover plants and non-living habitats such as leaf litter, rocks, logs and water.

Find out how to create and restore habitats that will help animals survive and thrive.

This book supports Australian Curriculum biological sciences and living world.

Download free from Apple Books.

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We’d like to acknowledge the Wallumedegal Peoples of the Darug Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we stand and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

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