“This National Tree Day we’re urging people to provide a haven for small birds by planting shrubs,” Ms Suzanne Medway, President of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia said.

“Small birds need dense foliage to hide amongst to stay safe from cats, dogs and larger, more aggressive birds. If the right conditions are provided, small birds like Willie wagtails, fairy wrens and yellow robins will come to visit.”

According to Ms Medway small birds are lovely to watch and wonderful to have around the garden as they keep insects in check.

“Many homeowners and councils have planted trees such as bottlebrush and melaleucas in recent years. Rainbow lorikeets, noisy miners and wattlebirds have all flourished in response to these tree plantings,” Ms Medway said.

“Now it’s time to do our bit to help the small birds.”

You too can enjoy wonderful wrens, fancy finches and ravishing robins flittering and fluttering in your backyard.

How to attract small birds to your garden:

o Ask your local nursery for advice on locally native shrubs.

o Plant shrubs that will grow into dense foliage and give small birds somewhere to hide.

o Plant shrubs close together in clumps.

o Provide some water in your garden for birds to drink and bathe in.

o Invite your neighbours or friends to get involved in shrub planting, and make it a community effort. The more habitat there is around your area for small birds, the more of them you’ll see.

o Good shrubs for small birds include grevilleas, such as grevillea rosemarinafolia, and hakeas.

o Prune your shrubs to form dense hedges as small birds love to dart in and out of them.

The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife also supports the planting of shrubs for the benefit of small birds and runs a program called Backyard Buddies.