Badjaling Nature Reserve facts for kids

Badjaling Nature Reserve is a special protected area in Western Australia. It is managed by the Department of Parks and Wildlife. This reserve is located near a place called Badjaling in the Wheatbelt region.

The reserve covers about 272 hectares (which is like 672 acres) of natural bushland. It is surrounded by land that has been cleared for farming. This makes the reserve an important home for native plants and animals.

What is Badjaling Nature Reserve?

A nature reserve is a place where nature is protected. It helps keep plants and animals safe in their natural homes. Badjaling Nature Reserve is a great example of this, preserving a piece of Western Australia's unique environment.

Plants and Trees

The reserve has different types of plants. More than half of the area (54%) is covered in shrubland. This means there are many bushes and small woody plants. About 32% of the reserve is woodland, which has more trees.

There's also a special area (11%) with plants called halophytes. These plants can grow in salty soil, often found near a salty water stream. A small part (3%) is heath, which is another type of shrubby area.

Many of the trees in the woodland are low and bushy, like the plants from the Banksia and Xylomelum families. So, most of the plants in the reserve are quite shrubby.

Rare and Endangered Plants

In 1980, experts found 111 different kinds of plants in the reserve. But one very special plant, the Banksia cuneata, was not on that list. This plant, also known as the Quairading Banksia, is an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. It was first found in the reserve in 1971.

Animals of the Reserve

The reserve is home to various animals, though it doesn't have many types of native mammals.

Mammals

The only native mammals recorded here are the common dunnart and Gould's wattled bat. Dunnarts are small, mouse-like animals, and bats are flying mammals.

Some animals that are not native to Australia have also been found. These include the house mouse, black rat, European rabbit, and fox. These animals can sometimes cause problems for the native wildlife.

Birds

Badjaling Nature Reserve is a good spot for birdwatching! About 64 different types of birds have been seen there. These include 37 passerines (which are often called perching birds or songbirds) and 27 non-passerines (other types of birds like ducks or eagles).

Frogs and Reptiles

The reserve also has five different kinds of frogs. Plus, 17 types of reptiles, such as lizards and snakes, live in this protected area.