Yes planting indigenous flora with bird-pollinated nectiferous flowers would certainly help to sway the balance in favour of the natives, by encouraging a variety of honeyeaters as well as wattlebirds and friarbirds.

They also encourage insects which help to bring in other native birds.

Actually, they don’t have to be native. Native birds will go for all manner of introduced species just as happily.

Ferals such as foxes certainly do have a higher priority than common (Indian) mynas.

In fact, all feral birds in Australia are of pretty minor concern compared to many other animal and plant species.

There are ?no feral birds that colonise natural habitats to any great extent. They are all species of intensive humanised landscapes. Only common starlings impinge a little on the natural environment. Oh, and kelp gulls I guess.

In contrast, we have extremely serious problems with various animals that have invaded natural habitats, not least cats, foxes, rabbits and canetoads.

Then there are many plants that have done the same – rubbervine, lantana, buffel grass and hundreds more.

On same page with you Ludwig.

Which was why my advice to Belly was to make his garden more native friendly, thus increasing numbers. However, agree that some exotic plants suit native birds quite well - particularly those of the nectar feeding variety.

Pity we can't plant things to deter feral carnivores.

Sorry Ammonite, at that time I had read about thirty pages , so did not read your link.
Just forgot to, I did describe my garden, it is sheer native bird attracting.
You mentioned species that will not grow here black clay.
MINUS 5 some winters and plus 40 in summer MY FIRST PICK, BUT LOST EVERY ONE.
I can not agree, just not being ignorant, truly interested.
But these invaders are in big flocks,your link showed just why they drive natives out they are well on the way to being as bad as cane toads.
I am not complaining of the bird dung, it is a health risk.
But of the very nature and destructiveness of these flying cane toads/ rats
We will have to differ on this I join in with every coastal council endless groups calling for the control of these introduced pests.

Belly

Indigenous to your region means plants that are native to your region. There should be an indigenous plant nursery near you. However, that does not mean you cannot create micro-climates to grow certain plants. As for clay - gypsum, lots of organic matter in soil (get that compost heap going). You can also make 'no-dig' gardens. Save up newspapers, old bits of natural fibre carpet, layout on area where you want to grow plants, then pile with cane straw (now you must have access to cane straw up your way), then manure, compost, all in big heaps layered like a lasagne. Wait about 6 weeks, then plant.

I think you are just finding excuses, mate

Here:

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s867068.htm

No excuses for you.

<< … they are well on the way to being as bad as cane toads. >>

Belly, now I might be getting a bit controversial, but I reckon the impact of canetoads is almost as overstated as for mynas.

They are another species that has been in my area for decades, not just in humanised landscapes but right out into wilds, and there are still plenty of goannas, snakes, frog-eating birds, etc around.

Sure, they have an initial impact. But it appears that they quickly come into balance with their new ecosystems and that all creatures that might eat them or compete for food or habitat also achieve a balance pretty quickly.

This is quite unlike the history of foxes, cats, rabbits, rats, goats, etc.

Meanwhile, there are some very sinister feral plants that are having enormous impacts. There are also with feral fungi such as dieback (Phytophthora spp) that are having devastating effects.

There is Siam weed in north Queensland. This is the world’s worst weed. I recently discovered it high on the slopes of Mt Elliot near Townsville, far from human disturbance.

This has surely got to be the top priority in Australia for addressing weeds and feral animals.

http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&state=&s=&ibra=all&card=S20