Wildlife Land Trust / Sanctuaries / QLD / Borderhaven

Julie and Wayne Colless are the owners of Borderhaven, a property situated in Bunya Creek, approximately 100km south of Bundaberg, Queensland. The property is a residence and dedicated wildlife sanctuary, and the owners intend to preserve it for the benefit of native species and their habitat. The property is additionally registered with Land for Wildlife.

The property encompasses 51 hectares and features broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca quinquinervia) forests in the wetter, lower areas of the property. The drier areas are comprised of open woodland and wallum communities dominated by tea tree (Leptospermum spp.), geebung (Persoonia spp.), black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) and grass trees (Xanthorrhoea spp.). Other species present include yellow prickly moses (Acacia hubbardiana), hakeas, grevilleas, casuarinas, and more.

An abundance of wildlife is present on the property including eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), eastern water dragons (Intellagama lesueurii), lace monitors (Varanus varius), red-bellied black snakes (Pseudechis porphyriacus), green tree snakes (Dendrelaphis punctulata), green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea), striped rocket frogs (Litoria nasuta), dainty green tree frogs (Litoria gracilenta) and eastern pobblebonks (Limnodynastes dumerilii).

Borderhaven is also home to a vast array of birdlife including wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), pheasant coucals (Centropus phasianinus), rainbow bee-eaters (Merops ornatus), double-barred finches (Taeniopygia bichenovii), grey-crowned babblers (Pomatostomus temporalis), white-winged choughs (Corcorax melanorhamphos), white-necked herons (Ardea pacifica), intermediate egrets (Ardea intermedia), pale-headed rosellas (Platycercus adscitus), common bronzewing pigeons (Phaps chalcoptera), brown quails (Coturnix ypsilophora), brown falcons (Falco berigora), yellow-tailed black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus), bush-stone curlews (Burhinus grallarius), buff-banded rails (Gallirallus philippensis), brush turkeys (Alectura lathami) kestrels, kites, nightjars and ospreys.

Numerous species also visit including black-necked storks (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), brolgas (Grus rubicunda), welcome swallows (Hirundo neoxena) and plumed whistling ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni).