Ecologist and environmental educator
Renée Ferster Levy
Background
Renée Ferster Levy is a long-term local resident. After studying Zoology at Sydney Uni, she enjoyed working on surveys of birds and nocturnal mammals in the superb forests of south-east NSW. Later, she served as a field guide on nature hikes, including rockpool excursions for schools. Currently, she guides birdwalks and habitat creation workshops. Renée is passionate about helping people open their eyes and ears to the stunning nature around them and encouraging them to take action to protect and reconnect with it.
How does your work engage and consider the environment, different sites and ecologies?
As an ecologist with a particular interest in birds, I have been doing systematic bird surveys over many years, and contributing my data to BirdLife Australia’s national database, Birdata. Birds can be an indicator of the health of an environment, and differences in species diversity and numbers can be seen between sites, as well as changes over time within the same site. I survey several sites in Nielsen Park, and bird diversity is very different between them eg. the hill full of beautiful endemic bush has had more than twice the bird species than the open grassy flat below, and 8 times the number of small bird species! Many of these tiny birds are migratory, flying hundreds of kilometers, feeding or sheltering in Nielsen’s bushy areas before (or after) the difficult Harbour crossing. Often they are harassed by aggressive birds, so having dense bushy shelter is vital for their safety. Where can they shelter outside the National Parks? Can we improve our own gardens and public areas to enable safe passage? Could our gardens make a difference?
Could you share your experiences in interacting with this specific Country / place (Nielsen Park and surrounding areas) and the thoughts or reflections it has evoked in you?
Above the stunning intertidal areas, in the bushy part of Nielsen, there are wildflowers in every season - yellow Acacias and peas, pink Croweas, purple climbers, delicate red tubular Epacris edged in white, dense creamy Eucalyptus blossoms feasted on by small Honeyeaters during the autumn migration … from some angles we see these with a backdrop of the blue Harbour, with not a house to be seen! Whether leaves are baking in the hot sun, or dripping during rain, this peaceful haven is a joy to explore. As I begin each bird survey, my senses alert to every movement and call, there’s an excitement knowing that I may see some unique behaviours, and whether it’s quiet or bursting with activity, the data may help conservation. Watching the development of two tiny Tawny Frogmouth chicks last spring was an incredible privilege, from funny white fluffballs to mini versions of their superbly camouflaged parents with huge yellow eyes.
Please share your experiences with intertidal areas, the ocean, or any anecdotes / connections you've forged with the land
I love seeing the same place in different tides - the contrasts are amazing and it is hard to conceive how the animals manage to survive such extreme changes in exposure, salinity, temperature and predators. Sitting quietly next to a rockpool allows viewing of the smaller, camouflaged creatures - there are tiny shrimps, almost clear, which just look like 2 eyes journeying along; hilarious hermit crabs living in old shells, which they retract into and roll off rocks to escape danger, and which they swap with others when they grow too big; vividly coloured sponges under rocks on the lowest tides; lovely limpets which seem immobile yet which go exploring to graze at high tide, then return to their exact spot, locking in moisture before low tide exposes them yet again to the open sky, heat and drying … There may be Cormorants drying out between fishing bouts on their favourite ‘window rock’, and it’s a treat to see Sooty Oystercatchers (a threatened species!) on Bottle and Glass Rocks, with their elegant pitch black plumage and stunning scarlet beak and legs! On one of the highest rocks above, a magnificent Osprey may be seen, a huge bird of prey, as it feasts on its fishy catch.
What holds particular significance for you in/about Neilsen Park country and Bottle and Glass Point?
The sheer beauty of our largest remaining patch of local endemic bush, bordered by water and Harbour views; the gift of this site with a great diversity of plants, birds and other wildlife, especially the tiny birds which have disappeared from our suburbs, some of which migrate vast distances.
How does your work and leadership evolve from within you, and how do you ensure you can provide support for those who are learning from you? How do you create spaces for learning and collaboration with other people and the environment?
Family, love and nature are the essence of my being. I always wanted to be outdoors and feel strongly connected to natural places, and when I studied zoology my focus was on ecology and animal behaviour. Field work is the most fascinating work, especially when the results can help improve conservation outcomes. I’ve had wonderful inspiring mentors in ecological research and guiding, and I love helping others observe and enjoy the incredible beauty, plants and wildlife around us, how it is all interconnected, and understand that we are a part of nature, not apart from it. Seeing drastic declines in many bird species, especially the complete loss of small birds in most of our suburbs as more and more areas are cleared and gardens simplified, brings urgency to retaining and creating healthy habitat, which we can all do in our gardens and shared spaces. ‘Protect and Connect’ is a helpful way of looking at our best actions, using excellent resources like birdsinbackyards This will help all wildlife, from the tiniest insects, including pollinators, to their fascinating insect and spidery predators, lizards, geckos, frogs and birds.
Do you have any memorable stories or facts about the harbour and coastal fringes that hold personal significance for you?
Floating in the heavenly water while looking at the bushland; playing in the sand with our small children and now, grandchildren; many family celebrations up on the headland, and feeling my whole being relax when entering the green and blue bushy haven of Nielsen Park. Being aware that my long and deep connection with this area is so new compared to the tens of thousands of years when Indigenous people thrived here, caring for the land and sea."
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