Backyard Buddies is a marketing program that sells soft toys of native Australian animals. It also sources donors and donations for the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. Backyard Buddies provides funds to the Foundation for threatened species recovery and protection programs. Funding from Backyard Buddies also allows the Foundation to run a nationwide environmental education and awareness raising program, beloved by parents, nature lovers, kids, teachers, conservationists and many more around Australia. It provides simple tips to make your garden safer and more inviting for native animals. Find out the full story of what Backyard Buddies does in this presentation. At the Foundation, we love our Backyard Buddies.

2. History
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

3. How did it start?
The Backyard Buddies program was developed by the
NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) as a
response to social research conducted in 2002.
The Report was called ‘Urban Wildlife Renewal – Growing
Conservation in Urban Communities’ by Ian Woolcott et al,
November 2002.
It revealed that only one fifth of urban respondents would
be interested in being involved in initiatives to conserve
native plants and animals.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

4. What can be done?
According to the research, however:
conservation behaviours that are simple
to incorporate into daily life are the most
likely to be adopted.
This is why Backyard Buddies was dreamed up…
to address a need to provide simple conservation tips.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

5. Where it all started
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

6. Where it all started
The Backyard Buddies program began in 2002 based in
New South Wales.
The program was initially run by the NSW Department of
Environment with funding from the NSW Environmental
Trust.
The previous slide showed the current Office of
Environment and Heritage website, which still displays
Backyard Buddies content.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

7. www.backyardbuddies.net.au
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

8. The Foundation takes it over
In 2007, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife
took over the program and its intellectual property.
Under the Foundation, Backyard Buddies operates
as a national environmental education, awareness
raising and engagement program.
It enjoys the support of many schools, Councils,
Catchment Management Authorities and the wider
community.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

9. Our Motto!
“Backyard buddies are the native animals that
share our built-up areas, waterways, backyards and
parks.
Backyard buddies are also the people who value
native animals and plants and want to protect them.
So you can be a backyard buddy.”
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

10. What is Backyard Buddies
The Foundation provides the Backyard Buddies
education program free of charge.
It provides positive environmental information and
advice to support individuals to become as involved
and active as they wish in backyard and local
conservation measures.
Backyard Buddies is the only national backyard
wildlife appreciation program in Australia.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

11. What does it provide?
It provides information to members in the form of:
• An information based website, www.backyardbuddies.net.au.
• Online Buddy Fact Sheets
• Backyard Buddy Habitat Fact Sheets
• An engaging monthly email newsletter, B-mail.
• A Facebook page for members.
• Monthly print articles about what animals and the Backyard Buddies
program.
• A nationwide list of wildlife carer and rescue groups for injured
animals.
• Assistance identifying native species.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

12. How do people find out about it?
• through friends and word of mouth
• articles in their local paper – which will be discussed in more
detail
• via online searches about particular animals and relevant
keywords
• through telemarketing calls made by Premium Fulfilment
Services. Each year over 1.5 million people are phoned and
made aware of Backyard Buddies.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

13. In the Media!
Prior to 2011 six media releases about BYB were sent out per year,
so one every two months.
This year we have stepped up the PR to one media release per
month and are having a fantastic response.
Articles about Australian native species and the Backyard Buddies
program have reached circulations of over a million twice in the
history of the program.
In 2011 for each Backyard Buddies media release the Foundation
sends out, we find an average circulation of approximately 900,000
readers.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

14. In the Media!
In 2010:
• 242 articles about the Backyard Buddies programs were printed in
newspapers across Australia.
• Circulation was 5,197,001 readers.
In the first five months of 2011:
• 168 articles about the Backyard Buddies programs have been
printed in newspapers across Australia.
• Circulation of these articles has reached 3,624,915 readers.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

15. Monthly B-mail
Each month, the Foundation
writes and sends B-mail to all
Backyard Buddy toy
purchasers, donors to the
Foundation, and individuals
who have expressed interest in
receiving it. We send B-mail
out to about 13,000 people per
month which is growing.
It is a quick loading, easy to
open email. People click the
links to read the stories.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

16. What does B-mail look like?
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

17. What does B-mail do?
B-mail is completely free and raises awareness about native plants
and animals you are likely to see in your backyard.
It promotes awareness of and involvement in biodiversity
conservation at a local level.
It encourages readers to enjoy native species in the urban
environment, and make their backyards and local areas safe and
inviting for urban wildlife.
B-mail is a positive and non-controversial community education tool.
It speaks to individual readers and provides them with simple ways to
be a part of a larger environmental solution.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

18. This slide shows the number of visits B-mail receives each month.
Readership is growing over time.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

19. Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

20. In the Big Backyard
B-mail occasionally includes a section called ‘In the Big Backyard’.
This tells supporters about work that the Foundation is funding to
protect and increase threatened species numbers across Australia.
B-mail acts as a soft, positive introduction into wildlife appreciation.
The ‘In the Big Backyard’ story lets them know about environmental
conservation projects specifically.
We often try to do Big Backyard stories on projects that Backyard
Buddies toy purchases have funded so that people can see how easy
it is to play a part in nature conservation.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

21. B-mail is
nominated for a
2011 Australian
Museum Eureka
Prize for
Environmental
Journalism.
Finalists are
announced on the
11th August and the
winner will be
announced in
September this year.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

22. www.facebook.com/backyardbuddies
Since December 2010,
Backyard Buddies has
had its own Facebook
page. It currently has
over 330 members, and
is a community space for
individuals to contribute
to by sharing their
photos, stories and
strategies for inviting
and protecting native
wildlife in their local
areas.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

23. The Backyard Buddies
Facebook is currently
growing by about 50
friends per month. It is
increasingly being used by
people to show us their
photos, to tell us they have
received a backyard buddy
toy, and to ask for help
identifying birds, frogs and
other animals in their local
area.
It is encouraging
awareness of urban
wildlife and locally based
conservation strategies.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

24. In 2007, a Traders
Agreement between
Backyard Buddies and
Premium Fulfilment Services
was established.
The Backyard Buddies
environmental education
program is funded by the
merchandise sales of native
Australian animal toys
through the project partner
Premium.
These are the toys you can
buy to support the
Foundation!
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

25. Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

26. What do you get when you buy a toy?
When people order a Backyard Buddy, they receive:
• the toy
• a backyard buddies wrist band
• a fact sheet on the particular animal with tips on how to make the
backyard safe and inviting for this creature
• a certificate of appreciation from the Foundation
• a PAWS newsletter from the Foundation - this newsletter introduces
the person to the Foundation and tells them about current
conservation projects being funding, including those funded by the
sale of Backyard Buddy toys.
Additional funds raised through these sales go towards threatened
species conservation projects funded through the Foundation for
National Parks & Wildlife.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

27. The proceeds from each toy go towards projects related to protecting
and conserving that particular species group.
Buddy Projects – from the sale of Little Penguin BYB Toys
• VIC Satellite tracking of Phillip Island Little Penguins
• NSW Penguin Wardens
• NSW Monitoring Little Penguins
• SA Satellite tracking little penguins at Kangaroo and Granite Islands
• TAS Monitoring Little Pengiuns in Tasmania, burrowscope
• WA DNA-based faecal analysis to determine Little Penguin diet
Find out more about these projects at www.fnpw.org.au
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

28. The Manly colony of Little Penguins in Sydney Harbour is the only mainland
colony left in NSW. All other colonies are restricted to offshore islands due to
predators. Due to this and the small size of the colony, the Manly Little
Penguins were listed as an endangered population. For the first time in 2005
captive-bred penguins were released into the Manly colony to boost
population numbers.
Breeding season is the time of year when the birds are most vulnerable. At
Manly, volunteer Penguin Wardens watch over the colony from July to
January. Every night from 6 to 12 PM, the volunteers safeguard the colony
and answer questions from the local community. They are ambassadors for
the endangered Little Penguins of Manly, Sydney Harbour.
They help with monitoring of the endangered colony and provide members of
the public with accurate information about the penguins, their habitat and
their needs. The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife supports the
volunteers by providing polar fleeces, beanies and gloves and other
equipment. This project has received generous funding from Rotary.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

29. Buddy Projects – from the sale of Koala Backyard Buddy Toys
• VIC Koaladoors Community Planting
• QLD Koala Bushcare
• NSW Movement of koalas back into severely burnt forest in
Port Stephens
• QLD Redlands Koala Conservation Grants
Find out more about these projects at www.fnpw.org.au
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

30. During 2009 and 2010, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, AGA
Germany and the Redlands City Council partnered to contribute funds to
restore Koala habitats in the Redlands area.
Koala Conservation Grants of $500 to $2,000 were given to owners of
properties in the Redland City Council area that have Koala Conservation
Agreements on their properties through the council's Koala Conservation
Agreement Program (KCAP).
Funding allows landholders to maintain, improve, and repair Koala habitats
or enhance Koala conservation outcomes, such as pest animal control,
change to habitat restoration, and revegetation. Grants provide a direct
improvement in the quality of Koala habitat.
In 2009 up to 5,000 local native species were planted. This was the first
stage in connecting an important corridor between two reserves, which
allows wildlife to move safely between these areas.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

31. Buddy Projects – from the sale of Kookaburra & Rosella BYB Toys
• ACT Brown Treecreeper Reintroductions in Eucalypt Woodland
• NSW Conserving endangered Coastal Emus
• NSW Automated Acoustic Monitoring of threatened fauna
• TAS Digital acoustic bird monitoring in private reserves and Land for
• VIC Recovery of Black-eared Minors
• WA Jilakurru Rock Wallaby Translocation
• VIC Raising Awareness of Threatened Woodland Fauna of North-Eastern
Find out more about these projects at www.fnpw.org.au
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

32. From October 2009 to December 2011, the Foundation for National Parks &
Wildlife is funding the first experimental reintroductions of the threatened
Brown Treecreeper, Climacteris picumnus. This species will be released
into Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo Nature Reserves in the Australian
Capital Territory, where large-scale habitat restoration experiments are
ongoing.
The project will be undertaken by the Fenner School of Environment &
Society at the Australian National University.
Reintroduced Brown Treecreeper birds will be monitored and tracked with
radio devices purchased with the funding. This experiment will help re-
establish a declining woodland bird species.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

33. Buddy Projects – from the sale of Wombat Backyard Buddy Toys
• SA Wombat Mange Management Program SA
From September 2009 to September 2010 the Foundation for National
Parks & Wildlife provided funds to the Wombat Awareness Organisation
(WAO) to undertake the treatment of wombats in the Murraylands of
South Australia affected with Sarcoptic mange. This is the second
largest and most isolated population of Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats
in South Australia.
The aims of this project were to conserve the main population of
Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats in SA and to reduce the spread of the
Sarcoptic mange mite and its impact on native animals, domestic
animals and livestock.
Find out more about this project at www.fnpw.org.au
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

34. We love our
Backyard
Buddies!
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

35. Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

36. • Since its beginning, BYB has provided the Foundation with
over $450,000
• We now have over 13,000 members which receive Bmail each month.
This by around 200 – 500 per month.
• The Backyard Buddies program recruits donors to the Foundation at zero
cost to the Foundation. It has doubled our database to over 85,000.
Of the money raised, the following has gone towards conservation projects:
• $28,302.04 in 2007
• $68,324.72 in 2008
• $75,077.64 in 2009
• $65,199.55 in 2010
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

37. If someone
doesn’t want
to buy a toy,
they are asked
if they would
like to make a
donation to the
Foundation
instead.
The average donation amount to the Foundation through Backyard Buddies is
$20-$30.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

38. Donations
have been
growing
steadily over
time.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

39. The number of
donors has
also been
growing over
time.
Brand
recognition of
the Foundation
has also
grown
because of
Backyard
Buddies.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

40. Toy sales have
grown over
time, but saw a
drop during the
GFC.
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

41. Feedback:
From: B & B Deans [mailto:deansyb@amnet.net.au]
Sent: Monday, 6 June 2011 9:51 AM
To: fnpw@fnpw.org.au
Subject: thankyou
Just wanted to say a big big thankyou for the wonderful newsletters with
the fabulous audio calls and video links. They are sensational as well as
informative. Please keep them coming.
Bobie Deans
Bridgetown WA
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

42. Feedback:
From: Robyn McMellon [mailto:robyn@mcmellon.net]
Sent: Wednesday, 1 June 2011 10:38 AM
To: fnpw@fnpw.org.au
Subject: Re: Subscriber's website
Dear Leonie,
Having recently moved to an area (Cootamundra, NSW) without a “Twitcher's Group” and
having mobility problems, I am delighted with our website which gives both videos and
birdcalls of specific birds. At long last, I can fully utilise my “bird books” and then research
sight and sound information through your newsletter.
Thank you for opening up a whole new world of knowledge for me.
Robyn
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

43. Feedback:
Subject: Re: Great Migrations & New Beginnings!
From: Ginny Legh <ginny.l@tpg.com.au>
Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:29:39 +1000
To: "Leonie Gale, CEO Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife" fnpw.HtW71j@fnpw.cminteractive.net
Just loved the video of the black swans. What a superb "pram" mother
swan's back makes!
Thanks
Ginny
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

44. Feedback:
Subject: Re: Name that Black & White Bird Buddy!
From: B <brionymail@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Sun, 1 May 2011 09:55:30 +1000
To: "Leonie Gale, CEO Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife" <fnpw.EqnnvD@fnpw.cminteractive.net>
Hi,
I just wanted to express my thanks for this month's b-mail! It is fantastic! I have been an
environmental practitioner for years however in a slightly disconnected sense I am realising,
so I am currently learning to connect more to nature and the seasons in Australia and this was
very informative and so interesting!
Thank you, best regards,
Briony
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

45. Feedback:
Subject: Re: Name that Black & White Bird Buddy!
From: Joseph Phillips <jsphil@bigpond.com>
Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 15:21:52 +1000
To: "Leonie Gale, CEO Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife" <fnpw.CK2YC9@fnpw.cminteractive.net>
Dear FNPW,
Really like the links, the bird calls and videos!
Joe Phillips
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

46. Feedback:
Subject: Re: Name that Black & White Bird Buddy!
From: "Madonna Bartlett" <madonna.eagle2@bigpond.com>
Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 07:31:20 +1000
To: "Leonie Gale, CEO Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife" <fnpw.CVILKd@fnpw.cminteractive.net>
Dear Leonie,
I truly enjoy the monthly newsletter and often send it off to my overseas
friends so they too can enjoy our wonderful wildlife.
Thankyou for our monthly smile : )
Madonna Bartlett-Eagle
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

47. Feedback:
Subject: Re: Phenomenal Froggies Flood into Town
From: Judy Cooney <greenspot@westnet.com.au>
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 09:55:47 +1100
To: "Leonie Gale, CEO Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife" fnpw.uK2nqB@fnpw.cminteractive.net
Dear Leonie
Thank you for "Backyard Buddies" - I really enjoy reading it; loved the
frog calls this edition. Keep up the good education and hopefully reach
many Aussie (especially city) children.
Judy Cooney
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals

48. Feedback:
Hi Leonie
Thank you for your email.
Could you please send me hard copies of your publication, as I would love to display it in our
public reading stand in the NCT Offices which are in Orange, Albury, Lismore and Sydney
Thank you, Leonie. Kind regards,
Denise Allen
Program Support Manager
Nature Conservation Trust of NSW
Backyard Buddies Get more enjoyment from our native plants and animals