My guideline has usually been, the more bird species about, the happier and healthier the habitats are. Birds are excellent indicators for habitat health. I am not saying the more birds here. I am saying more bird SPECIES.
Birds can eat berries, insects, animals, seeds, nectar etc- in fact the more VARIETY for them, the better. SO mix it up if you can, with your types of plants. Also, birds live in different “levels” of the “food forest or woodland” such as can be found about these areas of the Tweed Coast. Some live up high in the trees, whilst others stay lower to the ground. Others move between layers or strata of the vegetation. Some birds may come from further away, and your property may have many birds coming from other places, but your land may still be within their habitat range. You can offer them sanctuary and food whilst they pass through.

BIODIVERSITY is the bottom line here. The more native biodiversity, thus promoting more native bird species, leads to a healthier environment, in general.
OK, now i can see that my reply is becoming longwinded… but here goes….
John Kanowski & Carla P. Catterall have done some excellent work on regeneration techniques, concerning Camphors, rainforests and native wildlife habitats.
Local landcare groups often offer workshops for regenerating landscapes, and becoming involved with your local landcare group can be rewarding, and lead to some great information exchange, if you attend workshops.
Brunswick Valley Landcare offers a great range of books that you can either purchase or track down through your local library, concerning native plants and animals.
Whilst much of the Tweed Region’s Vegetation was some type of rainforest, not all was. There are the swamp lands, littoral zones, perched water table sandy country, escarpments, coastal salt spray “frontline” littoral landscapes, grasslands, woodlands etc etc – many many types of vegtetation combinations, merging with others, as the base rock/soil type, aspect, elevation and climate conditions change.

And so much of the area where you probably live has been altered, that remnants of past ecological units are changed beyond recognition. This is where BASE ROCK TYPE, SOIL TYPE, ELEVATION, CLIMATE and ASPECT become important. Get to know your soil type. This can be difficult if the developer who created your current situation altered the landscape greatly. To find out your soil type, become an investigative gardener. Many Australian plants tend to grow on specific base rocks and soil types. eg sandy soils v’s volcanic silt, at particular elevations/aspects, with particular groundwater regimes. So, try to find out what your “rock type” and soil type is, as this will give you a lead as to what type of plants can grow easily, on your soil and base rock type etc..
Always try to imagine what the eventual size and scope of your native plantings will become.
It sounds like you already are aware of the issues here – .
Regarding specific plants, this will require research. However, the local landcare groups are a great starting point, as are the local native plant nurseries. BUSH NUTS NATIVE NURSERY is even a better place to start. I used to buy from this nursery ages ago, for regeneration works along the Tallebudgera Creek. Their stock was excellent quality, and the growers there really “KNEW” their native, local provenance plants.
All the best Sheryl, and i shall try to get more articles out there, concerning the issues that you have raised!!!
cheers, Alison Polistchuk