"The University of Sydney, the Royal Botanic Garden and the Australian Museum are driving the community based program 'Hollows as Homes', recruiting people to take note of tree hollows that they see in their backyard, properties, bushland, golf courses - or anywhere" said council's senior ecologist, Mr Mat Bell.

"In NSW at least 46 mammals, 81 birds, 31 reptiles and 16 frogs use tree hollows as habitat. Of these, 40 species are listed as threatened with extinction, so it's important we try to find out more about the animals we have in our area and identify locations of hollows" said Mr Bell.

Hollows as Homes aims to increase the knowledge and understanding that we have about tree hollows; the distribution of tree hollows, the types of hollows available and how wildlife use tree hollows, including artificial hollows or nest boxes.

Participants in Hollows as Homes will be providing valuable information on the number and distribution of hollows, distribution of different types of hollows and wildlife that is using the hollows and nest boxes.

"Some of this information is still largely unknown, for example the number of hollow-bearing trees that exist in people’s backyards and the existence of wildlife using trees in backyards" said Mr Bell.

The information collected will be used to add to the scientific literature, while councils will be better able to plan our suburbs and retain existing habitat that is important for wildlife.

And we will become better informed about the importance of tree hollows and understand exactly what is using our own backyard!

For information on how you can be a part of this exciting project, visit www.hollowsashomes.com or www.facebook.com/hollowashomes

Alternatively, you can email Dr Adrian Davis at hollows.ashomes@gmail.com.