Snapshot of little-known urban dwellers

Sydneysiders are being asked to keep their eyes peeled this month for some of our little-known urban dwellers.

A wildlife competition is seeking photographs of the many native animals and plants in the heart of the city, including four vulnerable species – the powerful owl, long-nosed bandicoot, green and golden bell frog and microbat.

The competition is being run throughout November by the Good Hood, a City of Sydney-led initiative which celebrates the ‘good’ things local communities are doing to make Sydney a more sustainable city.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the competition was a fun way for residents to pay closer attention to Sydney’s wildlife and take time out from the frantic pace of city life.

“Connecting with our local birds and animals can contribute to our sense of wellbeing, making our city more liveable,” the Lord Mayor said.

“From lizards baking lazily in the sun, to protected species which are rarely seen, it’s important to stop and pay attention to nature in the inner city. This is all about being aware of, enjoying and protecting our amazing wildlife.”

The Good Hood competition is calling for the community to take a picture of native wildlife seen in the city and pin it onto the Good Hood map at http://thegoodhood.com.au/ or hashtag the image on Instagram with #thegoodhood.

Two winning entries will win illustrations of the powerful owl and long-nosed bandicoot by local artist Kareena Zerefos.

“Both of these nocturnal Sydneysiders are inspiring subjects and it’s fantastic that we are encouraging the community to be more aware of their existence and the part that we need to play in protecting nature,” Ms Zerefos said.

“I admire the long-nosed bandicoot’s ambitious, inquisitive nature, and the powerful owl’s strong intuition, and I’ve tried to capture these qualities in my drawings.”

Competition entries close on 28 November. For more information, visit: thegoodhood.com.au