Doug McGregor is the owner of Slade Haven, a property located in Grafton, approximately 70km northwest of Coffs Harbour, NSW. The property is a residence and dedicated wildlife sanctuary, which also houses a vegetable garden and chicken coop. It is Doug’s intention to maintain the existing native vegetation and improve the current habitat for the benefit of native wildlife. As several surrounding properties have recently undergone extensive clearing for agriculture, Slade Haven preserves a significant habitat for a range of native species.
The property covers approximately 20.23 hectares and is comprised of one half partially cleared woodlands and one half untouched natural bushland. Two creek systems running through the property are fringed with dense subtropical forest belts which provide significant habitat for wildlife.
Vegetation on the property is largely dominated by various eucalypts, she-oaks (Allocasuarina spp.) and wattles (Acacia spp.). Bottlebrushes (Callistemon spp.), bush orchids and a variety of ferns are also found on the property.
A wide range of wildlife is present on the property including koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), spotted-tailed quolls (Dasyurus maculatus), short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps), eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) and brush-tailed phascogales (Phascogale tapoatafa). A variety of reptiles are also present including eastern brown (Pseudonaja textilis) and red-bellied black (Pseudechis porphyriacus) snakes, eastern bearded (Pogona barbata) and water (Intellagama lesueurii) dragons and carpet pythons (Morelia spilota).
The property also provides habitat for a vast array of birdlife including double-barred (Taeniopygia bichenovii), zebra (Taeniopygia guttata) and red-browed (Neochmia temporalis) finches, little egrets (Egretta garzetta), pheasant coucals (Centropus phasianinus), Southern boobooks (Ninox boobook) and wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax). Glossy (Calyptorhynchus lathami), red-tailed (Calyptorhynchus banksii) and yellow-tailed (Calyptorhynchus funereus) black cockatoos are also found on the property.
