However, I did note a larger than usual number of birds of prey in the area. Clearly the remaining reptiles had become an easy target for predators. These features of bushfire ecology need studying. Even during the most severe of bushfires, including the one at Waterfall. This is particularly so for hilly, rocky and wel1-watered areas, such as around Sydney.
Winds change direction, flames jump over a creek missing some of the border vegetation and so on.
All these areas represent a safe haven for the slowest and most stupid of animals, in theory helping to ensure the survival of enough individuals to maintain a population. In terms of the recent bushfires in Sydney, that has become a problem. Because some areas of bush are completely surrounded by densely populated suburbs and the bush itself is virtually totally burnt out, the species wiped out in these areas are unlikely to ever return. Fortunately for reptile lovers, few if any reptiles will be affected in this way by the recent bushfires. Permanent local extinctions are likely.