The blue triangle butterfly loves the camphor laurels that feature in many urban backyards.

They were the first thing I noticed when I moved to the area two years ago.

Their bright, jewel-coloured wings and quick movements draw the eye, and I was delighted to find my yard filled with them in February and March.

READ MORE:

Sadly, during the bushfires, my yard was full of smoke and ash, with no butterflies to be seen.

A small part of me felt they must have been to magical to be true; that surely such delicate things had fallen victim to the devastation we were surrounded by.

My fears were unfounded however, and this year I was pleased and surprised to see the blue triangle butterflies flitting through the yard again - just as numerous as before.

Dr David Yeates, director of the Australian National Insect Collection at the CSIRO said butterflies weren't so easy to kill.

He said it was likely that despite the fires a few butterflies would have survived the heat and smoke, possibly hidden in their beloved camphor laurel trees.

The eggs laid by the survivors were born into more favourable conditions, with the rest of 2020 being warm and wet.

However they did it, the return of these beauties reassures me that, given time and patience nature can bounce back - as long as we have the good sense to get out of her way.