Backyard rescue
The value a garden space brings can be measured by the amount of pleasure it gives. While we instinctively think those who derive this enjoyment are people, there are many feathered and furry friends that also take great delight in visiting and living in our yards. But what happens when you find one that is in need of help?
Our interaction with native wildlife is generally limited to watching birds flitting from shrub to shrub, magpies pecking the lawn looking for grubs, or maybe spying a possum disappearing into a tree. However, there are times when we can have a much closer interaction with our fauna, such as finding a young bird fallen from its nest or an injured blue tongue lizard in need of help. The question about what to do when we are in such a situation is best answered by someone from a wildlife rescue organisation.
Marian MacLucas is a founding member of Save our Wildlife Foundation Incorporated (SOWFI), established in 2018 by a group of experienced wildlife carers looking to create an organisation with up-to-date wildlife rehabilitation practices at its core.
“SOWFI has been set up to rehabilitate, release, and relieve suffering when needed,” Marian says. “Our main goal is to rehab any sick, injured or abandoned bird or animal and return them to the wild.
“We currently have 130 active volunteers from Port Augusta to Victor Harbor with a 24/7 phone line on (08) 7120 6610, answered by a volunteer able to give advice on that injured or sick animal.”
An abandoned brushtail joey being cared for by a Save Our Wildlife Foundation volunteer
Like all wildlife groups, SOWFI relies on the wonderful goodwill given by the veterinarian community who willingly give up their time to aid those native animals in need.
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Most calls are for birds (60 per cent), then possums (30 per cent), while koalas, kangaroos and reptiles make up the rest. Those calls most often reflect the breeding cycles of the various fauna groups with young and emerging animals at most risk.
Knowing the type of young bird you find in need of assistance helps decide what intervention, if any, is needed. Some birds such as ravens, magpies, noisy miners and musk lapwings (plovers) fledge, that is they develop wing feathers that are large enough for flight, at ground level. Musk lapwings will nest anywhere on roofs, under solar panels, in the middle of roundabouts, or the driveway. It is not uncommon for the babies to fall from a roof and end up alone on the ground.
A fledgling raven separated from its parents is helped by a Save Our Wildlife volunteer
“For these ground fledging birds, when a baby is found alone, but the parents are around it is best to leave it alone so the parents can attend to it,” Marian says. “However, if the baby is injured or the parents are not obviously about, then you need to assist”.
Other birds, such as parrots, fledge from the nest which means, once they’re ready to fly, they can take off and start their life. If you see a small parrot on the ground that’s struggling, it is highly likely this needs attention.
“Pick up the bird; by hand is fine – it’s a myth the parents will reject the baby if humans have touched it – or use a towel to gently gather it and place in a box,” explains Marian. “Then call the SOWFI hotline. The operator will ask about the bird, they may even request a photo for better identification. Once they have all the information, our volunteer will advise what to do. If waiting for a carer to collect, they may ask you to heat a wheat bag or fill a hot water bottle to help provide essential warmth.”
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The same practice applies to young possums, known as joeys. In Adelaide we have the common ringtail and common brushtail possum. Ringtails are canopy dwellers, who eat mainly eucalypt. They build dreys, which are big messy nests and live in family groups. The loss of tree canopy across Adelaide has meant more and more ringtails are forced to leave the safety of their tree to move to the next, which is where interactions with dogs, cats and foxes can occur. All the more reason for keeping cats and dogs indoors at night so our nocturnal critters can forage safely.
A volunteer finds a safe place for a young raven to be seen by its mother
Tree loss, particularly those with hollows, has dramatically affected the brushtail possum.
As Marian explains: “It takes decades and decades for a hollow to form on a tree. There are just not enough hollows to go around which force brushtails to find alternative lodging, such as roof spaces. So, whenever we can save a hollow, we help multiple species, including brushtails, find a home”.
From time to time, possum joeys find themselves separated from their mothers. If you come across one in the backyard, carefully pick it up, take it inside and call SOWFI. Volunteers have many tricks to reunite that joey, including visiting your home at night, taping its cry, then heading out with the joey and playing back that cry near where it was found.
An abandoned brushtail joey in care
“It is such a wonderful experience to see the mother scurry down a tree, rush over to her lost joey, fling it on her back and head up to a safe branch to lick the human scent off her precious bundle,” Marian says.
If you find a sick, injured or abandoned bird or animal these are some simple SOWFI messages – don’t feed it anything, don’t try and put water in its mouth, and don’t let the kids play with it. Phone the hotline immediately, even one or two days can be the difference in successful rehabilitation of a bird or animal.
“The service we provide is so important” says Marian. “I love the interaction with the wildlife, learning their habits and personalities. It is the best volunteer job and so enriching.”
To find out more about Save our Wildlife Foundation Incorporated (SOWFI), how to become a volunteer or assist in their much-needed fundraising, visit the website: save-our-wildlife.org.au.
This article first appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of SALIFE Gardens & Outdoor Living magazine.
