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Watering Our Wildlife

2/19/2020

12 Comments

 
Picture
Photo courtesy of Water Our Wildlife Canberra
As the native wildlife here contends with drought, high temperatures, and bushfires this summer, people across Canberra have united to help. In a community effort to provide water for thirsty wildlife, Water Our Wildlife Canberra has encouraged Canberrans to place and maintain tubs of water in nature reserves and neighborhoods. Started on December 22, 2019, the group now has nearly 6,000 members and more than 500 watering stations across the Australian Capital Territory.

I’ve put out three watering stations, cleaning and filling them every few days. There’s more to consider in maintaining water stations than you’d think.
​
First, where to locate them? I chose locations with no natural sources of water or other water stations nearby. The locations had to be far enough out in the bush to do some good but close enough to the road to carry the water in. I had to find flat, level ground in shaded areas, away from busy walking trails. I also looked for places with lots of fresh scat to confirm animals were congregating there.
​What kind of container? I started out with larger plastic bins and soon realized it was unrealistic to carry in enough water to maintain them. 
​I replaced the bins with deep plastic bowls. I also added smaller shallow plates for insects, small reptiles, and animals that can’t access a deep bowl, such as echidnas. Branches and rocks are crucial to a successful water station. Branches around the containers allow smaller animals to climb to the water. Branches inside let bees and other insects drink without drowning.
I often find animals waiting for me.
​Adding a sprinkler hose or buckets outside in the yard helps too.
Water Our Wildlife has a public Facebook page, frequented by positive, dedicated people. I enjoy seeing the posted pictures and reading what’s happening with the wildlife in other neighborhoods. Maybe this effort has become so popular because it’s a small but tangible thing that ordinary people can do to help in the face of bushfires and drought.
12 Comments
Diane
2/21/2020 04:34:27 pm

What an incredible community effort! Love it.

Reply
Rose
2/22/2020 04:19:19 am

Yes, it's really incredible how it all came together. Thanks as always for reading and commenting!

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Bob
2/21/2020 08:50:19 pm

I think that is great that there are so many that care for the wildlife. Is there any shortage of water in Australia or parts of it. In Florida you can have too much or it is rationed where you cannot water lawns or wash cars due to lack of rain. Have any waterways been damaged/blocked from the fires? I hope that there are no more deaths or destruction from this point forward. Best wishes to all.

Reply
Rose
2/22/2020 04:22:58 am

Thanks, Bob -- I really appreciate the good wishes. We have water restrictions in Australia too. In my area, we have been in a drought for about 5 years. We very seldom get too much rain, but that has definitely been a problem up north. The local waterways haven't been physically damaged or blocked that I know of, but some were contaminated by all the ash from the fires. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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Ed
2/22/2020 10:32:40 am

The various water permutations to get to all the animals was very interesting. I would never have thought about most of them. It is true that deep water is a danger for many of the smaller or even middle sized creatures, but I doubt i would have considered the branches, etc. you use to make it both accessible and survivable.

Reply
Rose
2/23/2020 12:01:33 am

I don’t think I would have thought of it either. That is why that public Facebook page was so important. We all learned from what other people before us had tried. Some of the water station design became quite elaborate as people learned from trial and error. Thanks, Ed, for reading and commenting.

Reply
Dennis Szymanski
2/22/2020 12:52:49 pm

I agree with Ed comments. And, if I missed it I'm embarrassed, but is this a year round labor? Do you feel safe doing this?

Reply
Rose
2/23/2020 12:08:32 am

Hi, Dennis. No, you didn’t miss it. I probably should have mentioned that this was not a permanent thing. The extra water is just meant to help the animals through the worst of the summer heat and drought. (We have more animals now too, as the ones fleeing the bush fires headed into Canberra.) As we are starting to slowly get more rain, people are beginning to collect their stations and store them until next summer. As for safety out there, the only hazard I worry about is a snake, so I watch carefully where I place my feet. Thanks for reading and commenting!

Reply
Ted K
3/3/2020 06:43:38 am

So glad to see the way your providing for the wildlife. Water, the basic need to survive.

Reply
Rose
3/3/2020 08:10:43 pm

I think people here care deeply for the wildlife. I know it helped me get through the bushfire season because it was something tangible that I could do to help. Thanks for reading and commenting, Ted!

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Maria
8/25/2020 07:41:20 am

So great to know humans will work to care for the critters in need.

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Rose
8/25/2020 04:32:34 pm

Yes, it was really heartening to see the community gather to help other people and animals in need. We're approaching bushfire season again (last year the fires started in September), and it looks like it will be another bad one. I'll be dusting off the stored containers soon and putting out water again as needed. Thanks, Maria, for reading and commenting!

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    Rose Ciccarelli is an American writer and editor living in Canberra, Australia.

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