Shoalhaven Post Bushfire Support
Shoalhaven Post Bushfire Support
After the devastating bushfires of December 2019 and January 2020, local Landcarers and volunteers rallied to support local wildlife
Community Participation -
LP029-001
The issue
December 2019 to January 2020 saw unprecedented bushfires ravage huge expanses of Australia. The Shoalhaven area was hit particularly hard with over 313,000 hectares of the Shoalhaven Local Government Area being burnt. This represents 68% of the entire Shoalhaven and around 98% of our National Parks, State Forest and Crown Land (Birdlife Shoalhaven - Bushfire Research Project). How much was our wildlife impacted? In the short term, how could we help?
The solution
In addition to the severe loss of wildlife from the bushfires, another huge impact for remaining native wildlife has been the loss of their food sources. Since January 2020 over 25 Landcarer's and volunteers in the Shoalhaven area have joined forces to assist wildlife with supplementary food drops in the burnt areas west of Kangaroo Valley. Food was dropped twice a week at around 150 fire impacted sites. Weekly food drops included boxes of fruit and vegetables, pellets, bales of hay, bird seed and bunches of foliage. Most of this was financed from funding by the Humane Society, and other donors. Volunteers not only kept records of what food was being eaten and where, but are also keeping records of animal sightings, scats, tracks and other evidence of wildlife. Animal sightings have been recorded for a variety of species including mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. Even now the volunteers are continuing this important work while the bushland regenerates.
The impact
Not only have these volunteers been providing essential food for vulnerable wildlife but the data collected from bushfire impacted sites will be invaluable to document the return or survival of the wildlife and assist in informing future management actions. Data recorded from the bushfire impacted sites has shown the survival or return of numerous species including: Wombats, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Wallabies, Brush Tailed Possums, Lace Monitors, Tortoises , Bandicoots, Echidnas, and aquatic activity including fish and tadpoles. Also observed are insects including butterflies, dragonflies and ants, in addition to a myriad of birds including Lyrebirds, Parrots, Kookaburras, Wattle Birds, Magpies and Currawong's to name a few. Some wonderful news amongst such devastation.
Learnings
I think every one of us have taken some learning's from the devastating bushfires of 2019/20. This event has been unprecedented. There is no instruction manual for supporting wildlife after such an event. It has been amazing to see the local Shoalhaven Landcarers rally together to provide support for our local native wildlife.
Key facts
- Over 313,000 hectares were burnt in the Shoalhaven as a result of the 2019/20 bushfires
- Over 25 volunteers conducted twice weekly food drops for wildlife at around 150 sites west of Kangaroo Valley
- Food dropped included fruit and vegetables, pellets, bird seed, hay, and fresh foliage
- Volunteers have collected data on food eaten, animal sightings, scats, tracks and other on-ground evidence of wildlife