Author: fawnaADMIN

Our volunteers in their wildlife work might like to follow some of these NSW Health recommendations when they are out and about in the community. 

A “no touch” policy and the social distancing recommendations might be the best ways to self-protect. 

This link covers a number of FAQ recommendations and scenarios that will guide volunteers in ways to avoid coming into contact with Covid-19 and what to do if they suspect contact with Covid-19.

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/coronavirus-faqs.aspx

The recent bushfires of late 2019 and early 2020 have had a devastating impact on our communities and our natural environment. Tragically, lives have been lost and thousands of homes have been destroyed or damaged, across the country. The bushfires have burned more than 5.3 million hectares in New South Wales, including more than 2.7 million hectares of our national park estate.

We are still determining the full magnitude of the damage, in terms of the extent and severity of the fires and the impacts on our wildlife and their natural habitats. Efforts continue to actively fight fires that are still burning in a number of areas of the state. Using state of the art aerial imagery, remote sensing and mapping techniques, our scientists are completing our understanding of the impacts the fires have had on our natural environment and what this means for recovery.

What we know is that many of our most vulnerable species have been heavily impacted as a result of the fires and now face threats from habitat loss, scarcity of food and water and predation by feral animals. While our assessment continues, we are undertaking essential recovery actions right now.

This document sets out the immediate actions we are taking to protect wildlife and support the natural recovery process that has already started in many areas. Our immediate response includes the deployment of watering stations, supplementary food drops, and broad-scale feral animal
control. We are also planning for the longer-term restoration and recovery of our native animals, plants and landscapes across New South Wales. We will continue to update our response as we improve our understanding of the impacts of the fires.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the firefighting effort. In particular, I want to thank those volunteers who have selflessly contributed their time to protect others, often while their own properties were under threat, and the firefighting staff in my own portfolio, including in the National Parks and Wildlife Service, many of
whom are still fighting active fires.

Coming through a disaster is a time when our community unites. Many of us have been touched by the images of the tireless and heroic efforts of not only our firefighters, but also volunteers rescuing wildlife from fire grounds and providing care. These stories and images have contributed to
a groundswell of support and generosity from communities in New South Wales, Australia and internationally. This support will greatly assist in the rehabilitation of many injured animals and restoration of their habitat.

The Hon. Matthew Kean MP
Minister for Energy and Environment

Read the whole document.

An update on the #Food4Wildlife program

On 16th November 2019 FAWNA NSW INC the volunteer group licensed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service launched its #Food4Wildlife and Nest Box Appeal via its Web Platform.

The area of operation in the MidCoast Council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and Kempsey Shire Council shires, some 18,000 sq km had been severely impacted by bushfires that spread relentlessly through huge swathes of wildlife habitat.

The fires caused significant loss of life in wildlife populations and destroyed so much of the food resources needed by all the wildlife species that were already suffering the worst drought in recorded history.

As the group licensed for all wildlife species for rescue, rehabilitation and release, FAWNA knew it had to step up and do something to ensure the survival of the free-living native animals impacted so badly by the fires.

As a volunteer group, FAWNA did not have the monetary or human resources to mount an ambitious #Food4Wildlife program alone but between us all, we have done just that.

We have moved mountains – mountains of bags of feed for kangaroos, wallabies, possums, birds and a whole heap of other native animals.

In just a few weeks there are over 30 food collection stations spread over the FAWNA area where the community can collect macropod pellets and wild bird seed to put out for their hungry local fauna.

The program kicked off with some significant donations from Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast and The Rescue Collective giving FAWNA the confidence to know this program could continue for the long term if necessary until the rains come and habitat starts its slow restoration process.

From everyone at FAWNA, thank you for your donation.

If anyone is looking for the pattern for the Joey Pouch Liner & Warmy Bag OR the Beanie Patterns.

Please see the link below.