Wildlife rescuer Maryanne Gates believes birds are again being caught in the sculpture at Googong after a cloth cover fell off during winter. Photo: Katherine Howard/Facebook.
CONTENT WARNING: This story contains images and details that may distress some readers.
A Queanbeyan wildlife group is calling for a permanent solution after months of rescuing birds caught in a sculpture.
Wildcare Queanbeyan has responded to multiple callouts to the Googong Swamp Stage.
Bird coordinator Maryanne Gates said the group had been called out to rescue birds caught in the sculpture since January.
“They’re just getting strangled because they’re hitting [the posts] and falling and being strangled to death,” she told Region.
“Or they’re dying of dehydration and exposure to the elements, so it’s not nice.”
Ms Gates said the group was calling on Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) to cover or move the statue.
“Most of the birds that seem to be getting caught were baby birds,” Ms Gates said.
“They’re flying at speed, and they don’t realise that they can’t get through … They’re caught by their necks, and they literally hanged to death.”
Ms Gates said the council had previously covered the sculpture with a cloth, but it had fallen off during winter.
“We submitted a ‘Snap Send Solve’ to ask for it to be [replaced], but nothing was happening,” she said.
Wildcare’s most recent rescue was on Friday (30 October), when a volunteer collected a bird.
“A rescuer was luckily able to get it out before it died,” Ms Gates said.
“The one we rescued on Friday was severely dehydrated from hanging there in the elements, but we were able to get to him in time to give him some RNR, so to speak.”
While that bird recovered after some fluids, she said that wasn’t always the case.
A bird caught between metal poles. Photo: Christine Corinne.
Ms Gates said the council told the group it would be covered this week, but had heard nothing further.
She said that during a past visit, Wildcare volunteers found a bird skeleton next to the sculpture.
“I feel sorry for the residents having to look at the eyesore that it is,” Ms Gates said. ”It’s not pretty with those shade cloths hanging off it.”
Ms Gates said rescuing the birds was a risky endeavour for the group.
“It’s dangerous for the members of the public,” she said.
“It’s surrounded by a swamp with knee-high grass full of snakes.”
A QPRC spokesperson confirmed the council was aware of the issue.
“Council has been reviewing options to make the sculpture safe for wildlife and during this time had it covered,” the spokesperson said.
“We are aware that the cover has fallen away.”
The council spokesperson also flagged that further action could be taken, with a cherry-picker on site to cover it on Tuesday (3 November).
“Council is currently reviewing options to remove or relocate the sculpture,” the spokesperson said.
But Ms Gates wasn’t confident that would resolve the issue.
“Hopefully that means no more birds or animals will die,” she said of the plan to re-cover the sculpture.
“While it’s covered, I think it was doing a reasonable job … It’s all well and good to put it up, but if there’s some stormy weather [it could fall again].”
Original Article published by Claire Sams on About Regional.
