It Takes a Village: Communities Rally Together for Hailstorms Hardest Hit
- Wildcare
- Mar 9
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 14
In the early hours of Monday 10 February, as many of us were still sound asleep, local wildlife were fighting for their lives as a trifecta of severe hailstorms left a path of destruction through the Harden-Murrumburrah region. While houses, shops and community services sustained serious damage inside and out, small animals like possums and bats were left critically injured from the storm. Those hit the hardest from the storm’s relentless destruction, were the towns birds; Little Corellas, Galahs, Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos and other avian residents were unable to take cover as the hail stripped away the coverage on trees and dwellings they called home.
Hundreds of birds were left battered by the intense hail during the night. As people awoke to the carnage left behind, compassionate locals began to take action to save what they could of the severely injured birds. With the span of the town covered in injured wildlife, this was no easy task. Local residents and wildlife rescue teams formed across the twin towns in schools, parks, fields, homes and properties, to collect hundreds of birds requiring treatment or humane euthanasia. A triage center was required, and fast, with an abundance of injured birds growing quickly.
Thanks to local resident Ailsa and the Harden Poultry Club, a triage center was set up at the Harden Showground Poultry pavilion - the perfect setup to be able to quickly house the waves of critically injured birds that was about to come. Volunteers created a system for assessing the birds, providing initial treatment and create quarantine areas for the injured birds. Each bird received their own assessment and Meloxicam, a form of pain relief and anti-inflammatory. While many then went on to requiring time in intensive care with experienced carers, others were not so fortunate. Serious and critical damage had been caused by hail stones to beaks and wings, spines, bones and skulls, internal bleeding, and bruising meant a large percentage of the triaged birds required humane euthanasia to end their suffering; a task no one working with animals, native or not, takes lightly.
On the first day alone, around 500 birds were assessed and treated at the pavilion; a joint effort between Steph Ellis, Corinne and Phoebe of Boorowa Veterinary Clinic, accompanied by the assistance of Nina (Yass Valley Veterinary), Wildcare, WIRES, community members, and local businesses. Our own Emergency Plans Coordinator, Lincoln Farnsworth and Overall Special Coordinator, Ali Humphries were quick to arrive to Harden to both help coordinate activities and care for injured birds. They liaised with our Bird Coordinator, Maryanne Gates, who was also on the scene, to arrange a steady stream of carers to head to Harden to collect the growing numbers of birds needing care.
Birds requiring further assessment and x-rays were taken to local veterinary surgeries at Cooper Street Veterinary Hospital in Cootamundra, and Young Veterinary Hospital. Those birds transported to Queanbeyan received further assessment from the Unusual Pet Vet and Bungendore Vet Hospital.
As the days passed, more birds and small animals were brought to the pavilion. Resources such as seed, blankets, towels and cages were desperately needed, as well as financial donations to cover the growing veterinary costs and ongoing treatment to aid in rehabilitation. From local businesses to organisations further afar, the best of humanity came through. Matt and the team at Riverina Stockfeeds, arranged the donation of seed to feed birds in care while Shelly and her colleagues of Thompsons Rural Supplies, were able to provide storage, lifting the weight off the shoulders of carers local to the region. Karina at Supabarn Harden, Deb and Margaret for Donges IGA and the Binalong Rural Store all chipped in as well with seed and supplies to keep the birds going. Local residents piled up bags of food for the birds outside the triage centre, while supply donations started building up at across members’ homes the Wildcare service area, ready to allocate to birds in need. The International Fund for Animal Welfare was able to cover some of the veterinary costs, and offers of assistance were received from Taronga Western Plains and Taronga Sydney Zoos and NSW Wildlife Council.
Many birds needed to be taken into care urgently—as Wildcare covers such a large region, its bird carers are spread from the Riverina and Hilltops region to Yass, Queanbeyan and beyond. While local volunteers assisted with transporting birds in the Harden-Murrumburrah area, birds needing to be taken to Queanbeyan were driven in style, with the NSW SES – Sutton Unit taking time out of their response of repairing storm damage to homes and businesses to assist with transport for the long drive to carers in the Queanbeyan region.
After some rest and rehabilitation in the safe hands of experienced carers, many of the injured birds have been returned to the Harden region. Some of the birds with more serious injuries are needing extra time and treatment and will remain in care until they are ready to return to their natural habitat and flocks.
The total tally for birds received by Wildcare and ACT Wildlife was more than 140 birds, but the fatality toll of birds is estimated to be in the thousands. The devastating loss to the area will be felt for years to come, as birds rebuild their social units and flocks. As social animals, they rely on the structure and support of living in larger groups. Birds such as Corellas, learn vital skills from older and more experienced members of their flock; finding food, navigating local landscapes and social behaviours like communicating, learning how to adapt and survive in their environment. Community is vital for these birds, by providing protection, locating and sharing resources, learning from each other and supporting breeding. The social structure within their flocks ensures they thrive in their environments, with a mass casualty incident as occurred on February 10, these social communities will be rebuilding with limited resources and can take decades to recover.
It was only through the combined effort of community, dedicated organisations, compassionate businesses and everyday people that so many affected native animals were able to be rehabilitated or be spared from a prolonged and painful death. The worst in weather brought out the best in people, who offered their time, experience and services - not for gratitude, but because it was the compassionate and right thing to do, and for that Wildcare thanks you.
Wildcare Queanbeyan is run entirely by dedicated volunteers and is funded by donations from generous community members. If you have time to volunteer, or would like to donate to help us rescue, raise, rehabilitate and release sick, injured and orphaned native animals, head to wildcare.com.au.
