Gardens for Wildlife Albury-Wodonga is urging people to provide water containers for birds, reptiles, frogs, insects and other wildlife.

Gardens for Wildlife Albury-Wodonga project officer Lizette Salmon said they had had many reports of birds, goannas, kangaroos and ringtail possums coming into gardens for water.

“Birds, including magpies, king parrots, galahs and rosellas have their beaks open and their wings out, trying to keep cool in the heat,” she said. 

“They don’t have an efficient cooling mechanism, being unable to sweat or pant. 

“We’ve also heard of snakes and blue tongue lizards found dead in pool skimmer boxes, doubtless in search of water.”

Wodonga couple Pam and Bruce Nulty’s small garden is home to 40 species of plants, which attract native birds including eastern spine bills, striated thornbills, red wattlebirds, superb fairy wrens and honeyeaters. 

They have used native plants and other habitat-friendly elements such as bird baths, mulch and rocks for reptiles.

“We’ve been using bird baths for many years but only recently realised the importance of providing shallow bowls of water for our resident blue tongue lizards,” Mrs Nulty said.

Gardens for Wildlife recommends putting out a range of water containers of different shapes, sizes and heights, including raised bird baths to protect birds from cats, shallower dishes at ground level for reptiles and saucers for bees and butterflies.

“If using buckets it’s a good idea to place a stick in them to stop small animals from drowning, and with shallower containers some gravel at the base works does the same,” Ms Salmon said. 

“It’s really important to fill the containers with fresh, cool water at least once a day and ensure they’re in the shade.

“With frequency and intensity of heatwaves increasing due to human-induced climate change, it’s our responsibility to help vulnerable animals wherever we can.”