Water sources for wildlife

Water sources for wildlife are crucial during the hotter and drier months. That’s why it’s important we create bird baths and ponds in our backyards to provide what they need, including:

• A source of fresh, clean drinking water.  
• A place for bathing and preening. 
• A microclimate where ambient temperatures will be lower.

Here are some resources recommended by our bird and native fauna writer, Georgia Angus. They will help you create your own water sources for wildlife, including bees, birds and native mammals.

Water station for wildlife

You can make a simple DIY water station for wildlife from items you can get at a hardware store. These water stations are designed to provide water for native mammals and birds. Once made this water source is easily attached to trees and refilled when needed. The instructions are available here from the team at Animals Australia.

Frog bog

Costa Georgiadis helped a preschool build two different types of ponds: one using a fibreglass pond shell, which was turned into a bog; and the other containing deeper water using an old bath tub. Watch how Costa did it here. You’ll also discover the plants used for vegetation layers, which are important to create biodiversity.

Frog ponds

In an article about frog ponds Penny Woodward wrote: “Not all frogs are attracted to a garden environment, there are some that live in deserts, spending months or years underground, another lives in termite mounds and feeds only on termites, but many can be helped by our efforts as gardeners.” Her article includes tips about where to put your pond and plants that are frog-friendly.

For other ideas and tips look at the information provided by Sustainable Gardening Australia.

Frog hotels

These simple frog hotels are designed for tree frogs that can easily climb up the pipes. The offer the frogs a safe space to live. Wildlife Queensland provides a guide to building one in your backyard.

Extra help available

Eight hundred drinkers are being provided free of charge to recipients in fire and drought-affected areas and areas where drinkers will support wildlife recovery or minimise risk for wildlife in future emergencies. If you live in a drought affected or fire-prone region, you can contact WIRES to apply for a drinker to be installed.