Sculpture at Googong Swamp kills birds caught by their necks
Birds have been dying in a Googong sculpture since January; mostly young birds are being strangled after hitting the metal posts.
Wildcare Queanbeyan has responded to multiple rescues of birds caught in the Googong Swamp Stage sculpture. Young birds flying fast hit the metal posts and get trapped by their necks.
The birds strangle to death, or die from drying out and bad weather. The group rescued a very dried out bird on 30 October and found a skeleton near the sculpture on an earlier visit.
The council covered the sculpture but the cloth fell off during winter. Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council says it will cover the sculpture again and is looking at ways to remove or move it.
- January
- Deaths began
- 30 October
- Recent rescue
- Mostly young birds
- Bird type affected
- Wildcare Queanbeyan
- Rescuing group
Why it mattersThese deaths could have been stopped. Small mistakes in public art care can trap and kill animals.
AustraliaLocal residents and wildlife rescuers in the Queanbeyan region are affected; the issue demonstrates risks to native birds in regional public spaces.
