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SM Wildlife, Charleville (2026)

31/08/2026

Last season, our community did a wonderful job learning to identify the difference between nestlings and fledglings. We had very few calls where healthy young birds were accidentally taken away from their parents.

We’re heading into baby bird season again, so let’s have a little refresher, with some of our very own Bidjara locals modelling the difference between nestlings and fledglings.

Nestling = still developing in the nest.
Fledgling = has fledged (left the nest), but isn't an independent adult yet.

Nestling characteristics:

Still in the nest, unable to fly or only capable of very limited movement, little or no feathers, depending on age. Younger nestlings may have bare skin and visible down. Often have short tails and developing wings.

Fledgling characteristics

Has left the nest, usually fully or mostly feathered. Can generally stand, walk, hop or perch. May be able to fly, but flight can be awkward, short-distance or poorly controlled at first. May look slightly fluffy or scruffy compared with an adult. Still dependent on parents for food and protection. Parents continue feeding them outside the nest. Often found on the ground, low branches, fences or other exposed places while learning.

If you find a nestling - Contact your local wildlife carer immediately for further instructions. Charleville 0406663131

If you find a fledgling:

- Leave it where it is if it appears healthy and uninjured (remember not being able to fly properly is normal for a youngster)

- Keep your distance, the parents are often nearby and may be watching from somewhere you can't see.

- Keep cats, dogs and people away from the fledgling.

- Don't assume a fledgling on the ground is abandoned. Being on the ground is often a normal part of learning to fly.

- If it's in an immediate danger spot, you can move it a very short distance to a safer nearby location, where its parents can still find it. Or, pop is up in the closest tree or bush

- If it's injured, very weak, being attacked, or has been caught by a cat, contact a wildlife carer promptly.

- Observe from a distance to see if parents attend.

Being on the ground does not automatically mean a fledgling is orphaned or needs rescuing. For many species, leaving the nest and spending time on the ground is a normal stage of development.

If you ever come across a baby bird and you're unsure what to do, please don't hesitate to contact me at any time for advice. It's always better to ask first, sometimes the best thing we can do is leave a youngster with its parents, and other times it may genuinely need help.

Thanks again for taking care of our lil locals 😊❤️

31/08/2026

I saw a flock of emus back in February, and yesterday I came across a flock in the exact same area. Could they be the very same emus? Who knows! I hope so! Either way, I don't need much encouragement to share some cool facts about these fascinating Australian land birds!

Emus are Australia’s second-largest living bird, after the southern cassowary. The emu is taller, but the southern cassowary is much heavier and bulkier. Southern cassowary can weigh up 70+kgs Wild aye.

They are flightless birds, but they have tiny wings hidden beneath their shaggy feathers.

Emus can run at around 50 km/h and can maintain a fast pace over considerable distances.

Their long legs have three toes, unlike many birds that have four.

An emu egg is dark green to blue-green and can weigh around 600–700 grams — roughly equivalent to a dozen chicken eggs.

Dad does the incubating. After the female lays the eggs, the male incubates them and does not eat during most of the incubation period.

Emu chicks are striped and spotted when they hatch, helping camouflage them.

The male also raises the chicks, teaching them where to find food and water and protecting them from danger.

Emu chicks grow incredibly quickly. They can reach almost adult height within their first year, although they don't reach full maturity immediately.

Emus are omnivores. They eat a wide variety of plant material, fruits, seeds and insects and will also consume other small animals.

They swallow small stones (gastroliths), which help grind food in their muscular stomach.

Emus can travel long distances looking for water and food and are well adapted to Australia's variable conditions.

Their eyes are large and highly effective for spotting predators and other threats over open country.

Their feathers have a double shaft, giving them their distinctive loose, shaggy appearance and helping with insulation.

An emu's kick is extremely powerful. Their long legs are primarily adapted for running, but they can also be used defensively.

Emus have surprisingly complex social behaviour. Outside breeding periods, they can form loose groups, sometimes containing many birds.

During breeding, the female can mate with more than one male, and a male may incubate a clutch containing eggs from different females.

A female may lay multiple eggs over several days, adding to a clutch that can eventually become quite large.

Once the male begins incubating, he becomes remarkably dedicated to the nest, remaining sitting on the eggs for weeks with very little food or water.

Despite being big land birds, emus love taking a dip and can swim across rivers with ease.

Their shaggy feathers have a double-plumed structure (two feathers growing from a single shaft) that helps them regulate their body temperature

29/08/2026

I've been on holidays this week, so our wildlife page has been a little quiet.

Here's a little something for you until I get back into it next week!

These are some of the very first videos of your Betty Brolga. They were taken during the first few days of monitoring him.

Basically, it was me getting him off the road and offering him water for a couple of days before he discovered the front yard... then everything changed! Haha!

It seems like such a long time ago now. He looks completely different, hey? He has grown so much!

I think it's fair to say that Betty was still quite young when he first arrived in town (judging by the size/shape difference) and had likely been moved on by his parents as they prepared for their next chick. (Normal brolga behavior)

If my maths is mathing, Betty first arrived around the beginning of September 2025. If young brolgas typically become independent from their parents somewhere around 9–12 months of age, that would have made Betty approximately 9–12 months old when he arrived.

Today is the 30th of August 2026, almost exactly 12 months later, which would now make Betty approximately 21–24 months old — around 1¾ to 2 years old.

At this age:
He should be close to, or at, his full adult size and appearance ✅️

He is likely becoming increasingly independent and behaving more like an adult ✅️

Sexual maturity is generally reached at around 3–4 years, so Betty is probably not fully sexually mature yet.(The behaviour that is happening "mounting" doesn't necessarily prove he is fully sexually mature and successfully breeding, but it does show that his adult social and reproductive behaviours are developing) ✅️

Young brolgas may spend time associating with other non-breeding brolgas ✅️

So Betty is in that lovely teenager/young adult stage, no longer a chick, but not quite at full breeding adulthood yet!

How long have you guys been with Betty Brolga? The very start? The dancing stages? Brand new to us?

28/08/2026

Duckling Season. What To Do When You See A Duck Family In Our Charleville Community!

I completely understand why people feel stressed when they see a duck family out in our community, especially when they’re beside or near a road. As worrying as this may seem, the family does not necessarily need to be rescued.

If we approach a duck family to try to move them, Mum and Dad may become frightened and fly away, while the ducklings may scatter in different directions. Approaching them can cause the whole family significant stress and may accidentally push or drive them towards the road or into other dangerous areas. We can then end up with a completely different and much more difficult situation on our hands.

So what should you do instead?

Keep your pets indoors or well away from the family.

Slow down when driving through areas where the ducks are being seen.

Give them plenty of space and let them cross the road.

Watch from a distance rather than approaching them.

Our ducks have been successfully raising their young in our community for a very long time. While it's not always ideal to see them near roads and other dangers, we also have to trust Mum and Dad to know how to care for and guide their family. If they weren't successfully raising ducklings here, we simply wouldn't still have ducks in our community.

If you see a duckling that is injured, trapped, separated from its family or in immediate danger, that's different, please seek wildlife advice before attempting to intervene. Also, if our duck family is in immediate danger, or even if you are unsure. Please contact me at any time. More than happy to do a quick check and do what I can. Thanks guys ❤️

23/08/2026

WELCOME TO SM WILDLIFE: Services, donations, contact details, all info available here!

WILDLIFE EMERGENCY? Please CALL 0406 663 131 (DO NOT TEXT OR SEND A SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGE)

This is a 24/7 wildlife service and social media messages may not be seen quickly enough during an emergency.

WILDLIFE SERVICES:

All wildlife services provided in Charleville Bidjara Country are FREE OF CHARGE.

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including:

Snake catching & relocation, all wildlife rescue & emergency assistance, injured & orphaned wildlife assistance, wildlife rehabilitation, possum assistance, wildlife advice & identification, community wildlife awareness.

For Fauna spotting enquiries please call 0406 663 131

INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT: Indian myna bird and feral cat management.

Community-based invasive species management: FREE trap loans, trap setup and management assistance, 24/7 support and guidance, humane and responsible management practices.

SUPPORTING SM WILDLIFE

SM Wildlife is a solo self-funded, voluntary community service.

There is no charge for the wildlife services, or invasive species management, but keeping this service running comes with ongoing costs. All donations, any amount is greatly appreciated.

DONATIONS HELP PAY FOR:

Rescues, relocations and transport, wildlife food and rehabilitation supplies, fuel, rehabilitation equipment and enclosures, traps and invasive species management equipment, wildlife education, community resources, disinfectants and hygiene supplies, cehicle maintenance, tyres and servicing, Fuel for long-distance rescues and wildlife transport (i am based in rural QLD, traveling long distances for rescue and transportation) time away from my own work.

Every donation goes back into supporting the wildlife, rescue work and community programs.

BANK TRANSFER

BSB: 93200
Account: 6011394
Shannon Mathes

PAYPAL:
paypal.me/smwildlife10

CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE

You can also support SM Wildlife by donating your Containers for Change refund.

Scheme ID: C11708095

SUBSCRIBE: $2.99 per month. Cancel anytime. Subscribe button in comment section

You don't have to donate money to make a difference.

✔️ Follow this page
✔️ Share wildlife education posts
✔️ Keep pets contained around wildlife
✔️ Slow down and watch for wildlife on our roads
✔️ Give wildlife plenty of space
✔️ Report injured wildlife
✔️ Support humane invasive species management
✔️ Help educate others about our local wildlife

THANK YOU ❤️

This work is made possible through time, fuel, equipment, donations and the support of our community.

Whether you donate, volunteer, trap, share a post, make a phone call or simply take the time to protect an animal, it all makes a difference. I am beyond greatful for you all. Thanks again.

22/08/2026

The gang stopped by for a quick visit yesterday.

He is so calm and mature now! Do you remember the days when he used to run completely muck? He was absolutely hilarious. I really must do a throwback video one day! Holy damn, he was funny! I laughed every day for about 6–9 months when he practically lived in our backyard. Such good times.

I’m so happy to see that he’s settled, growing into a big, strong, independent guy. That was always what we wanted for him.

Someone asked the other day if Boo purrs too, and yes, she absolutely does!

Betty and Boo are doing just fine and still stopping by every now and then to say hello. They don't stay all day now, which is good.

Hopefully we get some rain for them 🤞🏽😊

What funny things do you guys miss about Betty Brolga?

20/08/2026

Meet the new Charleville babies!

The Masked Lapwing, often called a plover, is one of our familiar Australian ground-nesting birds. They’re particularly noticeable when they have eggs or chicks because they become incredibly protective parents. You will hear the parents long before you see their chicks!

Where do they nest?

Masked Lapwings don't build a traditional nest in a tree. They make a simple scrape on the ground, often in places we wouldn't expect, including grassed areas, parks, sporting fields and even rooftops.

Both parents help build the nest, incubate the eggs and care for the young.

How long are the eggs incubated?

The eggs are incubated for roughly a month, with both parents taking turns sitting on them.

And once those eggs hatch, things get very interesting...

Their chicks are ready to go!

Masked Lapwing chicks are precocial, meaning they hatch covered in fluffy down, with their eyes open, and are able to leave the nest and feed themselves within just a few hours of hatching.

While the chicks can feed themselves almost immediately, they're still dependent on their parents for protection and guidance while they're young.

The chicks can stay with their parents for a surprisingly long time! Some sources report young birds remaining with their parents for 1–2 years, even though they're capable of feeding themselves much earlier.

They eat mostly insects, larvae and worms, finding much of their food on or just beneath the ground.

The parents are extremely protective, and this is where the famous plover behaviour comes in!

If you get too close to their nest or chicks, the adults may become very vocal, fly at you or perform a distraction display where they pretend to have a broken wing.

They're trying to convince you to follow them away from their babies. It's an amazing survival strategy.

Oh and they have a wing spur! A sharp, yellow-and-black spur on each wing. Despite their reputation, they don't usually use it to actually strike people; the swooping itself is generally intended to scare intruders away.
... and that "broken wing" act is deliberate. A parent may pretend to be injured to lure a predator or person away from the nest or chicks. Once the threat is far enough away, the bird can escape. Our brolgas do the same! Cool hey!

This time of year, keep your eyes peeled. There are plenty of little wildlife babies around, so slow down, keep pets under control and give wildlife families plenty of space.

19/08/2026

Yesterday I was called to help an elderly lady who had a Green Tree Frog inside her toilet.

Of course, the priority was getting this little guy out safely and getting him somewhere suitable outside on the property.

It’s a good opportunity to remind people that our native frogs aren't just something we can catch and take wherever we like.

Green Tree Frogs are protected native wildlife in Queensland.

You should not remove them from a property and relocate them somewhere else, such as another property, park, creek or bushland.

If a frog has simply found its way into your house, the best option is generally to carefully move it out of the immediate danger and leave it on the same property, where it can continue doing what frogs do best, eating insects and being part of our local ecosystem.

If you're unsure what to do with native wildlife, contact your local wildlife carer or someone appropriately authorised to assist.

If you ever need to handle a frog…

Please handle them as little as possible. Their skin is extremely sensitive and can absorb chemicals, oils and other substances from our hands.

If you do need to move one:

Keep your hands clean and wet with water, or use clean, damp, powder-free disposable gloves.

Never handle a frog with hands covered in moisturiser, sunscreen, insect repellent, soap or other chemicals.

Keep their skin moist while handling them. Frogs can absorb oxygen through their skin, so maintaining that moisture is important.

After handling, wash your hands thoroughly.

The safest option is always to avoid handling them unless necessary but sometimes, like getting a Green Tree Frog safely out of someone's toilet, a little assistance is needed!

Our frogs are an important part of our local ecosystem, so let's give them the care and respect they deserve.

19/08/2026

LACE MONITORS: THE DINOSAURS OF THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH!

Ever watched a lace monitor eat and wondered how on earth it manages to get that down?

Lace monitors are incredibly opportunistic feeders. They aren't specialised to one particular type of food, if they can catch it, find it, or scavenge it, there's a good chance they'll eat it!

So, what do they actually eat?

Their diet can include:

• Insects and spiders
• Frogs
• Small mammals
• Birds and their chicks
• Eggs (including eggs from your chook pen)
• Reptiles
• Carrion
• Pretty much anything else suitably sized that presents an opportunity

And they're not just hunters. Lace monitors are excellent scavengers, using their incredible sense of smell to locate food.

That crazy tongue has a job too!

You'll often see a lace monitor constantly flicking its forked tongue. It's not just being curious!

The tongue picks up chemical particles from the environment, which are transferred to a special sensory organ called the Jacobson's organ in the roof of the mouth. This helps the monitor work out what's around it, including potential food.

And then there's the climbing...

Lace monitors are fantastic climbers. They can scramble up trees surprisingly quickly and are well known for raiding bird nests for eggs and chicks.

Their strong limbs, long claws and powerful tails make them incredibly capable climbers, and their ability to climb means a nest that looks safely out of reach to us might be an easy meal for a hungry monitor.

How do they eat such a varied diet?

They have powerful jaws and sharp, backward-curving teeth designed for gripping and tearing. Smaller prey can be swallowed whole, while larger food may be ripped apart.

They'll also use their claws and body strength to help manipulate larger food items.

And here's something people sometimes forget...

Lace monitors are not pets with a wild animal's appearance. They're wild predators with specialised behaviours, instincts and dietary needs.

Every part of that big, scaly body has evolved to help them survive in the Australian environment. From their tongue and teeth to their claws and climbing ability, they're incredibly well adapted animals.

The next time you see a lace monitor, remember you're looking at one seriously impressive Australian predator, and think yourself extremely lucky that you are to big to eat 😂

18/08/2026

Just your annual reminder to save your local snake catcher’s number. 🐍😊

SM Wildlife

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