Elwood Sanctuary

26/05/2025

Rescuing an injured Magpie in England on a Sunday afternoon - was so happy to find a wildlife rescue organisation open

15/05/2025

THIS is brilliant!

21/04/2025

Just when I think humans can’t get any lower…. I’ve got to say this one actually shocked me. How do you even go about checking that what you’re buying is ethically produced? We actually need a new label to go alongside the Heart foundation, product of Australia etc.

21/04/2025

FOUND: Female Pheasant Gawler SA - now in care with us at Elwood Sanctuary

https://www.facebook.com/share/16STQw1p5o/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This little sweetheart is now being cared for by Elwood Sanctuary https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092001288093

FOUND: Bird, GAWLER EAST 20/4/25
I have found a lost pheasant (?) in my yard. Seems friendly or at least not scared of humans. Not sure if someone's pet that got out in the windy weather. If this is your bird, please contact 0420 415 879
https://www.facebook.com/the.andrew.arbon

21/04/2025

I got asked a fantastic question yesterday!
‘I don’t want to use bait in my yard. How do I reduce the Mouse population?’
You can attract owls to your property, they are the most effective mass hunters on the planet!

In Australia, a pair of barn owls can consume over 3,000 mice annually. A study in Hillier SA, found that nine pairs of barn owls and their owlets ate 5,000 mice within a six-month period. The majority of the eastern barn owl's diet, which is over 90%, consists of house mice.

One of the biggest problems we have is that rat and mouse bait is the biggest killer of birds of prey! Please, please stop using it. You can attract owls to your yard….

Here's a more detailed approach:
1. Habitat:
NO CATS - you need to ensure that your property and the area that you are trying to attract the owl to is not accessible or populated by Cats.
Trees and Perches: Owls need trees for roosting, nesting, and hunting. Keep native trees, especially those with potential for natural cavities, and don't prune large branches. Offer perching spots like fence tops, bare branches, or installed perches.
Brush Piles: These provide shelter and hunting grounds for small prey that owls eat.
Longer Grass/Weeds: Unmowed areas provide cover for prey, making your yard more appealing to owls.
2. Nesting:
Owl Boxes:
Install an owl box, ensuring it's made of untreated wood and has an appropriate sized entry hole (3-inch-by-4-inch oval or 3-inch diameter round).
Location:
Place the box near tree lines but not too close to dense woods, especially if Great Horned Owls or Red-Tailed Hawks (Barn Owl predators) are present.
Natural Cavities:
If possible, leave dead trees or large dead limbs standing as they often have natural cavities used by owls.
3. Food:
Prey:
Small rodent populations (voles, mice) as they are a primary food source for many owl species.
Water:
Provide a large, deep bird bath or a small water feature, ensuring safety for smaller animals by placing stones on one side.
4. Other Tips:
Minimize Light Pollution:
Owls are nocturnal, so reduce outdoor lighting, especially floodlights, to minimize disturbance.
Learn About Local Owls:
Research which owl species are common in your area and their specific habitat preferences.
By creating a welcoming environment for owls, you can increase the likelihood of them choosing your yard as a home.

20/04/2025

And this is why we have a feral Cat problem!
This ignorant woman is looking for someone silly enough to take two undesexed male cats and put them out into the environment! 🤬

19/04/2025

This page was asked to describe ways people can help wildlife. Credit to: Wild Animals Australia.
Here is fifty of them.

🟩 Habitat Protection & Restoration -

🟢Plant native species in your yard or community spaces.
🟢Create pollinator gardens for bees, butterflies, & other insects.
🟢Avoid using pesticides and herbicides that harm ecosystems.
🟢Let part of your yard go wild - leave leaf litter, brush piles, or dead trees.
🟢Build wildlife shelters (birdhouses, bat boxes, frog hotels)
🟢Support wetland, rain forest, and marine restoration projects.
🟢Participate in local cleanups (beaches, rivers, parks).
🟢Reduce lawn area - grass monocultures aren't great for wildlife.
🟢Practice "no-mow spring” to protect ground-nesting species and insects.
🟢Use organic or regenerative gardening practices.

🟪Wildlife-Friendly Living

🟣Keep cats indoors or build a "catio" to prevent bird/ small mammal deaths.
🟣Drive carefully in areas with wildlife crossings.
🟣Install window decals or screens to prevent bird collisions.
🟣Turn off outdoor lights at night to avoid disorienting nocturnal species.
🟣Use humane, non-lethal methods for relocating animals from your home
🟣Avoid feeding wild animals - it can lead to dependency
🟣Secure garbage to prevent wildlife eating inappropriate food.
🟣Check for animals before mowing or trimming shrubs.
🟣Cover chimneys/ seal vents to keep animals from getting trapped.
🟣Keep dogs on leashes in natural areas and nesting zones.

🟥Sustainable Choices

🔴Buy sustainable seafood
🔴Reduce single-use plastics - they harm marine and terrestrial life.
🔴Support brands that prioritise conservation.
🔴Buy eco-friendly products (reef-safe sunscreen, biodegradable goods).
🔴Use less water - saves habitats & species relying on freshwater sources.
🔴Eat less meat or switch to sustainable meat sources.
🔴Choose recycled or secondhand goods to reduce environmental impact.
🔴Compost food scraps to reduce landfill waste.
🔴Use public transport, walk, or bike to reduce emissions.
🔴Reduce energy usage (switch to LEDs, insulate,)

🟦Education & Advocacy

🔵Learn about local species and ecosystems.
🔵Share wildlife conservation info on social media.
🔵Teach children to respect and appreciate wildlife.
🔵Support wildlife documentaries, books, and educational media.
🔵Join citizen science programs (e.g. bird counts, insect surveys).
🔵Volunteer with wildlife rescues or conservation groups.
🔵Advocate for green spaces in your community.
🔵Organize or attend conservation-focused events or talks.
🔵Talk to neighbors about wildlife-friendly practices.
🔵Stay informed about conservation legislation.

🟨Financial & Policy Support

🟡 Donate to registered wildlife organizations.
🟡Adopt" an animal through a sanctuary or wildlife group
🟡Support local land trusts or rewilding projects.
🟡Support wildlife reserves clean up days
🟡Vote for policies and leaders who support environmental protection.
🟡Encourage businesses to be more eco-friendly.
🟡Report illegal wildlife trade or poaching activity.
🟡Avoid buying souvenirs made from animal parts (e.g., ivory, coral).
🟡Support indigenous-led conservation efforts.
🟡 Fund or promote research that helps wildlife.

You are welcome to add to the list 😀

16/04/2025

Another pigeon that’s lost their hoomans. 💙 found in Seaton and now in care with us. Very emancipated and has lice and is now receiving some TLC.

https://www.facebook.com/share/18hpP6acFr/?mibextid=wwXIfr You can fly to resist

FOUND: Bird, SEATON 16/4/25
Now with Elwood Sanctuary. https://www.facebook.com/rachel.thamm

15/04/2025

💙Can you help us? 💙

We have had 26 birds (geese and ducks) that we have rescued since Christmas Eve added to our small Sanctuary.
We are looking for GOOD forever homes in SA for them.
Do you know anyone that has a property that could care for some of these wonderful birds?
Are you just able to SHARE this post to see who out there might be able to help?

Some information;

🪿GEESE 🪿A trio of these are great pets. Why? Where you have Geese you very rarely have SNAKES as they do NOT coexist. We love this because as much as we love our native fauna, I’m not keen on snakes!
They are good doorbells. They will let you know when you have visitors.
They do not bite.
They keep your grass mowed and do not rip the grass out by the roots.
They require a little bit of goose food daily (more if you have no grass) and a small pond of water and they don’t make a lot of water mess.
They do need space to roam so a normal house block would not be big enough unfortunately. Anything over about 200 m² would be perfect particularly if there was grass. Was not super noisy. They can carry on when you have visitors so you will need to ensure that you don’t have precious neighbours. 😬
We do have foxes in Adelaide so I would recommend that they have a caged area or a house area that they can sleep in at night to keep them safe. We can help you source one of these and are always available for advice and assistance when needed.
Other than that, they are a wonderfully friendly pet and if you sit down with a bucket of peas, they will come and eat out of your hand.
We do charge a small rehoming fee but don’t forget we have vet checked, fed and cared for these animals so that they are healthy and happy and ready for their forever homes.

🦆Ducks 🦆 are full of personality. They are the little people of the Waterbird world and are hilarious. In a ratio of either all boys one boy to 2 or 3 girls. They will ensure that you have some interesting and interaction pets in your yard.
They are bug forages so will keep your backyard low on pesky insects!
They do not bite or get aggressive and once they get to know you will allow petting.
Most of the world renowned bakers will only use Duck eggs for their cooking and they are a fantastic naturally obtained source of vitamins and minerals.
If you’re not looking for eggs and please consider adopting a couple of our boys who really struggle to find good homes.
They do need to have a contained space not as much land as a goose but still an area to forage and roam.
They too need a house for night time as they will be taking my foxes unless you have other preventative measures.
They will live happily in a large house yard or bigger and are not super loud to disturb your neighbours.
They require larger amounts of water than the Geese such as a wading pool and will need to be topped up almost daily as they use the water to process their food so it gets rather messy. We have ours pipes to the garden so use that water which is an amazing fertiliser.
Small rehoming fee.

🏡What do we class as a good home? 🏡

Someone that would like some animals for pets. Understanding that these animals have been treated abysmally by humans and completely letdown. They are just looking for somewhere that they can live their best lives whether it’s with an experience person or someone that’s never had Ducks or Geese before The intent and the care is the thing that we’re looking for.
We are available to help with advice and all of our rehomed animals come with a guarantee that with a small return fee we will take them back as we certainly understand circumstance change.

Why are we looking for homes for these guys?
We are a small Sanctuary primarily focused on native animals. We take in over 200 native ducklings a year that we raise and release back into the wild from orphanhood. We also care for galahs, magpies, lorikeets and native Pigeons.
As you can imagine, adding in 50 to 100 extra non-native animals each year we run out of room really quickly and it also comes at a great expense as we are 100% self funded for these birds.
We receive small rebates from Fauna rescue on animals that we have received from them, some small donations towards our feed bill at times from very kind members of the public and other than that we receive no other funding.

❤️ You don’t have to commit to anything please just give us a call, come and have a visit if you might be interested. ❤️