Hey, wildlife lovers!
Did you know that Aussie animals need your help? As cities grow, our furry, feathery, and buzzy friends are losing their homes. But don’t worry—you can make a big difference!
This guide is packed with fun, easy projects that kids (and their grown-ups!) can do to help native wildlife. Whether it’s building a birdhouse, making a bee waterer, or creating a frog hotel, these projects are perfect for young Junior Wildlife Guardians!
Grab your tools (and an adult to help with the tricky parts), and let’s get started!
🌏 Help Wildlife All Year Round!
Animals need different things in different seasons. Here’s how you can help all year long:
🌸 Spring – Build birdhouses and plant wildflowers for busy birds and bees.
☀️ Summer – Make frog hotels and set up birdbaths to keep animals cool.
🍂 Autumn – Install possum boxes so they have cozy homes for winter.
❄️ Winter – Grow a pollinator garden or leave out extra food for birds.
Tip: Keep an eye out for different animals each season. Some are more active at certain times of the year!
🎨 Quick & Easy Wildlife Projects
Not every project takes all day! Here are some quick and fun activities that make a big difference:
🐝 DIY Bee Waterer
What You’ll Need:
✅ A shallow dish (like a plate or bowl)
✅ Marbles or small pebbles
✅ Fresh water
How to Make It:
1. Fill the dish with marbles or pebbles.
2️. Pour in just enough water so the marbles aren’t completely covered (bees need a dry spot to land!).
3️. Place it in a shady garden area.
🐝 Why It Helps: Bees work hard collecting nectar, and they need a safe spot to rest and drink water!
🌼 Wildflower Seed Bombs
What You’ll Need:
✅ 1 part native wildflower seeds
✅ 5 parts clay (from the garden or craft store)
✅ 3 parts soil or compost
✅ Water
How to Make It:
1️. Mix the seeds, clay, and soil in a bowl.
2️. Add water slowly until the mixture holds together (like playdough).
3️. Roll into small balls (about the size of a marble).
4️. Let them dry for 24 hours.
5️. Toss them into gardens, parks, or empty spaces.
🌻 Why It Helps: These seed bombs explode into flowers when it rains, feeding bees, butterflies, and birds!
🍁 Leaf Art & Pinecone Feeders
What You’ll Need:
✅ Leaves, twigs, or feathers
✅ Glue and paper
✅ Pinecones
✅ Peanut butter
✅ Birdseed
How to Make It:
1. Use leaves and twigs to create animal shapes on paper. Try making a bird, lizard, or butterfly!
2. For a pinecone bird feeder, spread peanut butter on a pinecone, roll it in birdseed, and hang it from a tree.
🎨 Why It Helps: Birds get a tasty treat, and you get a cool nature craft!
🔨 Bigger Projects: Homes for Wildlife!
(Be sure to get an adult to help with these!)
These bigger projects provide animals with safe places to live and hide. Grab a grown-up and get building!
🏡 Birdhouse
What You’ll Need:
✅ Wooden panels (base: 15cm x 15cm, sides: 15cm x 20cm, front & back: 15cm x 25cm, roof: 20cm x 20cm)
✅ Nails, hammer, and wood glue
✅ Drill (for a 5cm entrance hole)
How to Make It:
1️⃣ Cut and sand the wooden panels.
2️⃣ Nail the sides to the base.
3️⃣ Attach the front and back panels.
4️⃣ Cut a round hole for birds to enter.
5️⃣ Attach the roof and mount it high in a tree or on a pole.
🦜 Why It Helps: Many birds struggle to find safe nesting spots—your birdhouse gives them a perfect home!
🛖 Insect Hotel
What You’ll Need:
✅ A wooden box (30cm x 40cm x 10cm)
✅ Hollow bamboo, logs with holes, pinecones, bark
✅ Screws, drill
How to Make It:
1️. Build a wooden frame with small sections.
2️. Fill sections with bamboo, pinecones, bark, and logs (drill holes into logs for bees!).
3️. Hang or place in a sunny, sheltered garden area.
🐞 Why It Helps: This gives bees, ladybugs, and beetles a safe place to hide and nest!
🐸 Frog Hotel
Want to invite some friendly frogs to stay in your backyard? Build them a Frog Hotel! This is like a treehouse for frogs—but instead of climbing ladders, they hop into cool, damp tubes. Plus, if you add a solar-powered garden light, it attracts bugs at night, so frogs get all-you-can-eat snacks! 🍽️🐛
What You’ll Need:
✅ PVC pipes or hollow bamboo (diameter: 5–15cm, length: 20–60cm)
✅ A large pot (or sturdy container)
✅ River pebbles and small rocks (to keep pipes stable and hold moisture)
✅ Native plants (like grasses or ferns for shade)
✅ A small solar garden light (optional but awesome!)
How to Make It:
1️. Find a large pot and fill it with river pebbles and small rocks. This helps create cool, damp hiding spots for frogs. 🌱
2️. Cut your PVC pipes to different lengths (20–60cm works best) and smooth the edges with sandpaper so frogs don’t get scratched.
3️. Stand the pipes upright in the pot and bury the bases in the pebbles to keep them from tipping over.
4️. Angle some pipes slightly, using elbows or curves, so frogs get extra hiding spots!
5️. Add native plants around the base to help keep the area moist and shaded. 🌿
6️. Place a solar-powered garden light nearby to attract moths and insects at night—giving frogs an easy snack! 🌙🦗
Why It Helps:
🐸 Frogs LOVE cool, damp places to hide during the day, and this hotel gives them safe shelter from predators and dry weather.
🌿 Native plants provide extra moisture and protection.
💡 The light attracts insects, so frogs get their own all-night buffet!
🏡 Make Your Backyard a Wildlife Wonderland!
Your backyard can be a wildlife paradise! Here’s how:
🌳 Plant native trees & flowers – They give food and shelter to animals.
🚪 Leave small gaps in fences – Echidnas and lizards need to roam!
🌿 Let your garden get a little messy – Logs, leaves, and mulch make perfect hiding spots for critters.
🐨 Tip: Add a small dish of water in a shady spot for thirsty wildlife.
🦎 Living with Wildlife
Wildlife in your backyard? Awesome! But let’s keep them safe:
🐶 Keep pets inside at night – Cats and dogs can hurt lizards, birds, and possums.
🏠 Possums in the roof? Give them a possum box and block their old entrance once they’ve moved out.
🚫 No junk food for animals! Wild animals need natural food, not human snacks!
🆘 What to Do If You Find an Injured Animal
If you find an injured bird, possum, or lizard, here’s what to do:
1️. Stay calm – Move slowly so the animal doesn’t get scared.
2️. Put it in a ventilated box – Use a towel or gloves to gently move it.
3️. Call for help! – Contact a wildlife rescue group or local vet.
4️. Keep it quiet – Place the box in a cool, dark place until help arrives.
🚨 Never try to care for an animal yourself! Always get help from an expert.
📸 Show Off Your Creations!
We want to see your amazing wildlife projects!
📷 Snap a picture of your birdhouses, bee waterers, or possum boxes and share them in our Facebook community. Let’s inspire more Junior Wildlife Guardians to join in!
💚 Every Little Bit Helps!
Even small actions—like planting flowers, keeping pets inside, or making a bee waterer—help Aussie animals survive and thrive.
🌱 Let’s get out there and help our wildlife! 🦘🐝
©Majella Gee 2025
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