North Carolina Rescue Sending Thousands of Hand-Knitted Nests to Australia—But More Help is Still Needed

The North Carolina animal rescue group inundated by hand-knitted nests after their plea for help caring for orphaned baby birds went viral last year is paying it forward in a big way.

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue announced this week that they are digging into their surplus of nests to send several thousand of them to animal rescue efforts in Australia amidst the catastrophic bushfires. They also asked volunteer crafters to pitch in once again.

"We were so blessed with all of your efforts during our plea for knitted nests," Carolina Waterfowl wrote on Facebook Monday. "Now we see that the animals in Australia are asking for your talents again."

The post concludes with a link to more information from the Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild including a list of knit, sewn or otherwise hand-crafted items made from 100% natural materials, that wildlife rescuers desperately need—joey pouches, bat wraps, blankets, and possum or bird boxes—along with guidelines and patterns for volunteers can follow.

The bushfires, which have been burning across Australia for months, have scorched 18 million acres of land, and are showing no signs of slowing. Experts estimate nearly half a billion animals have died as a result of the monstrous blazes, which have had a particularly devastating impact on kangaroos and koalas. They need all the help they can get.

That's where you come in, knitters. But Carolina Waterfowl Rescue also needs sponsors to help cover the cost of postage.

"If you'd like to sponsor postage for this project, send me an email at waterfowlrescue@aol.com and I'll give you details," the rescue group said. "We don't want to take anything away from the animals but shipping the packages overseas can get expensive."

Those interested in contributing to the rescue efforts in Australia should visit Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild's Facebook page. Members of the guild's public group exchange tips and share photos of their crafts.

Their efforts are already paying off. According to CNN, last week, the group sewed 5,000 bat wraps, thousands more joey pouches and hundreds of blankets and towels. Now, demand is highest for kangaroo joey pouches, wraps for bats, and crocheted nests for displaced birds. Just be sure to follow the guild's guidelines and specifications.

Let's get crafting!