22/01/2024

Archive

Parrots of…. Australia & New Zealand

Australia is often referred to as the ‘land of parrots’ however the are some important parrots inhabiting Aotearoa / New Zealand …. Kakapo – flightless parrot ….. Kea – see my other posts on this magnificent alpine parrot   Kaka – endemic (occurs nowhere else) forest parrot  This from Department of Conservation : Threats Kākā require large tracts of forest to survive. Habitat loss from forest clearance for agriculture and logging have had a devastating effect. Browsing by introduced pests...

Mapping of Sharks to better protect them

To protect endangered sharks and rays, scientists are mapping these species’ most important locations “Sharks and their relatives are some of the most imperiled animals on Earth: More than one-third of all known species are threatened with extinction. Many of these animals play vital roles in their ecosystems. Losing marine predators can destabilize entire food webs and the ecosystems that these food webs depend on. In recent years, the management of sharks and their relatives, rays and chimaeras, has largely focused...

Creature feature | the brilliant bilby

The Bilby has bene offered as an alternative to the Easter bunny  What is there difference between the Bilby and Bandicoot? Bilbies have the characteristic long bandicoot muzzle and very big ears that radiate heat. They are about 29–55 cm (11–22 in) long. Compared to bandicoots, they have a longer tail, bigger ears, and softer, silky fur. The size of their ears allows them to have better hearing.   For more, including conservation efforts, check out Save the Bilby Fund...

Hot Topic | African elephants, poaching

  African Elephant conservation African Elephants are one of the most heavily poached mammals in the world. Historic and ongoing demand for ivory is the leading reason behind their slaughter, with habitat destruction, fragmentation and rapid human development posing significant threats also. The African Elephant Loxodonta africana occurs in 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, numbering an estimated 350,000 individuals across the continent. Although certain populations in Central Africa are deemed relatively secure, poaching between 2009–2016 saw a 30% reduction in...

Habitats | Channel Country in Australia – some good news!

12 December 2023, the Queensland Government made this announcement: “Today, the Queensland government will announce historic protections for the Channel Country’s rivers and floodplains. Under the protections, any future oil or gas drilling in the floodplain areas of the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre basin would be prohibited. Today’s announcement will come after eight years of rolling commitments from Queensland Labor to protect the Channel Country rivers and floodplains since they entered government in 2015. Throughout this time Traditional Owners, Channel Country...

Creature Feature | Parrots

Australia has been called ‘land of parrots. New Zealand has a few highly unique species… Here’s details about the New Zealand kea. outdoor icon   Parrots, cockatoos, rosellas and parakeets all make appearances in Aboriginal Dreaming and are totemic across the country. So common are they to this island continent that parrots factored in one of the earliest European names for Australia. WHY SO MANY PARROTS? Australia’s geographical isolation has allowed its parrot species to diversify across this vast continent...