St Patricks Day …. four-leafed clover

Four-leaf clovers were Celtic charms, presumed to offer magical protection and ward off bad luck. Children in the Middle Ages believed if they carried a four-leaf clover, they would be able to see fairies,.  The first literary reference to suggest their good fortune was made in 1620 by Sir John Melton. “Hundreds of years ago in Ireland, the four-leaf clover became a symbol of luck with the four leaves representing faith, hope, love, and success. The Druids (Celtic priests), in...

International Day of action for RIVERS

The International Day of Action for Rivers is a day of solidarity when people from all walks of life come together to declare that rivers are essential and deserve our protection. It highlights the importance of ensuring that communities have access to clean, free-flowing water and that everyone has the fundamental right to participate in decisions that affect their lives and their water. It is our collective responsibility to defend these rights and protect our rivers now more than ever....

Spiders… very unique creatures

Ten things you probably might not have known about SPIDERS   * Spiders are everywhere! Research suggests that you are never more than 10 feet away from a spider. Most of the time they are hiding away somewhere in some crevices minding their own business.   There are a lot of spiders They come in all different shapes and sizes, each with their own unique look and characteristics. There are approximately over 35,000 different species of spider currently known. However,...

Save a spider……!

It’s ‘Save a Spider Day’ (In the USA) on March 13th What good are spiders? You might have heard the question……  ‘What good are spiders?’ Which usually translates as ‘What good are spiders to us?’ Apart from their intrinsic right to be here, spiders do humans a power of good as well. Spider silk has been traditionally used in constructing nets, clothing and even the reticle (crosshairs) in telescopic sights. Spiders are an important source of food in many human...

Sunday Nature Quote | Sir David Attenborough

  “The fact is that no species has ever had such wholesale control over everything on Earth, living or dead, as we now have. That lays upon us, whether we like it or not, an awesome responsibility. In our hands now lies not only our own future, but that of all other living creatures with whom we share the Earth.”- from the documentary series, Life On Earth. LearnFromNature  Tweet  ...

Wildlife groups A to Z | Amphibians

  Amphibian vs reptile: what’s the difference? Many people confuse amphibians and reptiles, or bunch them together. But while they share some similarities they have more very clear differences, as this expert guide explains. Amphibians and reptiles are two very distinct groups of animals, yet they are often confused for each other or thought to be the same thing. Individuals from each group might look very similar, for example newts and lizards, but in reality, there are far more differences...

Book Review | Secrets of the Saltmarsh

Secrets of the Saltmarsh By Claire Saxby; illustrated by Alicia Rogerson CSIRO Publishing, 2023 isbn 9781486317141 (hbk) https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/8101/ It’s not every day that you think of , or use the words ‘salt marsh’. Wetlands, yes, vaulable and quickly disappearing habitats,  a habitat type thatwe are losing each year to drainage to make way for farmland. However the specific label of ‘saltmarsh’ is not in your roadside cafe. To clarify, Salt marshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded and drained by salt water...

Botany on Tuesday | The Tarkine

Australia habitat with close links with New Zealand What is special about the Tarkine? The Tarkine is the largest wild natural region in north west Tasmania and is a vital haven for flora and wildlife. There are more than 60 species of plants and fauna that are either endangered or rare. The Tarkine (Indigenous name: takayna), officially takayna / Tarkine, is an area in the north west Tasmania, Australia, which contains significant areas of wilderness. The Tarkine is noted for...

Brilliant marine mammal guide in updated ‘Encyclopaedia”

The Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises Eric Hoyt, Principal photography by Brandon Cole, Illustrations by Uko Gorter  A Firefly Book  ISBN 13-987-0-2281-0435-3   “Back on the sea, the wind in my face, the smell of salt water, the crack an explosive spout off the bow, the rapid-fire of cameras clicking cameras as the broad back and dorsal fin appear, the plop of a hydro-phone to eavesdrop on the whalesong…..’    We enter the world of whales, dolphins and porpoises – the so-called...

Dolphin Awareness Week 2024

It seems fitting as the last post was ‘Whales Threatened by Us’  Dolphin Awareness Month, held each March, to raise and spread awareness about these amazing marine creatures – and the merciless killing of them. Dolphins are variously described as the smartest marine animal, and human’s best friends in the sea with a long history of being friendly with human beings. This friendliness has come in. the form of ‘dolphin therapy’ in places such as Monkey Mia here in Australia; and protecting humans from other sea-based...

Whales threatened by …… us!

  World Whale Day, the annual calendar celebrated on the third Sunday in February  (February 18), seeks to appreciate these amazing marine creatures that are an important part of the ecosystem. Once upon a time, we could just enjoy these creatures for their majesty – species that visit Moreton Bay Marine Park include the mighty Humpback (migrating to and from their southern feeding grounds between June and October),  eight species of dolphin including the bottlenose and the Australian Humpback dolphin – now the day ‘must’ goes beyond that,...

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...

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