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...

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...

Tuesday Plant Talk | Value of rainforests

  Rainforests – especially tropical rainforests – are said to have ‘an outsized role in the world, with their significance outweigh by their size.. Of the Earth’s ecosystems, rainforests support the largest variety of plants and animal species, house the majority of indigenous groups still living in isolation from the rest of humanity, and power the mightiest rivers. Rainforests lock up vast amounts of carbon, moderate local temperature, and influence rainfall and weather patterns at regional and planetary scales. BUT...