I learnt about this last year, and as an environmental scientist I thought it was a wonderful story. In the middle of a bitterly cold winter I’m sure we’re all grateful to snuggle under a doona, duvet, quilt or eiderdown (the name depends upon where you live). What you may not realise is that an…
Animals
Field guides to Australia
Australia is lucky enough to have a fauna field guide for each state and territory (the image below is of the app I use for the Australian Capital Territory). Museums Victoria developed them and they are practical, user friendly and much easier to carry around then a text book! They are also free which I…
Swooping Season
Spring is officially here on Sunday (1st September). And with it (well, from late August) comes swooping season. Magpies have already been spotted dive bombing unsuspecting cyclists and pedestrians in my local area. We have a new one this year, which means in the last 12 months some horrid human has been cruel to the…
It’s a Dog’s Life
In a couple of days our furry friend, Biggles, is turning the grand old age of 13. Sadly for a dog that means he’s a geriatric (the vet’s term, not ours). But we have noticed he’s slowing down a bit, pretty much completely deaf, his eyesight isn’t what it was, has hardly any teeth left,…
My satellite dish bird bath
A few years ago a tree outside my office window (a Liquid Ambar, I think it’s known as Sweet Gum in the US, although it originates from Turkey) died and blew over in a (very) strong wind. Actually it didn’t blow over, more snap in half. We left the stump to dry out and over…