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Donald Knowler

Dancing on the Edge of the World

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Don Knowler

Young robin sings his own song

December 14, 2019 Don Knowler

The scarlet robin is young, new to this world. Only a week or two out of the nest, testing boundaries not contained in and constrained by the tight confines of the straw and twig nest. He – the youngster already has traces of the scarlet breast feathers which distinguish the male – sits on an exposed twig in full view of the denizens of the forest, calling to his parents for food. The pademelons and Bennett’s wallabies resting in the shadows of a forest glade do not give it … [Read more...] about Young robin sings his own song

On The Wing

Endangered parrot putting up a fight

December 2, 2019 Don Knowler

Each spring Tasmanians hold a collective breath, waiting to see how many of orange-bellied parrots return to their breeding grounds from the mainland. The good news this season is that more – 22 – have come back to Melaleuca in the far south-west than last year. Although the number is small what is significant is the females of the species have led the way. And this has given the biologists charged with trying to ensure the tiny parrots’ survival a unique challenge – they … [Read more...] about Endangered parrot putting up a fight

On The Wing

Threatened kea firmly in the picture

December 2, 2019 Don Knowler

The rise of the selfie has finally put New Zealand’s mercurial mountain parrot, the kea, in the picture. For long considered a pest by many New Zealanders, particularly farmers, the threatened kea is basking in the spotlight of celebrity. New Zealanders are learning to live with the super-intelligent kea – the only bird known to seek out humans for play – at a time when its numbers are falling. In many ways the promotion of the kea has a parallel with the Tasmanian devil, … [Read more...] about Threatened kea firmly in the picture

New Nature Writing

Rare finch sets the pace

November 30, 2019 Don Knowler

Forget the Melbourne Cup, the other race that stopped the nation in mid-November was Australia’s Bird of the Year contest for 2019. Unlike the horse race won by Vow and Declare, the bird contest was not decided by a short head. The black-throated finch led the field from the start when voting opened, dominating the initial 50 starters and then clinching victory when the contest was decided in a second round of 10 finalists. The finch scored 11,153 votes, with the next … [Read more...] about Rare finch sets the pace

On The Wing

A harrier in tune with the wild

November 23, 2019 Don Knowler

A swamp harrier soared high above the Waterworks Valley, painting the blue sky in circles against a backdrop of streaks of white cirrus cloud. It was a rarity for my neck of the woods and my good friend Brian “The Flute” Owens had seen it first, pointing skyward and then identifying the raptor. Focusing my binoculars, I thought it might be a brown falcon at first, more common in my valley, but with naked eye Brian spotted the bird of prey’s distinctive feature, a white rump … [Read more...] about A harrier in tune with the wild

On The Wing

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PUBLISHED BOOKS

The Shy Mountain

shy mountain

Silent and brooding, the Shy Mountain does not have to speak her name. We know she’s there, watching … [Read More...]

The Falconer of Central Park

Although written more than 30 years ago, The Falconer of Central Park has remained popular ever … [Read More...]

Riding the Devil’s Highway

Tasmania might be known internationally as the home of the Hollywood cartoon character, Taz, based … [Read More...]

Dancing on the Edge of the World

Dancing on the edge of the World by Donald Knowler

Dancing on the Edge of the World is a collection of essays that had their genesis in the “On the … [Read More...]

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