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Donald Knowler

Dancing on the Edge of the World

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Birdsong at quarry echoes from the past

May 15, 2022 Don Knowler

In and out of Hobart, we follow in the footsteps of the first peoples of Tasmania and those who came after them. The physical shape of these trails have been cut through the landscape over a period of 40,000 years, first by the feet of the Muwinina people and in more recent times the stamping hooves of horses on packhorse trails. And all the while birds found nowhere else on earth have provided the background music for these songlines and laylines. This soundscape is a … [Read more...] about Birdsong at quarry echoes from the past

On The Wing

‘Diamond birds’ find their voice

May 7, 2022 Don Knowler

The song of the spotted pardalote is pinging around the neighbourhoods this month. It’s the same every autumn and winter when these stunning little birds find their voice. The pardalotes’ two-note “ping-ping” or “pee-pee” can be heard from every corner of Hobart, my last encounter with them in the gums at the Dunn St car park in the CBD. Autumn is a good time to learn birdsong simply because there are fewer songs – the migrant songsters have departed for the mainland. In … [Read more...] about ‘Diamond birds’ find their voice

On The Wing

An ancient mariner feeds between the tides

May 2, 2022 Don Knowler

A pied oystercatcher waded through a shallow surf, tip-toeing on spindly legs around sheets of wrack washing ashore. The oystercatcher probed the wet sand under foot, searching for the tiny sea life that lives between the tides. I spied the oystercatcher from Two Tree Point which sits above Adventure Bay on Bruny Island, the blue gums framing a stunning panorama stretching across an azure sea, from golden sands to the hazy outline of Tasman Island on the horizon. This very … [Read more...] about An ancient mariner feeds between the tides

On The Wing

Bird of peace defies Putin’s horror

April 27, 2022 Don Knowler

For centuries, the white stork has been a powerful symbol of peace for the people of Ukraine. Its arrival from Africa this northern spring gives new meaning to the notion that it can shield families from evil spirits, writes Don Knowler Ukrainians looking to the skies for Russian war planes and missiles have instead seen the country’s emotive symbol of peace – the white stork. The storks migrate to Africa each year and this northern spring have arrived back at a time … [Read more...] about Bird of peace defies Putin’s horror

New Nature Writing

Menace in the air for pooches

April 23, 2022 Don Knowler

Accounts of eagles stalking and even attacking dogs are not new to raptor expert Craig Webb but what shocked him was the discovery of a special vest designed to thwart birds of prey attacks. The vest, which comes with protective spikes, had been shown to Craig by a dog lover recently. He mentioned the vest when we caught up at the Bruny Island Bird Festival last month. By coincidence, wildlife biologist Nick Mooney days previously had sent me an article on how to avoid such … [Read more...] about Menace in the air for pooches

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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Recent Posts

  • Birdsong at quarry echoes from the past
  • ‘Diamond birds’ find their voice
  • An ancient mariner feeds between the tides
  • Bird of peace defies Putin’s horror
  • Menace in the air for pooches
  • ‘Hot coals’ burn through the mist
  • Ducking for cover over black mark
  • Chilling reminder of change
  • Long-haul travel with silver lining
  • Absent ‘swifties’ may be a portent of things to come

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