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A white-faced heron hunted galaxias in the Sandy Bay Rivulet, at the point where it crosses Errol Flynn Beach and merges with the Derwent River.  Jollytails, spotted mountain and climbing galaxias …. the heron was having a field day but I was less interested on this spring day in the natural history of the rivulet than its place in man’s modern, and ancient, history. Errol Flynn Beach is dominated by a large artwork proclaiming “1909”, the year the Tasmanian destined to … [Read more...] about In search of Errol Flynn

An albatross called Aria carries on her wings a powerful message about the devastating effect pollution is having on our oceans. Aria’s odyssey brings her into contact with sea creatures having trouble with trash: there’s a seal being strangled by a cord; a whale hopelessly tangled in a discarded fishing net and a sea turtle choking on a plastic bag that it thought was a jellyfish. The tale of Aria – told in a children’s book called Garbage Guts – is fictitious of course … [Read more...] about Pollution message of hope

The sight of 22 eastern curlew – the biggest of all the birds termed waders – on the Pittwater mudflats carried with it a tinge of sadness. As I watched these dramatic birds, notable for their long down-curved bills, probing for marine worms and molluscs the thought occurred to me that it might be the last time I’d see this species in such great numbers in Tasmania. It might even be the last time I saw an eastern curlew. Numbers of the curlew have been in freefall in recent … [Read more...] about Curlews bring sadness on their wings

The biggest citizen science project to hit Australian shores, the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, is taking place from October 20-26 and Tasmanians are being urged to join in.  Thousands of people from across the country are heading into their backyards, local parks or their favourite open spaces to conduct a census of our birds. The event is the first of its kind in the country and it draws its inspiration from the Big Garden Birdwatch in Britain, which each year has about … [Read more...] about Citizen science aids birds

MY birthday this year coincided with the two-monthly meeting of BirdLife Tasmania and I was faced with a dilemma: enjoy a celebratory evening with my family or hear a talk on endangered species. I chose the latter.  As I explained to my wife and son, I’ve reached the age when birthdays are not a time for celebration and, anyway, BirdLife Tasmania meetings always turn up something interesting, a sort of celebration in themselves. This year it looked like the meeting might … [Read more...] about Lewin’s rail brings birthday surprise