Blog

Birds are our window on the great world of nature. Birds are constantly about us, their songs brighten our day. Although birds are always in sight, always obvious, it is possible to bring their wonder and mystery even closer by creating a bird garden. With a little planning, and a little study into the right type of trees, shrubs and flowers to plant, we can not only cater for the birds that we commonly see and hear, but bring other species into our lives. We just have to … [Read more...] about A window opens on wildlife

When it comes to “green” cities – those graced with leafy parks and tree-lined streets – the rest of Australia could take a leaf out of Hobart’s book. A mix of deciduous trees originally introduced from Europe and our own native eucalypts and wattles not only provide shelter from rain and sunshine, but give shape to the seasons. There is no greater sight than Tasmanian blue gums in white flower in Sandy Bay in spring, or the maidenhair tree, ginkgo biloba from China, in … [Read more...] about Trees shape the seasons in Hobart

Negotiating the catacombs of the Museum of Old and New Art I emerged into a narrow corridor bathed in light. Ahead of me a group of Mona visitors blocked my way, They were gazing through what looked like a window, framed in steel. An art piece, an installation? I waited for the tourists to take their pictures and, moving into position, I was surprised to discover what they had been viewing. They had indeed been looking out of a window and the “art” object was a pair of … [Read more...] about The canary in the coalmine

A flight of wedge-tailed eagles has been causing a fair amount of disquiet down the Channel south of Hobart. A dog-owning coupe report that the eagles have been casting hungry eyes on their beloved toy poodle pair. The Birches Bay residents contacted Craig Webb at the Raptor Refuge at Kettering for advice on how to keep their pooches safe, and he in turn referred the pressing matter to wildlife biologist Nick Mooney, an eagle expert with some wise words about both eagles and … [Read more...] about Eagles eye pampered pooches

The boyz are back in the hood now that we are firmly in the grip of winter and Gloria the raven is being left out in the cold. The “boyz” are a flock of black currawongs which descend on my neighbourhood from their usual kunanyi/Mt Wellington stronghold about the time the first frosts appear on garden lawns. The boyz, of course, include females and these 20-strong flocks appear as just one big raucous gang out to cause mayhem in suburban gardens. The forest ravens – … [Read more...] about Ravens and currawongs in a turf wars