Powerful, elegant and beautiful, the Tasmanian masked owl towered over admirers in its giant “cage” on Parliament House Lawns in Hobart during Dark Mofo. The paper-and-wooden owl was roosting before taking flight on silent wings at the end of the winter festival. The owl was the focus of the ogoh-ogoh showpiece at the event, honouring an ancient Balinese-Hindu purification ceremony. In this the “fears” of participants are written on pieces of paper and placed in a basket at … [Read more...] about Masked owl’s future clouded in fear
On The Wing
Passport to birdland
Birdland is a magical place where it’s possible to escape all the pressures and stresses of the environment of the city created and inhabited by one species – humans – and immerse yourself in a less one-dimensional world. Birdland is nowhere in particular, and does not have to be special or noteworthy. It could be in the wildest of wild forest, or in suburbia. It could be a pristine beach, a few hectares of eucalypt woodland, or a neatly manicured city park. It could be a backyard. That’s the magic of birds; they bring beauty and wonder to every corner of the planet, wild or untamed, and my On the Wing writing is their celebration.
Swift action need on migratory parrots
The battle to save the critically endangered swift parrot has switched to the forests of the south-east mainland these chilly winter months. Birdwatchers have been fanning out across country Victoria and New South Wales to count numbers of migrating parrots in their wintering grounds. The swift parrot breeds exclusively in Tasmania before crossing Bass Strait as winter grips their home state. The population of the parrot is undergoing a catastrophic decline, with numbers … [Read more...] about Swift action need on migratory parrots
Butcherbirds win out in the turf wars
The turf wars have returned to my garden with the onslaught of winter. The ravens and currawongs are once again engaged in battle over the scraps of food I leave out for them each morning. And this year another protagonist has joined the fray – a grey butcherbird. The resident forest ravens have the garden to themselves before the raiders arrive at about the time of the official start of winter on June 1. Grey currawongs might be seen all year but their numbers start to … [Read more...] about Butcherbirds win out in the turf wars
Drawn to a mountain bathed in soft sunlight
A wedge-tailed eagle soared across the sky in front of me. High above South Hobart it rose and fell, twisted and turned, a silhouette against the backdrop of kununyi/Mt Wellington, which was bathed in soft sunlight in the first week of winter. My focus should have been on the “wedgie” – the fourth largest eagle in the world – but on this occasion I was bowled over by the mountain itself. The day previously it had hidden behind low cloud. Kunanyi is a mountain of many … [Read more...] about Drawn to a mountain bathed in soft sunlight
‘Tip turkey’ gives up on life in the city
The 240 kilometres of ocean separating Tasmania from the big island has kept us safe from the scourge of city parks in Melbourne and Sydney – the Australian white ibis. This strange, mercurial bird goes by the name of “bin chicken” and “tip turkey” in some parts. In its more aggressive moments it is also known as the “sandwich eater” and the “picnic pirate”, so it’s a welcome relief that it rarely reaches Tasmania on its travels and does not breed here. Despite its … [Read more...] about ‘Tip turkey’ gives up on life in the city