IT’S an endless summer for the waders that come to our shores, unlike most of the rest of us who have to make the most of the holiday season over the Christmas period. That’s the time when Tasmanians flock to the beaches to take advantage of the best summer has to offer after our long winter that always seems to stretch well into spring. Migratory shorebirds, however, manage to dodge winter, travelling to different ends of the earth to exploit the seasons most favourable … [Read more...] about A summer without end
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.
Prison eagles fly high
Fact is stranger than fiction, as the saying goes, and the film Healing about the relationship between a prisoner and an eagle under his care certainly mirrors a program once tried at Risdon Prison. The film, which aired on the ABC in late last month after general release in cinemas earlier in the year, has brought back fond memories for Nick Mooney of the groundbreaking Tasmanian rehabilitation program he supervised to link the lives of convicts to injured birds of … [Read more...] about Prison eagles fly high
In praise of trees
OVERSEAS they are described as the cathedrals of the natural world, ancient trees that reach for the heavens. It's no wonder that oaks and elms like the ones we see in Hobart's Franklin Square and St David's Park are said to have inspired Gothic architecture, their thick boughs arching above our heads, forming a natural roof to shelter us from wind, hail and rain. Ancient trees are also vital for wildlife. Many animal and bird species could not live without them, especially … [Read more...] about In praise of trees
Like, poetry, birds ignore frontiers
The worlds of literature, art and wildlife collided on Bruny Island recently when the local community launched a bird book to promote the natural wonders of the twin islands. Writers and artists are at the forefront of the battle to save endangered wildlife and habitats but their role often goes unacknowledged. The Bruny Island Environmental Network (BIEN) set out to put the world of art and literature in the spotlight when two years ago it launched a book project, … [Read more...] about Like, poetry, birds ignore frontiers
Fishing with dynamite
Some birders I have met have this ability to literally charm the birds out of the trees. They are masters of the ancient birding art of “pishing” – making bird sounds by pursing the lips to attract the target bird’s attention. Birds are innately curious and any unfamiliar sound that vaguely resembles a bird call will entice them to come and have a look. My attempts at pishing usually fall on deaf ears but I decided to hone my skills recently in readiness for late spring and … [Read more...] about Fishing with dynamite