Bill McDermott – the last in a long line of Tasmanian pioneers – was very much in my thoughts as I trod the rounded, flat paving stones leading into what was once his farmyard. A scarlet robin watched my progress and in the scattered blue gums a yellow-throated honeyeater called. On a sunny day the scene was very much as it would have been during days gone by before the McDermott association with this magical place in the foothills of kunanyi/Mt Wellington was to end in … [Read more...] about An echo from a pioneer past
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.
Light shone on a secret wilderness
Peter Marmion is a man on a mission to reveal the hidden wonders of Port Davey in Tasmania’s far south-west. This magical waterworld is not so much hidden, but overlooked and forgotten when it comes to the state’s tourist hotspots. I must confess I once viewed the area as merely the home of one of the world’s rarest birds, the orange-bellied parrot. That was until I was given the opportunity one summer to join a voyage to the region on a vessel operated by On Board … [Read more...] about Light shone on a secret wilderness
Still making a difference, 30 years on
Once a month, a dedicated band of nature lovers armed with secateurs and rakes heads into the bush. They are among a growing band of Bushcare volunteers determined to “make a difference” when it comes to protecting and conserving Hobart’s fragile environment. As Hobart City Council marked the 30th year of its Bushcare program recently, the founding members came together to celebrate what had been achieved over the years. The movement has roots in the decision by a group of … [Read more...] about Still making a difference, 30 years on
Hobart the birders’ port of call
Although the great cruise liners which ply Tasmania’s waters in summer might appear an unlikely habitat for the bird-watcher, they are bringing birders all the same. Not a summer goes by when I am not contacted through my website by cruise ship passengers seeking an introduction to Hobart’s amazing world of birds. I always recommend the Waterworks Reserve, not more than four kilometres from the docks, as a convenient port of call, explaining that 11 of Tasmania’s unique … [Read more...] about Hobart the birders’ port of call
Bird of year campaign accused on foul ploy
Feathers are still flying over foreign “interference” in New Zealand’s Bird of the Year contest. The 2023 prize went to a bird also found in Australia after a surprise intervention by the host of a top-ranking American television talk show, John Oliver. The winner was the puteketeke, known as the great-crested grebe in Australian waters, and in my annual prize for the top bird story of the year the graceful bird comes out tops. The New Zealand bird contest has long been … [Read more...] about Bird of year campaign accused on foul ploy