Three-month search to snap this rare bird
A three-month search for the elusive glossy black cockatoo led to this photo. The splendour of the red panels on the tail of the male glossy black cockatoo can be clearly seen. It was a photo ecologists feared might never be taken after searching for the rare birds for almost three months in the Northern Rivers without success.
Fresh flooding to impact food supply chain
Farmers across the state are once again being hit by wild weather creating fresh concerns about food supply chains ... The impacts of the torrential rain are being felt out into the central west, and vegetable growers in the Hunter Valley have had paddocks drowned for a third time this year.
Committed growers support hardy pasture legume revolution
Identification and development of novel hard seeded pasture legumes teamed with cost reducing management practices and dedicated extension efforts are heralding a revolutionary change for growers in South Australia and Victoria’s low to medium rainfall regions.
New release – My Father and Other Animals
A moving and hilarious fish-out-of-water memoir of a millennial leaving his inner-city life to take over the family farm. Sam Vincent is a twenty-something writer in the inner suburbs, scrabbling to make ends meet, when he gets a call from his mother: his father has stuck his hand in a woodchipper, but ‘not to worry – it wasn’t like that scene in Fargo or anything’.
New release – Of Marsupials and Men
Of Marsupials and Men recounts the fascinating and often hilarious history of the men and women who dedicated their lives to understanding Australia’s native animals.
Aboriginal joint management of national parks to expand: NSW Gov’t
Minister for Environment James Griffin said a new model could lead to the handback of title to all NSW national parks, which cover nearly 10 per cent of NSW, over a 15 to 20 year period. “Already, more than 30 per cent of the NSW national parks estate is covered by joint management, but Aboriginal people currently hold title or native title to just over four per cent of it,” Mr Griffin said.
End-of-life plan needed for tens of thousands of wind turbine blades
A new study led by the University of South Australia indicates tens of thousands of wind turbine blades will end up in landfill by the end of the decade unless end-of-life programs are established soon. The study, led by Professor Peter Majewski, highlights the challenges of recycling wind turbine blades, which are made of either carbon fibre or glass fibre composite material, both of which are expensive to break down, with the recovered materials having minimal market value.
Beetle bonanza in the Central Highlands
It might not be Paul, George, Ringo or John, but local farmers were thrilled to find another type of beetle on their Central Highlands property in March 2022, the Zygogramma bicolorata beetle. ‘It’s a very useful tool to help control parthenium, especially in a good ecological environmental system,’ said the local property owner.
Foot and Mouth Disease – a risk for all rural areas: Mark Allison, Agribusiness Australia
The risk of an FMD outbreak in Australia has been given a probability of 9% (1%/19%). The advent of FMD in Indonesia increases the likelihood of an incursion into Australia. We should not have waited until FMD or any disease was close to bring attention to the risk of exotic diseases ... In the event of an outbreak of FMD, we would immediately lose a large number of our premium livestock markets. The longer an outbreak takes to be controlled, the longer we are shut out of premium markets.
Extreme fire weather days in Australia have doubled, new study finds: CSIRO
Extreme fire weather days have increased in Australia by 56 per cent over the last four decades, according to new research from an international team of scientists, including CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency ... CSIRO researcher, Dr Pep Canadell, said an increase in fire weather trends translated to an increase in the number of Australian bushfires.
Fire & Climate 2022
The first of a three part series by Philip Hopkins. Sharing information globally about the causes and impacts of destructive bushfires in an era threatened by global warming drew about 360 people to an international conference in Melbourne in June. Fire & Climate 2022, presented by the International Association of Wildland Fire in partnership with Natural Hazards Research Australia, concentrated on the most significant forces shaping wildland fire today.
New geology map for Lord Howe Island
Ian Hutton. In May 2022 the Geological Survey of NSW published an updated geology map for Lord Howe Island. This has been a major revision of the original map published over 30 years ago.
Commonage not a dumping ground
Sheryl Lowe. The Penola Commonage has entered the Clarke Street tree removal discussion with one councillor saying the dumping of the 16 Cypress trees after felling, is not appropriate. The bank of trees has been the topic of discussion for several months with some community members in favour of keeping them ... There is some ambiguity about what the Commonage (noun community land) can be used for he said; it is clear it was to be used for community use and not unpleasant things like the spreading of waste water and burning of timber.
World Heritage forty years on
Ian Hutton introduces observations from Warren Nicholls, who worked on processing the nomination of Lord Howe Island for World Heritage Listing in 1982 ... "So, on my most recent visit in April 2022, what are the changes that I notice. The Islanders are still so friendly and hospitable. Ned’s Beach is still a great place to snorkel and feed the fish. The trek up Mt Gower is still challenging and just as rewarding with its spectacular views (although now safer with the addition of ropes at certain points). But there are other changes. Noticeable and for the good."
Cactus control field trip
Lee Mead. A group of 15 tertiary students from Monash University came to the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group field day yesterday, to help us in the war on Wheel Cactus. The event was held in the Maldon Historic Reserve, at the back of the Mount, where they thoroughly enjoyed the natural landscapes and local views.
Plaques lead the way to new tourism experience
Two new walk trails offering an eco tourism experience have been launched in Denmark in time for the winter holidays. Plaques installed at the Denmark River mouth and Lights Beach lookout feature a QR code linked to the Waterways website, and a wealth of local stories designed to enrich the visitor experience.
Sanctuary in 2 weeks
Patricia Gill. A bird sanctuary will be established north of a temporary fence in Wilson Inlet ... The sanctuary comes into effect on July 14 and is important to protect migratory shore birds ... Microlight pilot Milly Formby from Newcastle, NSW, is circumnavigating Australia to advocate for shorebirds that migrate to Australia from the Siberian Arctic.
Australians open to using genetic technology to manage feral cats
A recent CSIRO study has found that Australians are more likely to support the use of gene drive technology for feral cat management if there was a perceived problem of invasive species in one’s local neighbourhood ... "Feral cats are an ideal candidate for gene drive research given that their reproductive rates are up to three litters a year, which greatly outpaces conventional measures" : Dr Owain Edwards.
Fisheries Centre sets record as expansions go ahead
Narrandera is playing a huge part in the fresh water fish stocking season. NSW Department of Primary Industries is in the final stages of the 2021/2022 fish stocking season, which has so far seen more than 4.8 million fish, produced at NSW DPI hatcheries, released throughout the state.
Koala research team visits
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has a team visiting Narrandera this week to conduct aspects of koala research in the Narrandera Reserve ... Dr Joanne Connolly from Charles Sturt University's proposed research will involve further steps in the research proposal to establish a koala research centre in Narrandera and will complement and build further on the data being collected by the team from the Koalas Biodiversity and Ecological Health Branch of NPWS.
Murray cod stranded
It’s that time of year when irrigation channels are drawn down for maintenance works. Native fish such as Murray cod and yellas often find themselves stranded.
Stranded cod at Wakool
A large number of Murray Cod have been relocated from irrigation channels in the Wakool area, thanks to collaboration between numerous individuals and organisations ... At the end of the irrigation season, it is common for native fish to be left stranded in pools of water behind channel gates and irrigation syphons, and unfortunately, they perish.
