Duck season exemption for Cairn Curran: no response
Requests for a list of 25 Victorian waterways, including Cairn Curran Reservoir, to be named as exempt from duck hunting have gone unanswered by the State Government as hunters in camouflage gear appeared at the popular recreation site over the weekend.
Regional shark mitigation project
Rachel Hagan. Community consultation on the Yorke Peninsula for the Regional Shark Mitigation Project has begun, with Surf Life Saving South Australia visiting southern YP.
Shark net removal: SLSNSW
The NSW Government changes to the Shark Management Program include the removal of shark nets on beaches from 31 March 2025. The timing of the removal of nets to avoid the peak of turtle migration has been communicated to Surf Life Saving Clubs ... SLSNSW provides drone surveillance services at 50 sites across the NSW coastline during key times of the year.
Spiders go crazy spinning webs to escape floodwaters
Along Bungawalbin-Whiporie Road, spiders escaping floodwaters took to spinning their webs higher off the ground. Photographer Jimmy Malecki took some stunning photos of the webs and of two different spiders.
“Wrong decision”, declares Laurie Levy: Duck season already under way
Coalition Against Duck Shooting Campaign Director, Laurie Levy, said at the weekend: “Despite the scientific reports that show native waterbirds are in serious long-term decline, Premier Jacinta Allan has extended Victoria’s duck shooting season this year, even with the serious risk of spreading bird flu that could be present on any wetland.”
‘Amazing’ race against time to save little miracles
As extreme weather threatened our coastline, TurtleCare volunteers worked tirelessly to safeguard the future of endangered baby turtles. Wildlife Conservation Team Leader Kate Hofmeister said their quick action and commitment ensured many nests were relocated to safer areas, giving hatchlings a better chance of survival.
OzFish fears large fish kill after reports from locals about fish gasping for air
Reports from the public about fish gasping for air have been coming in to fish habitat charity OzFish ... The organisation has received messages and photos from locals who said thousands of fish were gasping for air, or washing up dead, following the recent cyclone and flooding.
Labor’s kangaroo court on incorrect population count: McArthur
The Labor Government’s kangaroo harvesting quotas have been significantly reduced for 2025, exacerbating the escalating overpopulation crisis in Western Victoria. Peter Riddle, a professional kangaroo harvester with 10 years of experience, was allocated just 50 tags for the first quarter of 2025 ... Bev McArthur remarked that it is “barely enough to cover one and a half nights of work.
Darling Downs koala survey sheds light
A review of the Darling Downs 2024 Koala Population Study was recently held in Pittsworth and revealed three separate koala 'clusters' on the Downs identified through DNA testing of scat samples. A total of 91 out of 104 samples collected over an eight month period were used as part of the study.
Charming snakes in Kaniva
John Williams. "Kaniva Weather" is a proverbial. And another old saying might be "Snakes alive in Kaniva" thanks to the following historic snake stories that have made the news.
Car-nage on our highways: 263 dead roos in 250 km
Dr Fiona Walsh. Why do we continue to allow and accept the deaths of animals on our roads? ... I’ve recently driven more than 6,000 km in a loop from Mparntwe Alice Springs to the east coast and home again. My first holiday in eight years. I saw animals killed on roads in the NT, SA, Victoria and southern NSW.
Iconic Australian bird reveals hidden farming talent: La Trobe University
A beloved Australian bird best known for its stunning tail and powers of mimicry may have a cunning hidden talent. New research has revealed the superb lyrebird to be a resourceful farmer, creating micro-habitats to host and fatten its prey before returning later to feast.
2025 Lord Howe Island Sea Slug Census February, 28 to March 9
Lord Howe Island will host its eighth annual Sea Slug Census from February 28 to March 9. Launched at Nelson Bay, NSW in December, 2013, the Sea Slug Census program has spread across Australia, and to sites in Indonesia and Vanuatu, with more than 4,000 participants photographically documenting the distribution of over 1,100 species to date.
Lake Meran Festival huge success
The second annual Lake Meran Festival was held last Sunday afternoon with hundreds of visitors coming along to enjoy the music, community, a great afternoon by the lake and to take a look at the star of the event, Grumpy the Turtle. Weighing in at almost one tonne, Grumpy was designed and built by Bendigo artist Moz Moresi ...
Farmers concerned over dingo protection changes in North-West Victoria
Mallee farmers are voicing frustration over changes to dingo management laws, fearing increased threats to their livestock as wild dogs seek water and food amid dry conditions ... On the other side of the debate, scientists and conservationists highlight the importance of protecting the Big Desert dingo population, known as Wilkerr to the Wotjobaluk First Nations People.
Riverlanders work to restore local turtle populations
Madison Eastmond ... being carried out in the Hills and Fleurieu, Limestone Coast and Northern, and Yorke as a multi-region intuitive, the TURTLE Project is a collaborative effort of landscape boards, First Nations, citizen scientists, NGOs, councils and landholders to gather information to guide the protection of freshwater turtles across South Australia.
Call for farmers to assist bird conservation
Birdlife Australia is launching the Lockyer-Toowoomba Birds on Farms project and needs the help of local landholders. The project is being coordinated by Toowoomba Ornithologist Scot McPhie, who presented to a recent meeting of Cambooya Landcare.
Never miss an opportunity
“If it’s good enough for the cricketers to have a drink on the ground on a hot day, why can’t I?” ... On this occasion, Maggie has spotted an uncoupled hose, and is making the most of a free drink, courtesy of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water.
Hot, hot, hot: record-breaking temperatures
A week before parts of Yorke Peninsula soared above 40 degrees, the Bureau of Meteorology released its official record of Australia’s climate, water and significant weather events for 2024. The report ... revealed South Australia recorded its second hottest year on record, being on average 1.6 degrees warmer than previous years.
The KP group of forests February report – Net results: Fin-tastic
"A healthy working forest where native species can flourish, and where local communities can connect and co-manage the forest for future generations" ... Over the past few months, various locations within the KP Forest have been sampled for native and exotic fish abundance and biomass, as part of the annual monitoring program. This sampling has involved a combination of fyke netting...
Widespread damage across electorate: MP calls for disaster declaration
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the damage across Harden and Murrumburrah from severe storms on Monday varies from businesses who were dealing with up to two inches of water in their stores, to nearby farmers and wildlife. “We’re seeing trees that are down, fences that have gone into creeks, the bird life has been impacted and most importantly, pastures have been shredded.”
Letters from Home #2/2025: The Blue Bee
February depresses me. So many things have gone wrong in Februarys past - apart from many other minor things it is always fire month and it was this coming week 11 years ago that we lost our home, many precious animals, my garden and after 20 years in a place I loved so much, we had to move.
