Aussie Enviro

Be your own conservationist. A great project to do with kids. If you have a backyard, whether you’re a home owner or renter, a lizard lounge 🦎 is easy to set up and requires little to no maintenance depending how basic or elaborate you want it to be. There’s lots of videos online but here’s two:

“The federal government has struck a ‘deal’ with Alcoa that allows the mining giant to continue clearing the Northern Jarrah Forest, despite findings that it illegally destroyed habitat for nationally protected species between 2019 and 2025.

Anyone surprised?

Considering we need 100% of nature to live (just start with air), one per cent doesn’t seem a lot to ask.

Seeing as the number of threatened species keeps ramping up, let’s get to know who they are and do what we can to protect them and their habitats. For example, Greater Gliders need tree hollows for shelter and procreation (in fact, many Australian marsupials, birds and some reptiles require hollows). Hollows take over one hundred years to form in older growth trees but we’re still logging native forests and cutting down large, mature trees for cattle grazing and also mining, urbanisation and other development. Wherever you are, encourage your relatives, neighbours, councils, etc, to save large trees because of the important habitat the provide AND because they cool the local ambience which is what WE also need as the climate warms up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6g48VFPqqU

If you’re from Victoria, have or know children or teenagers who are (or could become) interested in taking part in biodiversity projects, have a look at this resource. Also pass it on to family, friends, teachers, schools, youth groups, etc. Young people’s involvement in nature-related projects is great for their physical and mental health, for future interest and even career choices and of course helps to develop their relationship to the earth.

“Australia’s government was required to identify spending that could be harmful to biodiversity by the end of 2025 — but still has not made any figures public.

During Australia’s unprecedented heatwave in late January, air temperatures reached 50°C in inland South Australia.

Trees “pull carbon dioxide out of the air, release the oxygen we breathe, and help combat climate change.”

We can learn a great deal from how China has stopped a lot of desertification. In our fragile continent and our obsession with cattle grazing we have destroyed a great deal of already vulnerable land. We need to get serious about restoring at least some of what we have devastated. It would also help in saving carbon from going into the atmosphere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f6BXUXcCxw

If you’ve ever been caught in a conversation (or to be prepared for one) in which people throw in your face how renewable energy is just as bad as fossil fuel energy because of the mining that is required, here’s an article that might help you stop the facile nonsense in its tracks. https://www.lyrebirddreaming.com/post/fossil-fuels-dig-far-more-than-renewables

The federal government is opening vast new areas of ocean off Victoria and Lutruwita / Tasmania for oil and gas exploration. New oil and gas projects threaten precious marine environments, World-Heritage coastline, and beloved surf beaches.

Conservationists estimate coal exported from expanded mine to release CO2 equivalent of about half Australia’s annual carbon footprint

Our echidnas never cease to make us smile, especially when romance (and lots of walking) is in the air. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n55y_s1haEM&list=PL0cavlVRdTzO3i33eYNhEFv4ekWsxTb6a

Getting involved in a citizen science project is one way of countering the sense of helplessness we may feel about the environmental challenges we face. Citizen science is not just a hobby either. Scientists cannot do all the work that needs to be done by themselves so everyday people’s contribution accounts for a lot.

The world is closer than thought to a “point of no return” after which runaway global heating cannot be stopped, scientists have said.

“… More than half of Australia’s marine parks are open to damaging activities like industrial fishing, drilling for fossil fuels, and seismic blasting [but] a rare opportunity to change that is rapidly approaching.

They’re saying that bills will come down with increase of battery storage. Let’s hope so. Otherwise we’ll have the usual fossil fuel spruikers pushing for more coal and gas and bad-mouthing renewable energy as happens where I live.

Great suggestions but would our government and industry actually implement them?

IN SHORT: Don’t take a baby bird from parents , as they teach all the lessons and survival skills that chicks need to know: how to fly, what food to eat, how to find food and how to avoid predators. *Don’t rescue chicks unless in immediate danger, sick or injured. * Having said that, there’s more to know. This poster explains it well:

If everyone is happy with the idea, I’d like to feature one of our native animals once per week for fun and interesting weekend viewing to share with your kids or grandkids. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMXw7CWudsg

This resource was compiled and created by Alice McGlashan. It is free to the public and includes a lot of valuable information about nest boxes and tree hollow dependent species PLUS designs and instructions on how to make, install and look after nest boxes and their amazing little tenants. Very important to provide homes for our wildlife as they are losing so much but ensure you are well-informed on the species you want to set up a nest box for so they and their babies are well protected. https://nestboxtales.com/

“Australia’s native birds, wildlife, and even family pets are being poisoned by Second-generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs), a dangerous class of chemicals which are still readily available in supermarkets and online. BirdLife Australia is calling for all SGARs to be removed from public sale and restricted to licensed professionals.” https://birdlife.org.au/protect-aussie-birds-from-deadly-sgar-rat-poisons?srsltid=AfmBOop30sK2-YxDNedeluKzgdySjRZmGcjrBrAHWLhYqMp9S4RuoMSb

In short:

Another great book,* Garden on the Verge* by Gayle Dallaston who could be seen as a ‘verge activist’ and has done much to increase the development of verges in Qld and elsewhere. The book covers just about all you need to know about creating a native verge or native strip in your street (including dealing with local council rules). Let’s make our verges useful and beautiful AND save many native animals particularly our insects, lizards, birds and small mammals.

A colony of about 1,000 flying foxes in a South Australian town has been shattered by the intense heat that gripped south-eastern Australia last week, with more than 80% of the camp at Naracoorte wiped out.

With the instability in the world and the rising price of food as more and more climate disasters affect our farming land, it is worth thinking about growing some of our own produce and/or starting or taking part in community gardens. Permaculture, biodiversity, organics and companion planting are the principles that underlie the contents of this book which is highly respected. It can be bought from various outlets.

Extreme heat driven by climate change could make parts of the Northern Territory unlivable within the next 40 years, unless urgent action is taken, activists warn.

Details “Across Australia, devastating bushfires, floods, a marine heatwave and enormous harmful algal bloom are affecting communities and wildlife. While natural disasters have long shaped this country, climate change is increasing their frequency and intensity, creating a more volatile future…

With all the horrific climate-relate events happening in many parts of our country and the toll this is taking on our native animals and plants it is more important than ever (and as a small safeguard for the future) that we offer shelter and food sources in our gardens, backyards and verges. “Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, by the end of the course you’ll be equipped to design, establish and maintain a habitat garden to attract and support a diverse array of local birds, as we guide you through each step of the way.” - https://birdlife.org.au/habitat-gardening-for-birds-online/

All of us, sooner or later, will need to make a decision about the final resting place for ourselves or a loved one.

Averaged out over the last seven days.

He said exports went from about 3,500 tonnes to nearly 10,000 tonnes.

Interesting article showing the need for greater research and investment in protecting them yet more money goes to honey bee research.

Former Greens leader Adam Bandt, the ACF’s new chief executive, described the year-on-year doubling as “really distressing”.

Thousands of flying foxes have perished in the heatwave that scorched south-east Australia last week, the largest mass mortality event for flying foxes since black summer.

If you live in an area impacted by natural disaster or you drive frequently near bushland or in regional / rural areas you can be part of wildlife rescue by carrying your own rescue kit. If the diagram makes you feel a bit overwhelmed, please ask what some of the items are for. For example, the line marking paint is to mark a dead female marsupial to show that her pouch has been checked for a joey. Very young joeys with no fur, called pinkies, attached to teats should NOT be pulled off as it can do their mouths great damage. Most everyday people don’t feel confident with rescuing pinkies so it’s best if you call a trained, registered wildlife carer. Sometimes that’s not possible and I’m happy to provide more details if you are interested. For older joeys and all other animals it’s best to keep them warm, in a darkened container lined with towels, blankets, etc, and get them to a vet or a wildlife carer asap.

Christmas Island’s Greta Beach should be one of Australia’s most prized stretches of sand and a haven for nesting green sea turtles.

🔥 🦎 🥺 WILDLIFE BUSHFIRE SAFETY TIPS 🥵 🦘 🔥

This is from a post from Minton Farm Animal Rescue Centre found on another platform. Please keep a look out.

In short:

Open-access link to the paper

Perhaps this isn’t news for people on this page but please speak to others about looking in on vulnerable people who may be seriously impacted by excessive heat conditions like the elderly, people with various types of disabilities and of course the very young. Leave water out for wildlife in shallow dishes and ensure dogs don’t get burnt paws on hot pavements. Now it’s also the time to encourage / demand that your local councils plant plenty of street trees to keep temperatures down. It’s an investment for everyone’s future.

Only 2 hours long and in plain English so it’s ideal for people with basic English language skills as well as kids and those who would like to know a little more about our unique Aussie animals.

If you are are driving outside of a city and find injured wildlife on the side of the road, or witness, or are involved yourself in striking an animal, this App might be useful in finding the closest wildlife carer to where you are. I don’t know how comprehensive it is for every state but having someone to call IS a big help. Whoever answers will guide you in what you need to do.

As different Australian states are dealing with different climate disasters, and wildlife is left without natural food sources, there are ways you can help. Know what foods to provide for different species but also what is NOT suitable. Share this info, you may help save a life.