Just interesting

A 150-year-old Australian Moreton Bay fig is named among the most beloved trees in Europe

A 150-year-old Australian Moreton Bay fig is named among the most beloved trees in Europe

From The New Daily (21/3/25)…   A 150-year-old Australian Moreton Bay fig is named among the most beloved trees in Europe An Australian seed that made the voyage from Sydney to Portugal 150 years ago has grown to be named as one of the most…

Dinner-plate turtle released back into the wild after ingesting fishing hook

Dinner-plate turtle released back into the wild after ingesting fishing hook

From ABC News (9/2/25)…   Dinner-plate turtle released back into the wild after ingesting fishing hook A turtle the size of a small dinner plate has survived surgery and 900 kilometres of travel after swallowing an illegal fishing hook in the West Australian town of…

Superb lyrebirds have an unexpected new skill

Superb lyrebirds have an unexpected new skill

From Cosmos (8/3/25)…   Superb lyrebirds have an unexpected new skill The superb lyrebird is arguably Australia’s most iconic native songbird, known for its ornate tail and incredible mimicry. The species can imitate natural and mechanical sounds, resulting in a vocal repertoire that spans the…

Cockatoos prefer noodles dunked in blueberry yoghurt

Cockatoos prefer noodles dunked in blueberry yoghurt

From Cosmos (17/2/25)…   Cockatoos prefer noodles dunked in blueberry yoghurt For the first time, scientists have observed a non-primate animal using flavourings to enhance the experience of eating food. The behaviour was spotted in Goffin’s cockatoos which dunked potatoes or noodles into a bowl…

From MPLN Newsletter:  It’s Hot. Turn on the Fan? Maybe!

From MPLN Newsletter: It’s Hot. Turn on the Fan? Maybe!

As we are entering a hot summer I thought it was worth posting this article from the Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network December Newsletter as a separate entry.  It’s Hot. Turn on the Fan? Maybe! We have discussed the deadly combination of heat and humidity in…

Ancient mud reveals Australia’s burning history over the past 130,000 years – and shows a way through our fiery future

Ancient mud reveals Australia’s burning history over the past 130,000 years – and shows a way through our fiery future

From The Conversation (1/11/24)… Ancient mud reveals Australia’s burning history over the past 130,000 years – and shows a way through our fiery future Increased land management by Aboriginal people in southeastern Australia around 6,000 years ago cut forest shrub cover in half, according to our…

The making of Australia’s first Dark Sky Community at Carrickalinga

The making of Australia’s first Dark Sky Community at Carrickalinga

From The Conversation (15/10/24)…   The making of Australia’s first Dark Sky Community at Carrickalinga In a world increasingly illuminated by artificial light, the beautiful night skies of a small coastal town in South Australia have attracted international recognition. Carrickalinga on the Fleurieu Peninsula is Australia’s…

A lifetime of love for the charismatic narwhal

A lifetime of love for the charismatic narwhal

From Knowable Magazine (6/3/24)… (Yes, I know they live on the other end of the planet, but I’ve always been fascinated by narwhals) A lifetime of love for the charismatic narwhal independent scientist working with the Inuit has unraveled many mysteries of the one-tusked ‘unicorn of…

Our ‘frog saunas’ could help save endangered species from the devastating chytrid fungus

Our ‘frog saunas’ could help save endangered species from the devastating chytrid fungus

From The Conversation (27/6/24)… Our ‘frog saunas’ could help save endangered species from the devastating chytrid fungus All over the world, frogs are being wiped out by the chytrid fungus. At least 500 species have declined, including as many as 90 species now presumed extinct. This…

You might have missed: Fossil “echidnapus”; bigger is better for proboscis monkeys; Alaska’s rivers turn orange, and more

You might have missed: Fossil “echidnapus”; bigger is better for proboscis monkeys; Alaska’s rivers turn orange, and more

From Cosmos (24/5/24)…   You might have missed: Fossil “echidnapus”; bigger is better for proboscis monkeys; Alaska’s rivers turn orange, and more Opalised fossil of “echidnapus” discovered Australian scientists have described 3 new genera of fossil monotremes from opalised jaws dating back to the Cenomanian…