Wildlife Australia - Summer 2001

Contents…

Proactive Measures

In her feature article, Romina Rader examines the status of what many see as our greatest national treasures -- the rainforests of northern Queensland -- and looks at the role scientists must play in retention of these precious areas.

Green-blooded Lizards

In his article on the Bob-Tailed Lizard, Dr Marcello Pennacchio and his team of researchers from Curtin University describe their discoveries about some bizarre blood characteristics in one of Western Australia’s most recognisable reptiles.

Shooting in the Wet

What should a successful photographer take on a trip to the rainforest? How do you avoid snakebite, ticks and ruined film? Neville Coleman brings all his underwater experience with him on assignment to the tropical north. Essential reading for anyone who wants to consistently take good photographs in this tough, unforgiving environment. Neville's list of recommended photographic equipment has some surprises too!

Nestside Manner

Capturing that moment when a chick takes flight is every bird photographer's dream. In his regular Zoom-In feature, Tim Newberry explores how to obtain high-quality images of your favourite nesting bird -- without disturbing your subject or its young. This step-by-step guide tells you when to set up your hide and when to remove it. A sure-fire way to improve your results.

Thoughtless Recreation

Hooded Plovers literally 'run the gauntlet' on Australian beaches. For three months a year, these graceful little birds face a bucket load of problems, but there's much we can do to help them out of a scrape. Zali Brookes reports on one little Australian who doesn't enjoy Christmas holidays.

Window to the Wildside

During the past 22 years, the Queensland Museum has recorded more than 1200 species of land snails in an area stretching from the islands of Torres Strait to the Victorian Border. In his regular column. John Stanisic explores the likely reasons for this slow-moving bonanza.

Mysterious Mushrooms

Queensland's Lamington National Park has slowly begun to reveals its fungi secrets. Depending on the season, it's estimated that as many as 5000 separate species of fungi live within the borders of the park. This article by Brendan Hopp, describes the work of Dr, Tony Young and the Queensland Herbarium.

Dry Rainforests

Dry rainforests, the scruffy, often-neglected relative of the better known 'rainforest', urgently needs a makeover -- at least in the public's eye. But the biological variety in these scratchy patches of woodland is often surprising says author and scientist Brian Lowry.

Wildlife Australia Faces of Nature Photo Competition Winner

Congratulations to Australian Capital Territory photographer Helen Fallow, for her winning entry in this year's Faces of Nature Competition. Helen's image of a Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum) exhibits excellent technical achievement with equally good attention to composure and lighting in a way that highlights the cockatoo's distinctive character and behaviour. Runner-up went to Roy Boston of Queensland for his image of a Green Catbird.

Cyber Jungle

Birds Australia

Neville Coleman's World of Water

Tintota

Rainforest Australia

Also in this edition:

Run Off, Wildlife Report, EcoMedia, Book Reviews, Scratchings and Rustlings, WPSQ Update, Young and Wild, Nature Watch and our regular environmental crossword.