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New South Wales

Humans and barn owls are great partners in agriculture. Barn owls nest in natural hollows formed in trees, caves and cliffs. They also, as the name suggests, roost and nest in barns, as well as sheds, chimneys, well shafts and nest boxes. Their natural range encompasses most of the world’s tropical and temperate regions, including Australia.

At home in many human-built structures, barn owls are also avid hunters of small mammals, including those persistent agricultural pests, rats and mice. We are recognising the value of barn owls in natural pest control in many situations – such as macadamia plantations

By Lorraine Robertson

When an illustrator met a keeper of indigenous stories, the results blossomed into a calendar and an inspiring friendship.

The calendar does not rely on dates, months, weeks, or even on an understanding of solstices, but on key events that occur in the environment: indicators of six seasons involving specific plant flowerings and fruiting and noticeable quirks of animal behaviour. I use the D’harawal words for the seasons. The months are only approximate and, as best I can, I avoid terms such as 'summer', 'autumn', 'winter' and 'spring'. This calendar is not rigidly set in time but responds to the workings of the environment, a response to the land of the D’harawal people.

An interview with Martin Brook

Macadamias, native to northern NSW rainforests, now enjoy a global gourmet profile, while growers such as Brookfarm restore local rainforest on their properties.

Culturally significant, biologically diverse, fed on sunshine, high rainfall and the rich, volcanic soils originating from Mt Warning – the Big Scrub rainforest flourished across 75,000ha of what is now northern NSW. European settlers cleared 99 percent of the rainforest, mainly for cattle and cane, leaving only a few small, scattered remnants.

By Christine Pfitzner and Waminda Parker

An innovative program in NSW is searching out new stories and new approaches for living with fire. The Hotspots Fire Project is finding modern stories for an old companion and using them in a new, co-operative program.

These case studies become part of a practical program to help landholders with property planning for fire management – planning that incorporates the ecology of their local area. With trial programs in four regions of New South Wales and adjoining areas, real and intriguing fire stories are emerging

By Ian Hutton

The rare diversity of landscapes World Heritagelisted Lord Howe Island creates an image of spectacular beauty.

Introduced asparagus fern covers the ground in some areas up to 1m deep, competes with native forest species for water and nutrients and can prevent new seedlings from growing. Some time on, the same location showcases the achievements of weeding volunteers. Some infestations now only need regular monitoring to remove re-growth.

By Rob Gray

Rain, persistence and rolls of black and white film in New South Wales high country.

'Funny how you can be down and up in one day, and I'm not just talking about mountains. However, that’s where I was, in Kosciuszko National Park, on a walk to Lake Albina with fellow photographer David Houlder...'

By Michael Barritt

On a winter night: down to –4ºC. High summer: 46ºC, and that’s in the shade. Central Australia, particularly the MacDonnell Ranges around Alice Springs, goes for extremes. Along with ‘freeze to fry’ temperatures, the ranges’ dramatic gorges and escarpments endure huge variations in rainfall, and the occasional wildfire. What does it take to survive here?

The thorny devil regulates its temperature by moving with its distinctive slow, jolting stagger in and out of the sparse shade offered by spinifex and other shrubs. Early morning often sees these reptiles emerging from burrows to bask on the sand, flattening themselves to warm as quickly as possible before setting off on another ant hunt.

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