| WILDLIFE AUSTRALIA Magazine - Autumn 2011 |
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Networks
It’s a time of many individual tragedies. We mourn the loss of life, struggle to recover from property damage, worry about wildlife and our natural environment. But – these events are part of the history of our planet.
How do we keep surviving? One thing that helps is networks. People can and do work together in remarkable and inspiring ways. In this issue, we look at a few examples: environmental programs in Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales and some natural networks such as the complex of creeks through which water feeds into Lake Eyre.
You’ll notice a few changes as our designer continues to keep the WAM look fresh and interesting. We also welcome a new regular, ‘In Our Hands’, which will feature a different wildlife artist in each issue.
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| For a Winning Start... |
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We congratulate the 15 winners of our summer subscription promotion and draw your attention to our promo in this issue.
If you are already a subscriber, consider a gift to a school, library or community centre where it would be appreciated.
Click here for details. |
| FEATURES |
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| All Creeks Lead to Eyre |
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By Tyrone Lavery
A once-in-a-lifetime experience for the
second year in a row is an irresistible
opportunity for two naturalists and
their cameras.
After many dry years, noticeable quantities of rain
began falling again in western Queensland late in
2009. Into 2010, the rain kept coming. Water pulsed
through the networks of creeks that wind across the usually
arid floodplains of north-eastern Australia’s Channel Country,
bringing with it great bursts of life.
Remarkably, the rain has continued and culminated – for
the second year in a row – in that very rare and wonderful
spectacle: the filling of Lake Eyre. |
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| Growing Tasmania's Heritage Through New Leaf |
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By Dr Sally Bryant
Beetle fan? Compassion for the devil?
Just like a good cider gum? Explore
the possibilities of Skullbone Plains
and the New Leaf project.
The project represents the changing face of Tasmania’s land protection programs, aiming for larger and more connected properties. The bigger the patches of land, the more potential for increased ecological viability and, therefore, the greater their inherent value as conservation assets. |
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| Good Influences: Conservation Management Networks in Action |
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By Janice Mentiplay-Smith and
Steve G. Wilson
We live complicated lives. So do Australian animals. Can we make it easier
for busy people, particularly private landholders, to help threatened species?
Using focus species such as the bush stone-curlew, brolga and tuan, CMNs
in Victoria are finding common ground to benefit people and wildlife.
For example, research on nest boxes for brush-tailed phascogales sparked interest amongst surrounding landholders who then wanted to install nest boxes on their properties. Science influencing people who, through their actions and desire to make a change, influence science. It’s the way CMNs like to work. |
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| Team Quenda: Monitoring Bandicoots at Challenger Beach |
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By Craig Wilson and Geoff Barrett
Beach bandicoots. Although it may
sound like the name of a sports team
or music group, it is an apt description
of some remnant Western Australian
bandicoot populations. A support
network of community and other
groups is helping them survive.
With community support, quenda – southern brown bandicoots – are
managing to survive in small, urban
reserves such as Challenger Beach. |
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| Park Under Fire: Yuraygir After the Flames |
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By Donna Quinn
Australia’s coastal heathlands
have evolved with fire. So is the
aftermath of the Yuraygir bushfires an
opportunity to improve weed control
and emu habitat?
The fires were dramatic and devastating – and have opened opportunities for the
Find it and Fix it team to battle bitou
and encourage a rare, remnant coastal
population of emus. |
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| Six Species Series - Australian Butterflies |
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By Lee K. Curtis and
Murdoch DeBaar
More than 400 butterfly species inhabit Australia - vital links in numerous food chains. Some ant species rely on symbiotic relationships with butterflies. If plants such as mistletoes and native greasses disappear, so do many butterfly species. Without caterpillars, there are NO butterflies. |
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| Wildlife Australia CyberJungle |
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| Also in this edition |
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Editorial, City Animal, Considering, In Our Hands: Wildlife Art, NatureWatch, Books Reviews, Autumn Skies, Young and Wild, Scratchings and Rustlings, WPSQ in Action, Swamp Cartoon and our regular environmental crossword.
Subscribe to Wildlife Australia today - your subscription helps many worthwhile wildlife projects and contributes to a successful education campaign that has been an effective voice for Australian wildlife since 1963. |
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