Posts from July 2016
Green Army: OPBG Cat Trap Turns Up An Unusual Visitor
Thanks to the Green Army team at Land for Wildlife property Olive Pink Botanic Garden for sending in this photo of their recent catch – a Spotted Turtle-dove (Spilopelia chinensis). The unsuspecting wanderer ended up in a cat trap baited with sardines, while ignoring the nearby Spotted Turtle-dove trap set with seed (though didn’t partake
Video: Crested Bellbird
A Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis) was snapped by the Land for Wildlife coordinator while hiking at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station on the weekend. The crested bellbird translates to ‘Panpanpalala’ in Pitjantjatjara and ‘Kwepalepale’ in Central Arrernte. This fun bird keeps a low profile and so isn’t seen often, but has an unmistakable call, which
Domestic Cat Monitoring and Awareness in Alice Springs
Land for Wildlife is embarking on a new round of domestic cat monitoring and awareness in Alice Springs. This project will involve monitoring the movements of domestic cats when they are out and about, by kitting the kitties out with a GPS harness. We will also be trialling the use of small cat-mounted video cameras
Keep an Eye to the… Ground: Mulga Parrots
Mulga Parrots (Psephotus varius) were seen foraging near the Land for Wildlife office earlier in the month. The scientific nomenclature, Psephotus varius, translates to ‘variegated mosaic bird’: Variegated from the Latin Varius, owing to the mixture of colours (especially in the male) Mosaic bird from the Greek Psephotos (inlaid with mosaic or precious stones), owing to
Buffel Grass Bashing – A Rewarding Addiction!
By Bruce Simmons Andy Vinter’s Bush Regeneration Handbook provides terrific practical information for anyone interested in arresting the progress of weeds, and Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) in particular, on their block, streetscape or local feature. So you might go there as a starting point if you are interested in ‘bashing the Buffel’. My history with
Poisonous Plants and Pesky Pollen Problems
Plants utilise a variety of defence mechanisms to ward off predators, with chemical defence being the most common – there are more than a thousand poisonous plants in Australia. Harmful components range from fruits and seeds; to roots, bark and leaves. The toxicity of plants usually increases with higher CO2 levels and during periods of
Frosty Morning at LFW
It’s a bit chilly here at the Land for Wildlife office this morning! Frost has made for a refreshing bird bath. Stay warm Alice Springs!
Alice Springs Show 2016
Land for Wildlife and the Australian Plant Society braved the cold at the Alice Springs Show on the weekend to help give advice on planting local natives. Land for Wildlife were also selling books and talking to show-goers about a range of local conservation topics. We are now contacting potential new members to assist them