Eastern bearded dragon, Nambucca River, NSW, Australia.

A praying mantis ootheca on a native paper daisy was my ‘small find’ on the back paddock walk this morning. Christmas beetles are also enjoying several Eucalyptus spp. new growth but far fewer than last year (so far).

A study of introductions of large herbivorous mammals outside their native range suggests they do more harm than good to local biodiversity. Only 1 in 5 impacts is positive. Positive effects on certain native species often come at a cost to other natives. #bioinvasions www.unifr.ch/news/en/3344...

Thanks Guy!! As @benflips.bsky.social says "it's not rocket science, it's plumbing" #wildoz #esa2025

Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild: Spotted-tailed quoll Blue-ringed octopus Australian bustard Mountain katydid Stimpson’s python #biodiversity

Blessed are those willing to act in the face of environmental threats. Saint @judydunlop.bsky.social inspired all at her #ESA2025 talk on stopping cane toads in their north western tracks. All power to the WA toad ‘stoppers’.

Best line of the week at #esa2025 belonged to Tiahni Adamson during the #ESA2025 Indigenous Plenary: ‘walking together at the speed of trust’. We all need to embrace this, when working with others.

Incredibly galling to hear $400M to be wasted on shipping ppl to Nauru when we are decades under-funded for meaningful #biosecurity and #environmental action in Australia. 😭

Sound principle, now fund the necessary action Minister Watt. ‘we absolutely remain committed to the principle of not just protecting and reducing environmental damage, but restoring our environment.’ www.theguardian.com/environment/...

An interesting read. 🧪 Names can matter but the ongoing debate about #dingoes specific identity has temporarily obscured another more important issue: managing negative impacts. History suggests a ‘new’ name wont protect #dingoes from Australians who identify them as #pests

Although introduced red #foxes do eat endemic #possums no one expected this in one of our cage traps this morning

🧪 We were lucky enough to find these beautiful #snakes whilst checking our #possum traps this morning. I think they are ‘eastern small eyed snakes’ but happy to be corrected by any genuine herp-nerds.

🧪 Wonderful to be in the field with some students this week. We are trapping #possums for a genetic study as well as seeking recaptures from our marked population. The view into the Sara River catchment isn’t bad either…

Apparently some people think that getting rid of specialist admin. staff and making scientists (who get paid more per hour than the former admin. staff) to do less science and more admin (poorly) is ‘efficiency’. It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so ridiculous. Really, who would do that? #science

🧪 Sat next to a legend at dinner. 50yrs integrating #science into Australian #agriculture Their observations? 1) We need food, fibre AND nature too. 2) More investment is required in the public service, not less. 3) Government worries too much re inputs rather than the quality of outputs.

Research samples!!! 🧪 7 #dingo heads and 7 #feralcats from a great trapper who supports our research by providing samples from programs he conducts for public and private land managers. These will be used by multiple researchers to inform future predator policy and management.

#wildlife managers. Ask yourself: 1) Are you qualified to make a decision? 2) Do you have the necessary data? 3) Do you have ‘authority’? Obtain all 3 by working with others and be great at what you do.

Without consistent funding, an end to short term contracts for our best young and mid-career researchers and support to implement best practice, we will absolutely continue to suffer economic and ecological loss from #invasive species.

Genuine question for Australian #bird #ecology On a recent trip I noticed Corellas and galahs dominating Casuarina spp. food resources I’ve previously observed being used by black cockatoos in and around northern NSW coastal towns. Any informed observations re competition? Is anyone working on it?

An assassin bug with ladybird prey. There’s always drama in the garden.

This summer many local #Eucalyptus trees are suffering from #beetle damage. First we had cockchafers, then Christmas beetles. In some areas 100% of trees are very badly affected. Hopefully, given reasonable soil moisture, there’ll be new leaves soon. 🤞🤞

Australia approved clearing of ~26,000 hectares of #threatenedspecies habitat in 2024. At the same time, incentives for private land owners to protect or enhance habitat remain ineffective. This is a trajectory we must change for everyone’s sake.

Dear #America. If your Government acts with decency and integrity you won’t need to buy Greenland or invade Panama. Just be good allies. Cheaper, safer, ‘greater’.

I had one inside trying to get out the skylight yesterday! Aren't they lovely!

Nice to make the acquaintance of a fiddler #beetle in the garden yesterday. It was hanging out on some native daisies.

Another day, another Eucalyptus sp. feast for Xmas beetles. They have finally made it to the E. dalrympleana (Mountain gums).

NSW herbarium digitised collection is now available online www.botanicgardens.org.au/our-science/...

Brush-tailed phascogale has got to be up there as one of Australia's most underated fauna species. Don't @ me invertebrate people #WildOz

In 2025 we will separate Canis familiaris into #dogs, nogs & fogs. Dogs still resemble ancient dogs, nogs are sufficiently ‘petified’ that they are unlikely to survive without people. Fogs barely resemble their forebears and are a shameful mix of toy, ugly sculpture and things real dogs would eat.😉

‘Stop crying and start sweating. Stop talking and start working.’ Still true today. RIPJimmy Carter.

Christmas beetles (Anoplognathus spp.) are having a wonderful time this summer.They are scarabs, locally associated with #Eucalyptus dieback. Here they are rapidly defoliating one of my E. scoparia (AKA Wallangarra white gum).

Rain is very welcome. No lightning strikes please. 🤞🤞

This dog vomit slime mould is having a lovely time decomposing these hardwood chips.

Notamacropus rufogriseus ('red-necked' wallabies). Rufus neck and rump. White lines on the face. Similar species include N. parryi and N. dorsalis

Awww. Baby murder bags (AKA #feralcats) They are incredibly cute but will grow up to be killers of Australia's amazing endemic fauna.

Great. As if #feralcats weren’t a bog enough problem in Australia. Now it seems they could be important hosts for ‘reassortment of avian and mammalian influenza viruses’. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Excited to announce that #AusMammSoc2025 will be held in beautiful Toowoomba in June 2025! australianmammals.org.au/conferences/co…

Summer = hot #dogs Time for them to lay around in the shade for the next 6 hours.

Xmas holidays. That time of year when #ecologists move out of their work offices and into their home offices. If you’re an ECR or HDR student, try to break this terrible cultural norm. At least take long breaks between the blocks of work you feel you have to do.

We've identified dozens of individual #feralcats at this site in 2024. Along with red foxes they are unwanted mesopredators.

Osphranter robustus, the 'common' #wallaroo. The species is sexually dimorphic with males (pictured) tending to be much darker than females. Commonly associated with hilly country, these large macropods are found locally in grassland, woodland and forest.

Next time you (foolishly) approach a #kangaroo for your own gratification, remember they carry these. (Not to mention their much more powerful hind legs). Please keep to yourself.

Wallabia bicolor, a 'swamp' #wallaby. Incredible macropods commonly (not exclusively!) associated with thick understorey. They are also a key prey item for #dingoes in our local area.

This is how a projection of the world would look if it were centered on Antarctica. (As a few have asked so far - NO, the world ISN'T FLAT!!!!!)

Finally, a snake I’m qualified to handle! It’s ok @cnzdenek.bsky.social I got this one… 😂

With so much native vegetation, it’s no surprise the Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne are home to many native animals, including the Southern Brown #Bandicoot !!!

The Botanic gardens at Cranbourne, Victoria, showcase the beauty and diversity of Australia’s endemic flora.

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne, Victoria, are a National treasure. So happy to visit them y’day.

C’mon Aussies. No #deer on the Xmas tree. Leave that for places in their endemic range. Let’s get behind the idea that we can celebrate with our own species, and have some fun doing it.