Curlews are the Gen Z social team of the animal kingdom.
Did you know that the frequency of Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) calls increases when weather conditions are changing, especially when rain is approaching an area?
So instead of checking the weather forecast, listen out for that distinctive blood-curdling call instead!
And if you happen to snap a photo of one in the wild, upload it to a citizen science platform like @inaturalistorg to help researchers better understand populations.
📸| Bush Stone-curlew by Cat Black via iNaturalist / @atlasoflivingaustralia
What is this? A fungus for ants? 🔍
When you look closely (with the help of a good lens), it’s amazing what natural beauty you can see.
These Otwaya verruculospora are part of the Hyaloscyphaceae family and feed on dead or decaying organic matter.
Like many fungi, they play a key role as decomposers, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. No small feat for such a small organism.
*CSIRO does not endorse the consumption of any fungi referenced in Fungi Friday*
📸 | Jeremy Hegge @partial_veil via @inaturalistorg / @atlasoflivingaustralia
#FungiFriday
The latest SEAson really reels you in.
Did you know our Research Vessel (RV) Investigator, has a live feed? 👀
It departed Hobart today on a 16-day voyage across the Southern Ocean, and you can follow along for the ride!
The mission: maintain the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) deep water mooring array which helps to track ocean and atmosphere changes across the vast Southern Ocean.
Along the way, the team will also study ocean life via eDNA collection, and a seabird tracking camera called Jonathan!
Follow the voyage at the link in our bio. 🌊
Mother nature, mother wombat. 🍃
We hope these wombats were spoilt with the juiciest grass on Mother's Day over the weekend.
Did you know wombats usually give birth to just one joey? The young develop inside a wombat pouch, which helps protect the joey from dirt if the mother is digging (and they certainly love to dig).
If you're lucky, you might spot a mum and joey in the wild. But as always, if you do stumble across this duo, be sure to keep your distance and don't startle them.
#WombatWednesday
📷 | Kazemmott, Tamakoko, Lou Bennett-Jones, iNaturalist-Arthur, Pierre-Louis StengerQuincygo, all via @iNaturalistorg / @AtlasOfLivingAustralia
Happy Mother's Day to all our mums and mum-figures! 💙
If you're struggling to find the words to describe how much you appreciate the mums in your life, let these Aussie mums speak for you.
From the marsupials who carry their joeys for months to the emu dads who sit on their eggs for weeks, parenting in the animal kingdom is as diverse as it is extraordinary.
If you're lucky enough to spot motherhood in action in the wild, you can help researchers by taking a snap (from a safe distance) and uploading it to @iNaturalistorg . The data will come through to our national biodiversity database, the @AtlasofLivingAustralia .
Image credits:
1. Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) - @Jeff.Ikin
2. Tasmanian Pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) - @charlesdavisphotography
3. Common Ring-tailed Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) - Dezmond Wells via iNaturalist
4. Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) - Aaron Stevenson via iNaturalist
5. Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) - Benjamin Dingli via iNaturalist
6. Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) - janclewett via iNaturalist
7. Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) - Grace Bryant via iNaturalist
8. Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) - Ruth Huckstepp via iNaturalist
9. Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) - Astrid R Keen via iNaturalist
10. Platyja exequialis - David White via iNaturalist
What’s in my bag, waterbird edition. 💅
Today, on World Migratory Bird Day, we’re celebrating the amazing work of our scientists studying waterbirds and their migration patterns.
For 10 years, we’ve been tracking the movements of waterbirds to better understand their behaviour and habitat needs by placing tiny backpacks – just 1-3 per cent of the weight of the bird – equipped with satellite trackers on them.
The result? A wealth of data that can help focus conservation and protection efforts to ensure the most important breeding and feeding sites have reliable access to water.
The research has also shown that flexibility is key to these birds’ survival in Australia’s unpredictable and variable weather and water conditions.
Waterbirds pictured:
🐦 Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)
🐦 Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)
🐦 Plumed Egret (Ardea plumifera)
🐦 Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) and Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
🐦 Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)
📷 | Dr Heather McGinness, CSIRO Principal Research Scientist
Happy Birthday, Sir David Attenborough! 🎂
His curiosity and passion has inspired countless people to pursue careers in STEM, many of whom work for us today!
To celebrate, here are some of our favourite Sir David facts:
🐢 He's part of the reason why tennis balls are yellow.
🐢 He has more than 50 plants and animals named after him.
🐢 His least favourite animal is rats.
Importantly, he's the same age as us! Happy 100th, Sir David! 🎉
One small piece of plastic. One very lucky bird. 🐦
Merinda Campbell from our Collections team spent her weekend carefully freeing a male bowerbird from a blue milk bottle ring that had flipped over his head, blocking his beak and leaving him unable to eat or drink. The bird is safe now, thanks to Merinda's care.
Male bowerbirds are irresistibly drawn to blue objects, collecting them to attract a mate. In the wild, blue is rare, so plastics have become a dangerous treasure.
It’s a healthy reminder of just how important it is to reduce plastic waste, starting with how we dispose of everyday items like bottle rings and lids.
If you find an injured animal, contact the @wireswildliferescue 24/7 wildlife rescue service on 1300 094 737.
📸 | Merinda Campbell / CSIRO
Who else can relate?
If you’re a wombat lover like us, drop your favourite wombat facts in the comments.
We’ll go first:
Wombat pouches face backwards. This helps to prevent dirt going in the pouch and harming the joey, while the mum digs. 🥰
🎥 | @brindabella_the_wombat
📷 | Eddie Gall, hwohlford, oliver40556, tamakoko, Donald Davesne, James Kempler, karastokes1, Peter de Jongh, guyrufray, and Antoni Camozzato via @inaturalistorg / @atlasoflivingaustralia
#WombatWednesday
Mammalian meat allergy (MMA), or Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), is real, and on the rise!
In simple terms, MMA is caused by a tick bite and results in an allergic reaction to a sugar molecule found in most mammals, including cows, pigs and sheep, and mammal-derived products like dairy.
Preliminary findings from our research indicate that numbers of MMA have increased by 22 per cent annually since 2020!
Unfortunately, there is no cure, but many with the condition can slowly reintroduce meat to their diet after sustained avoidance of MMA containing products, and avoiding further tick bites.
How to avoid tick bites:
👕 Cover up with long sleeves and pants tucked into socks. Light-coloured clothing makes it easier to spot ticks before they attach.
🧴 Insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin work well against ticks. Apply to exposed skin, focusing behind the ears, hairline and skin folds.
🔍 After time outdoors, do a comprehensive tick check!
How to remove a tick:
❄️ FREEZE DON'T SQUEEZE.
🧪 Sprays which contain ether, such as Tick Off, can be used to kill ticks in place.
🔬 Remove with fine-tipped forceps once dead.
🧼 Once removed, clean the bite area with antiseptic and wash your hands thoroughly.
Many people can develop the allergy without realising how, so it's important we keep raising awareness of this condition and the importance of avoiding tick bites!
Follow the link in our bio to learn more. 🔗
Who wore it better? 🤔
These celebreties flocked to the Met Gala like moths to a lamp. But did they outshine some of Australia’s most gorgeous moths?
Australia has over 22,000 species of moths, but only about 10,500 have been named. Aside from being flutterly fabulous to look at, they’re also pollinators, recyclers, pest controllers and plastic eaters.
Learn more about some of Australia’s most iconic moths at the link in our bio. 🔗
