Nature Notes: 27th May

Plants for Foxes that Fly

Shellharbour Council has announced they’ve secured funding for a Flying Fox Habitat Restoration Program. This is super exciting as Grey-Headed Flying Foxes are an important keystone species, helping with seed dispersal and pollination. However, due to things such as habitat removal and climate change, they are moving further into urban areas so that they can feed. And not everyone loves their noise (and their poo!)

According to council, this program will allow for the planting of 30,000 new plants in the Blackbutt Forest Reserve, drawing the bats away from urban fruit trees and providing lots of opportunities for residents to get involved with tree planting and citizen science.

Read more here.

Boobooks are calling

For a common owl, Australia’s most common in fact, I’ve never just stumbled across a Boobook in the wild. That’s not to say that I haven’t heard them.

Breeding season for these little owls doesn’t start until September but you’ll often hear these birds calling their distinct ‘boo-book’ call early, usually from winter. They’re found throughout the Illawarra and we’ve had quite a bit of calling here recently. One of my friends was even lucky enough to find one perched in one of her trees. Needless to say, I’ll be moving in with her shortly.

Read more here.

When life doesn’t give you markets, look for whales

We headed to Coledale Markets on Sunday, very pumped for a walk in the sunshine, an almond latte, and any and all vegan snacks available. Unfortunately for us though, and all the market stall holders and market goers, the markets were cancelled due to this ongoing and very unpredictable weather!

We made the most of it and grabbed take away coffees from Earth Walker & Co. and perched ourselves above the stunning Coledale Ocean Pool. Shocked to discover that there wasn’t a plaque there yet, recognising the fact that it was at that exact pool that an octopus wrapped itself around my mum’s legs. Maybe next time. The view from the pool and from above it, is breathtaking and will be perfect to watch whales from. Unfortunately, it was a no markets and no whales Sunday for me. Coffee was delicious though!

See you next week!

Amanda