Science & Nature

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Science & Nature

Science & Nature

Gardening for birds

Illawarra native birds are a diverse and interesting lot, with 440 species recorded in Terrill Nordstrom’s 2020 A guide to Birdlife of the Illawarra Region of NSW. With our diverse ecology and coastal areas, the region is home to everything from...

Science & Nature

Vanessa Risku: From drone operator to published citizen scientist

In late May 2025, an original research article published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science caused a stir in the world of whales. Not only did it share new evidence of where humpbacks give birth, but it also showed the importance of citizen scientists, such as Kiama local Vanessa Risku, whose images informed the study.

Amanda De George

Science & Nature

Gardening for lizards

At this time of the year I’m a bit of a lizard myself: very slow to get moving of a morning, and seeking out the sun to warm up. I’m always amazed how much difference a bit of direct sunlight on your skin makes on a chilly winter’s day. It’s already...

Science & Nature

Thousands thrilled as Aurora Australis is visible throughout the Illawarra

I had planned relatively well, or so I thought. My alarm was set for 8:30PM and … that was about it. After an alert went out from the Aurora Australis Facebook page, we rushed out the door earlier than expected and made our way to Bald Hill...

Amanda De George

Science & Nature

Glowing fungi found in Thirroul

A few days ago, I hadn’t even heard of the genus Panellus. It was another scientific name of another species I had not yet come across in my travels. Or so I thought. If you’ve been following along, I’m in my fungi era. I’m loving...

Amanda De George

Science & Nature

Gardening for insects

For example, the Giant Dragonfly (Petalura gigantea) is the only threatened insect species on record in the Illawarra region. But it’s almost certain that there are insects and other invertebrates in the area that are threatened with extinction, or...

Science & Nature

Bird of the Month: Buff-banded Rail

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis) The Buff-banded rail is May’s bird of the month. This rail species is found sparsely throughout eastern and coastal areas of Australia, inhabiting wetlands, swamps and other vegetated waterways. In the...

Science & Nature

Winter is coming. Here’s how to make it a wild one

Ice-cold temperatures and rain; it’s enough to have you bundling up and hibernating the season away. Add in wine, a good book and throw in a roaring fire for good measure and facing the brisk weather sometimes feels nearly impossible. But we’ve...

Amanda De George

Science & Nature

Gardening for bandicoots

A few weeks ago, Backyard Zoology had a wonderful article about finding a bandicoot in her back yard. What good fortune to have these amazing creatures around us in the Illawarra. Each of us who has a little patch of ground to play with can help...

Science & Nature

Why fungi hunting is for everyone

Fungi are popping up everywhere right now. I’ve had a couple of rounded earthstars (Geastrum saccatum) burst up from under the clothesline. Side note: I often use common names, despite the confusion they can sometimes cause. I’m all about...

Amanda De George

Science & Nature

The Hare’s Foot Fern of happiness

In some cultures, carrying a rabbit’s foot has been considered to bring good luck. Perhaps it still is? I’ve certainly never tried carrying one around, but I’m always reminded of this bit of folklore when I see one of my favourite local ferns around...

Science & Nature

New Campus Tree Walk a golden opportunity to celebrate UOW’s 50th anniversary

Nearing the mid-point of the University of Wollongong’s (UOW’s) 50th anniversary celebrations, and to celebrate the campus’s unique landscape environment, plans have been unveiled to create a special walk to highlight the special beauty of the...

Science & Nature

Fruiting now: all sorts of Lilly Pilly

We’re into the European month of May and well into the season of autumn, although it’s still very warm compared with the long-term average for this time of year. In the D’harawal calendar, the indications are that we are in marrai’gang, when it’s...

Science & Nature

Fruiting now: the yummy White Aspen

We are fortunate in the Illawarra region to have so many useful and edible native plants. First Nations Peoples have known of and used these plants for many generations, but we more recent arrivals can be unaware of the good things around. One such...

Science & Nature

Beetling About with parasite moths

With Australian Museum entomologist Dr Chris Reid Sometimes I see and photograph things that look vaguely odd, but I forget about them. Here’s one of those things. I photographed this small moth (about 5mm long) on our curtains a year ago. It was...

Science & Nature

Want to grow something special?

By John Elton of Illawarra Grevillea Park With housing blocks getting smaller so too are gardens. A need to maximise space means that owners have to be judicious and often creative about plant choice. But they still want something that is special or...

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Black She-oak

Wollongong area has two genera of species belonging to the Casuarinaceae family. There are three species of Allocasuarina and two of Casuarina, and they tend to grow in different soil types and conditions. The Allocasuarina littoralis grows along...

Science & Nature

Bird of the Month: Golden Whistler

The bird of the month for April is the Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis). This common whistler species mainly occurs in south-eastern Australia. It is abundant in the Illawarra and can be seen in a range of habitats, including eucalypt...

Science & Nature

What’s in a name? In this case, a marsupial mystery!

Kangaroo Vine (Cissus antarctica) is one of the commonest and most recognisable of our local rainforest vines. Its distinctive toothed leaves with obvious venation, and the coppery-brown colouration of new tendrils and leaf stems, are often visible...

Science & Nature

It’s great outdoors: Hewitts Creek Bushcare workers on why they volunteer

“It’s great being outdoors. I feel like I’m improving my local area. So many of us enjoy using the cycleway between Bulli and Thirroul, and appreciate the greenspace and the recognition of the Sandon Point Aboriginal Place. I love having the chance to build on previous community work to beautify a section of the Sandon Point bushland.” – Jane Morrison

Tyneesha Williams

Science & Nature

On the verge of a grassy revolution?

One of my quiet pleasures in life is walking or cycling around the Illawarra, and just checking out what plants are growing where. Local verges are a real revelation, as a wealth of local native species call them home. Local grasses in particular...

Science & Nature

We need to talk about outdoor cats

If you’d like to do your bit to create safe environments for our local native wildlife and birds, check out Hollow Log Homes

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