WILDLIFE Australia - Spring 2001

Contents…

To Care or Not to Care

Despite this country's wealth and resources, much of the care of sick or injured Australian wildlife is done by volunteers who receive little government support or funding. Nursing just one baby possum back to good health after its mother has died often requires months of sleepless nights. Story and images by Penelope Hacker.

The Importance of Being Urban

How important is suburban wildlife? Where does it fit in the big picture? Tom Mumbray, an Interpretation Officer with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, looks at the growing significance of urban environments.

Melbourne's Flying Foxes

In her special report about attempts to control the increasing number of Grey-headed Flying Foxes, Tarnya Loos visit a heritage-listed garden in Melbourne where Century-old trees are said to be under threat and culling permits have already been issued. However, culling is seen by many environmentalists as a simple and inappropriate response to a complex problem.

Canopy Research - Up Where We Belong?

Getting to the top of her profession takes on a whole new meaning for biologist Romina Rader. New techniques now allow canopy researchers unheralded access to the roof of the Australia's northern forests.

Feeding Wildlife in Urban Areas: An Urban Obsession?

Recent surveys by Darryl Jones and Peter Howard of the Suburban Wildlife Research Group, Griffith University revealed that feeding wildlife in backyards is a very common trait. Whether this is a good or a bad thing depends on whom you talk to. A group of researchers at Griffith University is trying to get to the bottom of this urban obsession.

Natural Development: A Suburban Habitat Garden

How can we promote native wildlife in our own backyards? One Brisbane couple, David and Margery Barnes, has devoted 19 years to finding the right mix of trees, ponds and nestboxes on their suburban allotment. The good news is that almost anyone can achieve impressive results with a little extra thought.

Many are Caught - But Few are Chosen!

In the final instalment of a series of four articles, Dr John Stanisic examines the possible use of terrestrial invertebrates in biological surveys and suggests the criteria that might be used in determining a short list of potential environmental indicator species.

Possums, Parrots and Pests

Years of clambering into trees to install nestboxes have enabled Frank Box to learn how to attract wildlife to our suburban environments. Read how to best position your nestbox and why Indian Mynas are the subject of so much concern. This could be the start of your own backyard wildlife experience!

Australia's Spring Skies

Continuing his regular column, Mark Rigby raises our eyes to the features easily observable in the clear spring sky.

Cyber Jungle

• Sydney Bats
• NSW Parks and Wildlife Cats Page
• Animal World
• Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Service
• Glen Ingram's Urban Wildlife
• The Parrot's Page
• Wrenaissance
• Backyard Animals
  

Also in this edition:

Run Off, Wildlife Report, EcoMedia, Book Reviews, Scratchings and Rustlings, WPSQ Update, Young and Wild, Zoom In, Nature Watch and our regular environmental classified section.