Guy Ballard

Not who we expected in our #possum traps this morning!

Disagreements about management of #feralhorses are old and tiresome. Tip 1: Politicising management doesn’t improve things; it might get attention but it amplifies subjectivity. Tip 2: Attacking people doesn’t win your argument but it does undermine your own credibility.

A very complex issue. How do we conserve wildlife, satisfy demand for hardwood products, substantially reduce carbon emissions and pay for it all? theguardian.com/australia-news…

@knightd73 @agvocate_au Invasive rats will climb. Zewe and Meek published work more than a decade ago on vertical bait stations for poisoning black rats while keeping native rats safe. Might be worth a try?

@agvocate_au any ideas or thoughts on safe way to use Racumin rat baits whilst protecting native quenda species from eating said baits ? Small PVC tube piece of wire through bait then twisted tight best I can come up with

@agvocate_au @EntSocVic And feral cats love to eat them.

NEVER seen this before. Magical. Native Rain Moth larvae hauling out from underground where its been eating roots for up to 7 yrs. Rain tomorrow. They only live 24hr as moths. They find a lassie, mate & she needs wet soil to lay eggs on. @EntSocVic

Final report from inquiry into job & program cuts at CSIRO shows a deliberate shift away from public good science. CSIRO is suffering chronic underfunding masked as strategic reform, causing workforce destruction, loss of sovereign capability & subversion of climate science.

@BanwellKerry1 Thanks Kerry. Me too.

@DingoResearch I've enjoyed your posts. Thank you. I hope you will be back again soon.

Today’s Australian native plant is the last one I’m posting, for now... These are Eucalyptus dalrympleana - Mountain Gums. Like so many other species they are disappearing. Land clearing, over-grazing, exotic plantings and climate change are ending their story. #plantnatives

@EquipProChina All of the above.

@DingoResearch 🌿 Nice! 😊 The Blue Gum's got a lot going for it. What's its use case - timber, landscaping, or just a favorite in the bush?

Today’s Australian native plant: Eucalyptus saligna - the Blue Gum. Fast growing, smooth bark, attractive leaves and pretty pale flowers.

@EquipProChina The latter together with incredible toughness

@DingoResearch 😊🌧️ Bright spots are always something to cling to! 🌿 What's keeping them going – some deep soil moisture or just stubborn optimism?

As we slip (plummet?) further into #drought conditions there are still a few bright spots in the back paddock.

@SimonCotter62 #turners

@DingoResearch Had neighbours sell their one acre property and they agisted their horses for free on 30 acres with only an occasional hand feed. They bought 30acres in bathurst including 5 cows. There is nil feed so now thure hand feeding 7 waste of space animals. 🙄

Today’s Australian native plant: Myoporum parvifolium - creeping Boobialla. A tough ground cover that produces beautiful white flowers.

Do you know someone with drought inertia? No feed on the ground, cold months approaching, no sign of rain but still not de-stocking or enacting a plan to protect the land they depend on? They are likely not ‘too proud’, or ‘too stupid’. They need empathy and support.

Today’s Australian native plant: Banksia integrifolia - the coastal banksia. Huge variation in this species. Prostrate. Shrub. Tree. The constant: beautiful flowers that attract bird, mammal and insect pollinators galore. And black cockatoos love the seed.

Today’s Australian native plant: Hakea ochroptera - the Dorrigo hakea. This spectacular Hakea can grow to 12m tall and gets beautiful creamy white flowers. Good drainage def preferred but doing ok in heavy clay here (for now).

@rickoets I think you can eat the flowers and leaves but I recommend you check before doing so!

@DingoResearch It's all around me out my way... I know it as the happy wanderer... Are they edible ???

Today’s Australian native plant: Hardenbergia violacea - Happy wanderer / native sarsaparilla / native pea. Tough climber / ground cover with purple / pink / white flowers depending on variety. Have some fun with them and enjoy.

Today’s Australian native plants: Coronidium elatum - the white paper daisy. Occurs along much of the east coast. Varies in form but is tough and beautiful. Want more? Let it self seed but be prepared to thin them out!

@rickoets I’d rather get them on board for fixing it together.

@DingoResearch Better sue the local Albino tribes for mismanagement

This should be a scene full of Australian native plants, directly adjacent to a high altitude creek. Instead it’s a weed infested testament to Australian’s recent expertise as terrible land managers.