Our Wildlife News Blog
Orchids of East Gippsland
East Gippsland, the eastern region of the state of Victoria Australia, is rich in wildflowers, particularly orchids. Over 200 species of orchid occur in less than 10% of the state – that’s over half Victoria’s total of around 360 orchids. Orchids are fascinating,...
6 Interesting Facts about Australian Flying-fox Bats
by Jessica Toreto Foxes that fly? What? Nooo! Flying foxes are gentle giants with a misleading name. They are bats! Yes, the largest bats on earth and the only mammals capable of active and sustained flight. Flying-foxes establish noisy daytime camps in trees where...
Use your holidays to help Australian wildlife
by Janine Duffy Devastating bushfires in the Australian summer of 2019-2020 has changed everything for Australian wildlife. Maybe it's time for us to change too: to change the way we travel. This year, consider using your holidays to help animals. Following is a list...
5 Amazing Facts: Tawny Frogmouth Behaviour
Bird or branch? When we introduce travellers to their first Tawny Frogmouth there is a moment of disbelief. “Where?” they ask. “Right there, on the branch,” we reply. “All I can see is a branch.” “Yes, that branch is a bird.” The branch opens it’s eyes. “Oooohhhh!”...
Koalas are posh
The personality of koalas: Koalas are posh. Koalas have been in the news a lot lately, because they have been hit hard by climate change, bushfires, drought and cruelty. The pictures have been awful, and the reality maybe even worse. It is important...
Article in Destinations Victoria magazine
Have fun, protect wildlife
by Jessica Toreto, Brazil Koalas & Kangaroos in the Wild tour is an incredible opportunity to have fun, spend the day out in the bush, look for wildlife and, at the same time, protect nature. .. In the morning we looked for koalas. We were fortunate to see four of...
Bushfires 2020: What are we doing?
Since the fires began, Echidna Walkabout has dedicated many hours to planning, advocacy for koalas and advice to koala groups. Co-owner Janine Duffy is currently volunteering full time on koala projects. .. Our not for profit, Koala Clancy Foundation is fundraising...
Cool As: Rock-Wallabies of Australia
Rock Wallaby? What is a rock wallaby? A wallaby is a well known Australian animal, and a member of Australia’s national rugby team. Normally when you put the word rock in front of something it makes it harder and cooler. Rock climbing: Climbing, but harder. Rock...
Koala Future: Joeys of 2019
Do koalas have a future in the wild? We think they do. In the You Yangs near Melbourne, a population of healthy wild koalas have been monitored for 14 years by Echidna Walkabout & Koala Clancy Foundation. The population is declining, but that is not because of the...
Koalas & Bushfires: How You Can Help
Globally, koalas are the face of Australia’s terrible bush fires. It is estimated that more than 2,000 koalas have been killed by fires over November 2019. This article explains how you can help koalas affected by bushfires in Australia. All over the world, people...
Night sounds of the Northern Territory
At night, the Northern Territory Top End is for listening. There’s a special tropical hum in the air – the wonderful sound of healthy insect populations, particularly crickets and katydids, that come to life after dark in the Top End. But there’s another sound, a...
Trip Report: East Gippsland December 2019
Summary: A cool windy week. Shrubs flowering, including some showy bottlebrushes & tea-trees, but few large trees flowering. Rainforest fruits few, with exception of Muttonwood and Cabbage Tree Palms in Snowy River area. Forests to west of area (Lakes Entrance)...
Frill-necked Lizard in Kakadu
“Frilly!!” The vehicle swiftly pulled over and did a U-turn on the Arnhem Highway, somewhere in Kakadu between the South Alligator and Mary Rivers, Northern Territory. Frilly was still there, standing up with that upright posture that dragon lizards (agamids) have....
Antilopine Kangaroos of northern Australia
Antilopine Kangaroos / Wallaroos Osphranter (Macropus) antilopinus are large, graceful kangaroos of the tropical savannahs of Northern Australia. They replace the Red Kangaroo north of about 19 S latitude and are similar in colour and behaviour. They overlap a little...
Interesting Rainbow Pitta behaviour
The track through Kakadu beside the East Alligator River is narrow, short and walked by many. It is also one of the most reliable places to see a glorious top end bird: the Rainbow Pitta. Rainbow Pittas Pitta iris live in the monsoon forests of Australia’s Top End...
Why I love visiting the Western Treatment Plant
by Janine Duffy A pair of Brolga – Australia’s native crane – herd their vulnerable chick through the sedge swamp. The chick stands as tall as a 4 year old child, but still can’t fly, so the parents are cautious. Suddenly, a large brown bird erupts from the sedge,...
Bird tours with ethics
On Echidna Walkabout Bird Tours, ethics is top priority. Seeing as many birds as possible, and seeing them well, is a close and very important second. But on a bird tour, as on any tour, ethics can only be number one. Because nothing should ever be allowed to erode...
Wildlife Journey October 2019
List of animals seen on Wildlife Journey tour to East Gippsland, Australia, from 14 to 17 October 2019, with Wildlife Guide Martin Maderthaner: .. Birds seen: Ruddy Turnstone (our first sighting in East Gippsland!), Rufous Whistler, Mistletoebird, Laughing Kookaburra,...
5 Amazing Facts about Galahs
Galahs are one of Australia’s favourite birds. You can see Galahs in almost any part of Australia, mucking around, playing, squawking and having fun. In East Gippsland on the Wildlife Journey tour we often see Galahs near the Snowy River at Orbost, where we stay at...
Raising money for Australian birds: Twitchathon 2019
Some say that birders/bird nerds/birdwatchers are a bit crazy. Australian BirdLife’s annual Twitchathon fundraiser shows that it might be true. Twitchathon is "The Amazing Race" for bird lovers. For one mad weekend, teams of birders race each other for the prize:...
Orchids of East Gippsland
East Gippsland, the eastern region of the state of Victoria Australia, is rich in wildflowers, particularly orchids. Over 200 species of orchid occur in less than 10% of the state – that’s over half Victoria’s total of around 360 orchids. Orchids are fascinating,...
6 Interesting Facts about Australian Flying-fox Bats
by Jessica Toreto Foxes that fly? What? Nooo! Flying foxes are gentle giants with a misleading name. They are bats! Yes, the largest bats on earth and the only mammals capable of active and sustained flight. Flying-foxes establish noisy daytime camps in trees where...
Use your holidays to help Australian wildlife
by Janine Duffy Devastating bushfires in the Australian summer of 2019-2020 has changed everything for Australian wildlife. Maybe it's time for us to change too: to change the way we travel. This year, consider using your holidays to help animals. Following is a list...
5 Amazing Facts: Tawny Frogmouth Behaviour
Bird or branch? When we introduce travellers to their first Tawny Frogmouth there is a moment of disbelief. “Where?” they ask. “Right there, on the branch,” we reply. “All I can see is a branch.” “Yes, that branch is a bird.” The branch opens it’s eyes. “Oooohhhh!”...
Koalas are posh
The personality of koalas: Koalas are posh. Koalas have been in the news a lot lately, because they have been hit hard by climate change, bushfires, drought and cruelty. The pictures have been awful, and the reality maybe even worse. It is important...
Article in Destinations Victoria magazine
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