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Archive for February, 2008

The Blue Hole - A Sacred Place & Global Treasure?

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

The Disposal of our Heritage Part 3

Traditional Owners protected this sacred site for 60,000 years

‘The Blue Pool’ (depicted above as it was 1995) is a World Heritage global treasure of exceptional beauty situated in a sharp curve of Cooper Creek at the base of Thornton Peak.

Australia’s international obligation to protect and conserve this sacred site is inscribed in its declaration of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in 1988.

On 12 February 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd officially apologized to the Aboriginal People in the following terms: (more…)

Dictyophora multicolor

Monday, February 25th, 2008

Dictyophora multicolor

Dictyophora multicolor

It’s amazing how many of the secrets of the rainforest display themselves in our rare, exotic, tropical fruit orchard. Dainty orchids like Oberonia titania and Cadetia taylori hang from the branches surrounded by an exceptional array of lichens. Insects are in abundance. Birds and butterflies are in full view where you can admire their beauty while you mow the grass.

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Thornton Peak

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

thornton-peak.jpg

I have risen early these passed two mornings, to capture the elusive spectacle of the sun’s first rays illuminating the descending moon over Thornton Peak. The greatest uncertainty was finding the mountain free of cloud, but as can be seen in the image, the variables of timing and clarity fell into splendid accord.

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Back Online

Thursday, February 21st, 2008

cass17-02-08.jpg

I took this slightly out-of-focus photograph from the verandah of my living room, four days ago and in doing so, formally began to re-establish my collection - hopefully, all is not lost.

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The Spectacular Scarlet Bean

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

ramiflorum.jpg

Plants that flower and fruit from their main stems or woody trunks rather than from new growth and shoots, are described as cauliflorous or cormiflorous; those that flower from the branches are ramiflorous. The Scarlet Bean (Archidendron ramiflorum ssp. Cooper Creek) is a spectacular example of both which is currently in bloom. (more…)

Robber Flies

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008

robber-fly.jpg

Beauty, it is said, is in the eye of the beholder … so behold, the beautiful Robber Fly. These predatory insects launch into attack from an established perch and catch their prey on the wing. (more…)

The Lichen Spider (Part II)

Monday, February 4th, 2008

mosaic.jpg

In reply to an earlier entry, a collection of similar images was described as intriguing and I was asked how difficult/expensive it would be to develop the collection as separate posters/pictures.

I have since accumulated a collection of eight high quality poster size images (30 x 45 cm @ 240 dpi), presented in the thumbnail mosaic above). Interested inquiries should be directed to neil@ccwild.com

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The Giant White-tailed Rat

Sunday, February 3rd, 2008

uromys.jpg

One of Australia’s largest and most widespread native mammals, the Giant White-tailed Rat (Uromys caudimaculatus) has such formidable teeth and jaw strength, they have been known to eat through steel garbage bins. They are also capable of dispersing large-seeded tree species in Australian tropical rain forests, including some that have no alternate vector, such as the magnificent Yellow Walnut (Beilschmiedia bancrofti) (Lauraceae).

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