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Recent research in the United Kingdom, United States of America and Australia shows that gardens are critically important for the survival of native species of birds. Don pointed out that only about 6% of Australia is in national parks, most of the rest is in private...
Ultimate Birds – Pet Macaw The trouble with keeping birds in cages is that you restrict one of their greatest abilities – flight. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have birds as pets, but let them fly free and interact with the family? That would really be...
Understanding Parrots Don visited Taronga Zoo and spoke to bird trainer Matthew Kettle about the social needs of parrots. Parrots are often perceived as ‘easy care’ pets, but there is much more to owning birds than putting them in cages and feeding them...
When Ears Go Back – Pat Parelli The ears are the most expressive parts of a horse’s body; read them and you can read the horse’s mind. Remember, the horse is a huge animal and if you can’t read its body language you risk being seriously...
Rhino Iguana John Dengate visited Sydney’s Taronga Zoo and chatted with reptile keeper Michael Muscat about the conservation of two rare and endangered iguanas. Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta cornuta) These large, heavy-bodied iguanas are native to Haiti and...
Silkworms Years ago every backyard had a Hills Hoist and a mulberry tree, and most children kept silkworms. These days, according to silkworm breeder (or sericulturist) Bridget Mahoney, silk farming is a lost art. Bridget’s passion for silkworms began almost...
Sex Life of Wrens John Dengate looked at the sex life of blue wrens, and made some interesting comparisons with the sexual behaviour of humans. In nature, the male of the species is often more colourful or ‘pretty’ than the female. The dominant male...
Stabled Horses Don visited the Equine Centre at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, to find out about some very important new research on compulsive behaviours in horses. These problem habits, known as equine stereotypies or stable vices, include continual...
Geckos thrive in warm, dry climates and feel very much at home in deserts. More than 100 species live on the Australian mainland, but there are only a few in southern Australia and none in cooler areas like Tasmania and south eastern Victoria. Most geckos hide under...
Thermal Image Zoo Recently we road tested outdoor heaters using a thermal imaging camera to find out which models gave off the most heat, and where the heat was distributed. We were amazed at the multi-coloured images the thermal imaging camera produced: the blue...