Ian Thompson

abc.net.auDying art of bird calling roars back at 2026 Bournda Bird OlympicsForty students from seven schools compete to see who can sound most like a kookaburra, Australian raven, or yellow-tailed black cockatoo — and be crowned best bird caller.

Sound on. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...

Ian Thompson reposted

The Guardian

@theguardian.com

Giant tunnel proposed to tackle Windermere sewage discharges

theguardian.comGiant tunnel proposed to tackle Windermere sewage dischargesUnited Utilities, Environment Agency and local campaigners say 12-mile tunnel could take sewage away from England’s largest lake Plans are under way for a new giant tunnel to transport sewage away from Windermere, England’s largest lake. Windermere, in the Lake District, has suffered from widespread raw sewage and bacterial pollution driven by discharges from United Utilities. Campaigners say this pollution has caused more frequent toxic blue-green algal blooms, with the public advised to avoid swimming in the lake. Continue reading...

Ian Thompson reposted

Fiona

@fimelb99.bsky.social

Some positive news More than $13,000 raised in the last hour, since Helen Haines husband, Phil, asked for people to donate to Save the Children rather than send flowers for Helen Link to Save the Children on Helen’s website: www.helenhaines.org

helenhaines.orgHelen Haines MP - Independent Federal Member for IndiHelen Haines, Independent Federal Member for Indi is the independent voice in Parliament for integrity and regional prosperity.

Ian Thompson reposted

Fiona Katauskas

@fionakatauskas.bsky.social

I'd filed a Hanson/ Lambie cartoon for today but it seemed a bit tin eared with what's happened in Indi so I did a new, last minute one this morning. I had a few ideas about division & dark days but thought I'd focus on something that's bringing people together instead. Here's to Helen Haines.

The Point@thepointau.bsky.social

"A tribute to Helen Haines" a cartoon by @fionakatauskas.bsky.social View the cartoon on The Point: https://thepoint.com.au/new/261020-a-tribute-to-helen-haines

theconversation.comThere’s a hidden bias affecting what we know – and don’t know – about natureWhat drives scientists to uncover nature’s mysteries is curiosity. But what are they curious about?

Animal bias, eye to body weight ratio, creepy crawly bias. Its a thing. theconversation.com/theres-a-hid...

theconversation.comA botanist weighs in on our love-hate relationship with crepe myrtlesLots of people love the crepe myrtle but others think of them as an inadequate and over-planted species. Some even refer to them as ‘crap myrtle’. But is that fair?

Pretty flowers, leaves & bark. Love heat. But are devoid of wildlife. An alternative could be a ‘tree pruned’ Callistomen/bottle brush. Take off lower limbs, clean out centre, leave a large bushy top. theconversation.com/a-botanist-w...

abc.net.auTim Winton's Cloudstreet wins Top 100 Australian Books countdown — as it happenedCloudstreet has taken out the Top 100 Australian books countdown with The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton rounding out the top three.

A book by an Australian about the last woman executed in Iceland came fourth. Iceland is not all noir. Now you can go and watch the original Icelandic version of Rams, though the Sam Neil, Michael Western Australian version is pretty good. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...

Ian Thompson reposted

IPBES

@ipbes.net

The IPBES #BizBiodiversity Report is clear: EVERY business (no exceptions!) depends on biodiversity, and every business impacts biodiversity. Explore: https://www.ipbes.net/business-impact w/ 100 specific actions for businesses, governments, financial actors & civil society. #NoAI

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.comCloudy with a chance of moths: bogong swarms are bamboozling weather radars across NSWRadar systems designed for rain, hail and snow are picking up bogong moths migrating to the Australian Alps

Ian Thompson reposted

ABC News Australia

@news.abc.net.au

Flying fox starvation raises Lyssavirus warning as researchers concerned for forests

abc.net.auWidespread flying fox deaths a 'disaster' for forest ecosystemsAlong the east coast of Australia, grey-headed flying foxes are being found dead and malnourished. Without their nightly pollination, experts say it could spell disaster for forests and other animals.

abc.net.auBird flu detected in seal, bird samples taken from remote southern islandBird flu has been detected in samples taken from a southern elephant seal and a kelp gull on Macquarie Island, with authorities making preparations for a mass mortality event.

Ian Thompson reposted

Rachel Carson Center for Environment & Society

@carsoncenter.bsky.social

Montana State University is looking for an assistant professor of American studies, broadly defined to include environmental historians and humanists, among other fields. They are looking for scholars who engage the topics of “space and place”— regional focus is open: jobs.montana.edu/postings/53036

abc.net.auAlbatross colony to be vaccinated by hand in fight against bird flu spreadWildlife experts will gather on an uninhabited island off Tasmania to vaccinate a colony of wild shy albatrosses against the deadly H5 strain of bird flu.

Ian Thompson reposted

Count Melancholia

@lillyh.bsky.social

Today, rural news, sadly = facebook. In most small towns, it is the only place where residents can find out about upcoming events, sell things etc. Facebook has a stranglehold on people in these places and is one of the reasons why they vote differently than people in urban areas.

Rachel Maddow@maddow.bsky.social

Disastrous. "More than 2 newspapers are lost for every startup created. Virtually all new news sources are urban, while rural America is increasingly arid news territory. Virtually all philanthropic support for local news is in metro regions..." localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/projects/sta...

localnewsinitiative.northwestern.eduThe State of Local News 2026The latest insights and trends on the local news landscape across the country. Through data and graphics, explore the state of local news outlets and learn about news deserts, network sites and pathwa...

abc.net.au'Beautiful weed' steadily choking landscapes across southern WAThe stunning arum lily is a beautiful sight, but there are calls for an all-out war on the imported flower infesting swathes of forest.

abc.net.au4WD wash-downs needed to protect K'gari, traditional owners sayThe discovery of a noxious African pest prompted K'gari's traditional owners to develop an award-winning biosecurity strategy to save the island's world heritage status. Now they are calling for the g...

theguardian.comRescued turtles return home after NSW government cut flows to wetlandEnvironmental water to the area was halted after a complaint from a private landholder, leading to the deaths of wildlife and sheep

Been reading My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. A brilliant book. Now I discover there is a mini series on SBS on Demand. But tonight I discovered Nonnas on Netflix. A charming little foodie comedy.

Ian Thompson reposted

Lisa Cox

@lisacox.bsky.social

Freshwater turtles rescued from a dried-up water hole in western New South Wales after the state government cut environmental water to the area are being returned home.

theconversation.comDeadly fungi are harming Australia’s wild reptiles. This is how to stop the spreadPeople who love Australia’s reptiles could unwittingly carry deadly fungal diseases from one animal to another. But this is easy to prevent.

The pet trade is a likely contributing factor to the emergence of these diseases. Keeping reptiles requires good hygiene and illegal trade should be avoided www.scribd.com/document/100... theconversation.com/deadly-fungi...

Ian Thompson reposted

Kaj Embren

@kajembren.bsky.social

Cop31 host urges wealthy countries to spend ‘much more’ on climate than defence via @theguardian.com bit.ly/4s3X7zV #cop31 #ClimateAction #Methane #CoalMine #Planet #science #Svpol #LeadershipMatters @fionaharvey.bsky.social @politico.com @cop31.bsky.social

bit.lyCop31 host urges wealthy countries to spend ‘much more’ on climate than defence‘The climate issue is the security issue,’ says Turkish minister at Pacific pre-Cop summit in Fiji

Ian Thompson reposted

Michael West

@michaelwestbiz.bsky.social

"No lethal control program is pleasant to contemplate". Richard Swain on the controversial cull of the Snowy Mountains brumbies #auspol michaelwest.com.au/the-plight-o...

michaelwest.com.auThe plight of the Brumbies. Kosciuszko’s heritage deserves a voice, too - Michael WestThere is something missing from the heated debate about the culling of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park.

Ian Thompson reposted

Project Gutenberg

@gutenberg.org

Literary giants Joseph Conrad and John Galsworthy owed their friendship to Port Adelaide By Daniel Keane www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10... Books by Conrad & Galsworthy at PG: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho... www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho... #books #literature

Rest with a view. Some of us come to swim

Still a patch of rainforest at the old Gerringong boat harbour. Sound on. An awesome bird not photographed feeding in the banksia. No baby is being harmed.

Ian Thompson reposted

Micah

@rincewind.run

rip to one of the coolest software engineers who ever lived

Gerringong bogongs. They are everywhere.

science.orgHow did Rosalind Franklin miss the helix in her iconic DNA image? She didn’tNew analysis refutes James Watson’s claim he was first to recognize significance of famed photograph 51

If we want the truth historians are useful for STEM. They are good analysts. www.science.org/content/arti...

Ian Thompson reposted

The Guardian

@theguardian.com

To cull or not to cull: Greenland debates fate of world’s slowest shark

theguardian.comTo cull or not to cull: Greenland debates fate of world’s slowest sharkAs trawlers compete with Greenland sharks for halibut and cod, conservationists and fishers clash over what to do about misunderstood species

Ian Thompson reposted

The New York Times

@nytimes.com

As wildfires raged across eastern Australia in 2019, the small coastal town of Narooma lost power and internet. The only connection to the outside world was a handful of old-school pay phones. Now, one of them has now been given historic status.

nyti.msPay Phone, a Lifeline During 2019 Australia Wildfires, Gains Heritage StatusHundreds lined up to call loved ones as the internet went down and the flames closed in on the Australian town of Narooma in 2019.

Ian Thompson reposted

Jonathan Eisen

@phylogenomics.bsky.social

Looking for examples of AI being used successfully to aid in conservation biology

Ian Thompson reposted

David Ho

@davidho.bsky.social

Small victory

nytimes.comAfter Outcry, Monitors the Trump Administration Tried to Scrap Return to Sea (Gift Article)Under pressure from Congress, a network of ocean monitors that provides vital data to meteorologists, climate scientists, oceanographers and the fishing industry is being restored.

abc.net.auThere are only six of these trees left in the wild. Conservationists are cloning themThe trees are estimated to be between 3,000 to 6,000 years old but they have no future without intervention.

au.news.yahoo.comSad twist after man travels to remote Australia to see rare tree: 'Wasted opportunity'He'd hoped to see the largest-known example of the species.

Myrtle rust is a big threat to rare species and ecosystems. Michael Dahlstrom is a goo environmental writer au.news.yahoo.com/sad-twist-af...

Ian Thompson reposted

Rowdy Rebel

@rowdyrebel.bsky.social

They weren’t as distracted by their phones as we are.

theguardian.com‘Like caring for a pet’: the open-source tree map inspiring Berliners to water their urban forestGieß den Kiez app shows trees in critical need of watering and can be adopted by other heat-stressed cities around the world

This is actively encouraged in many Australian cities. Iits virtually essential for the first three or four years to ensure a healthy tree. The tracking system seems a good idea. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Ian Thompson reposted

Rɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ Tᴜꜰꜰɪɴ ᵃᵘ ᶜᵇʳ ᶜᶠᶜ

@richardtuffin.bsky.social

National Bogong Moth Day would be a worth public holiday every year. Certainly better than having a day off for the Melbourne Cup!

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09...

abc.net.auFormer vineyard turned into sanctuary for nationally threatened birdsA regional property previously home to wine grapevines has been transformed into a sanctuary for the nationally threatened regent parrot in South Australia's Riverland.

theconversation.comThe joy of song: where songbirds came from and why we should listen to themResearch suggests all of the world’s songbirds can be traced back to Australia.

Just a nice story theconversation.com/the-joy-of-s...

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09...

abc.net.auHomes invaded by 'millions' of migrating bogong mothsBogong moths might be endangered, but there have been hundreds of sightings reported across NSW in recent days as they migrate to the Snowy Mountains.

Ian Thompson reposted

Francisco Blaha

@franciscoblaha.bsky.social

NZ news... mate www.rnz.co.nz/news/regions...

rnz.co.nzSeal pup who crossed busy Wellington road receives police escort back to waterA seal pup caught crossing a busy Wellington street over the weekend received a police escort back to the water.

abc.net.auMary River proves Australia's most degraded catchments can be restoredCommunity effort transforms a degraded waterway, reducing erosion, increasing fish breeding and improving the quality of water that flows into the Great Barrier Reef.

A good news story. A lot of volunteers, a lit if good advice and persistence. www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2...

wainwrightprize.comHome - Wainwright PrizeNamed after nature writer Alfred Wainwright, the prizes are awarded to the work which best reflects Wainwright’s core values and celebrates nature and our natural environment, nurturing respect for ou...

Often a British focus but always a good list. wainwrightprize.com

Ian Thompson reposted

William (Bill) Sutherland

@billsutherland.bsky.social

Both speakers are stars and always interesting and thoughtful.

David of Belfast@davidofbelfast.bsky.social

Love this about the dynamics of wild horses on grasslands. Some interesting online talks coming up connected to this: Jens-Christian Svenning on wild horses- vildmarken.dk/article/onli... and Leo Linnartz on on cattle behaviour - vildmarken.dk/article/onli...

vildmarken.dkOnline seminar on "Natural behaviour of cattle" (by Leo Linnartz) | Vildmarken

au.news.yahoo.com/tourists-war...

au.news.yahoo.comTourists warned of $10,455 fines after tiny discovery on Aussie beachesCan you spot the hidden eggs in this photo?