Monthly Archives: January 2020

Summer of fire upheaval

 

 

australian bushfire at Walwa

Australian bushfire at Walwa, East Gippsland, 2020

Twitter: Declan Kuch

 

 

Fire storm approaching

Bushfire fury at back gate

 

 

Ceramic pidgeon still standing in fire ruins

 

 

Eastern grey Kangaroos embracing

Eastern grey Kangaroos embracing

 

The despair on the joeys face above reflects the depth of the current climate crisis in Australia and possibility of dire consequences in the future. The harrowing imagery now appearing can be distressing and much effort will be required to rebuild from the destruction and ensure future habitats for the plants, birds and fauna. Thoughts of futility are now appearing and should be replaced with affirmative beliefs that positive solutions have prevailed. How stark does it have to be to heed the warnings and admit the current approach is not working. The myopic outlook is quite staggering. British naturalist Sir David Attenborough stated in The Guardian that it was  “palpable nonsense” to suggest that Australia’s bushfire crisis has nothing to do with climate change. “We have been putting things off year after year. We’ve been raising targets, saying ‘oh well, if we do it in the next 20 years ……’ the moment of crisis has come.”

The beautiful native animals of Australia deserve a safe and sustainable future as do the populace. Suzanne Milthorpe, national environment laws campaigner at the Wilderness Society claims Australia is vulnerable to species extinction and the current bushfire crisis has exacerbated that severely. “We need not just to return to pre-bushfire levels but to aim for health and resilience and against further shock. This is an unprecedented catastrophe – the first at this scale – but it won’t be the last.”

 

 

 

 Fire damaged vehicle, Conjola Park,,New South Wales

Fire damaged vehicle, Conjola Park, New South Wales

Experienced firefighters haven’t seen furnace like temperatrues before that could melt engine blocks

 

 

Lucky-koala-survivor in bushfire ashes

A Koala survivor in bushfire ashes

 

 

Residents taking refuge on the beach, Rosedale, NSW

 

 

looking for wildlife in a burnt forest, Australia

Looking for wildlife in a burnt forest, Australia

 

 

Koalas climb up to the top of the forest canopy to escape the fire where they become trapped.

 

 

 

This young kamgaroo came out of the scorched bush looking for help  in NSW

 

 

kookaburra-scorched-earth-Australia

Kookaburra and scorched landscape

 

 

Aussie-bushfire trucks at daytime

Bushfire in the daytime

 

 

Survivng koala at rescue shelter

Survivng koala at rescue shelter

 

 

Koala with firey at fire threatened vineyard

A koala comes up to a ‘firey’ looking for water

 

 

2020 helicopter water bombing

2020 helicopter water bombing

 

 

Kangaroos have the speed to outrun a bushfire with some luck.

 

 

 

Koala survivor  in burnt forest

Kangaroo Island, photo Max Uechtritz

 

 

Potter Steve Harrison with razed studio

Potter Steve Harrison with razed studio at Balmoral. He had to crawl inside his recently completed kiln, as the fire roared thru, to insulate himself from the heat and flames.

Full story here

 

 

possum-bushfire survivor

Rescued brushtail possum.

 

 

rainbow-lorikeet-that-died-in-the-fires-washed-up-on-Tip-Beach-just-outside-MallacootaCREDIT-JUSTIN-MCMANUS

Drowned Rainbow Lorikeet washed up on beach. Birds flew out over the ocean trying to escape the smoke, but fell exhausted into the water.

 

 

koala-recovering with eucalyptus leaves

Rescued koala feasting on beloved eucalyptus leaves.

 

koala-drinking-at-fountain

Thisrty koala at a bird bath

 

 

Forlorn joey in a razed forest

Forlorn joey in a razed forest

 

Rock Wallaby food drop from air

Rock Wallaby food drop from air

 

Rock wallaby eating carrot

 

Relaxing during better times.

 

 

Young Koala recovering from bushfire injuries

Recovering koala in bandages and mittens

 

 

bushfire melted telephone

Melted public telephone

 

 

rescued joey

Orphaned Wallaby with carer Sue. Taken from pouch of mother who had died in the bushfires

 

 

 

Koala resting with cub

 

 

Burnt bush at lake Tabourie

Burnt Australian bush at lake Tabourie

 

Rescued koalas at wildlife shelter

Rescued koalas at wildlife shelter

 

 

Fire dance mural at Bermagui Water Tower

Fire dance mural at Bermagui Water Tower

 

 

Arthur Boyd — ‘Girl asleep in a stream’

 

 

This curious and elusive little creature ironically known as a Great Glider Possum will be even closer to extinction after the fires.

 

 

Sugar glider

 

 

rescued koala from bushfire in firetruck

Rescued koala in a fire truck

 

 

Australian mural at Moura Water Tower

 

 

female kangaroo at wildlfie shelter

Rescued Easter Grey female kangaroo

 

 

Red Kangaroo vintage ceramic figure

Red Kangaroo ceramic figure – height 12 inches

I acquired this vintage statue last year because it reminded me of a benign encounter I had with a 7ft tall red kangaroo on the beach at Margaret River in WA. Majestic in size and spirit, I had full admiration for its powerful presence when it came up and stood near me while I looking at the Indian Ocean.

 

 

 

Wombat bushfire suvival

Wombats hide in their burrows to survive during a bushfire, which they also share with other animals seeking shelter.

 

 

Rescued kangaroo relaxing

Kangaroo in rescue shelter

 

 

Mike Barth photo of shiny black cockatoo

Shiny black cockatoo with Daniella Teixeira at Kangaroo Island

Photo – Mike Barth, The Associated Press

 

 

Thirsty Aussie icon Koala given water

 

 

 

Rescued joey with baby emus

Rescued joey with baby emus

 

 

Dehydrated Koala and dog become mates at a bird bath

 

 

 

Artists stepping forward to support bushfire relief

 

Grays charity auction for Australian bushfire relief

 

For direct donations go here

 

   Koala grateful for water