But firstly , a few words about  bluecray experiential views, philosophies and  responses to land clearing, habitat clearing, inappropriate natural resource management and human consumption in the face of mass extinction.

• Many types of people and views make up our world of human knowledge. Basic human and animal rights are a huge issue globally.

• Some of us think about the above matters (threatened species, habitat clearing, natural resource mismanagement, animal and people advocacy etc) and we have deep concern, seek education, yet we feel that we can do nothing or very little – this is ok – perhaps it is our concern that is important. Never underestimate “concern”, and the passive impact it has on others.

• Some of us work towards action, compromise, practical step at a time issues. For example, realising to halt  development (that is environmentally unsustainable) all at once is not the way. Working slowly and surely towards a better world is valid.  Working with developers – not against them, working with poor land stewards, slowly helping them change their understanding has validity.

• Some of us have no idea that the level of habitat destruction has become critical to our own survival as a species in this world. That, again, is the individual’s path.  Do not think that they have any less a valid right to life and viewpoint than others. They are entitled to their life and the consequences there of, just as we all are.

• Some people see that the consequences of habitat clearing, poor land stewardship and the power of inappropriate persuasion by wealthy “movers and shakers” has become a consequence for many of our children and the future which is to be their life. They speak out about this, and take actions of various types that are aimed at deep change within humanity’s consciousness and spirit.

• Negotiation and honesty is a cornerstone to becoming a better society.

• Tolerance, love, forgiveness, redemption and compassion are powerful tools when dealing with poor land management, inappropriate land custodianship and ignorant land stewardship. These things can open up doors that anger, misdirected ego and intolerance have previously held shut.

In the scheme of things, action (Environmental Action and Activism) to change the world can come in three forms:-

• Identifying the critical issue, passively supporting change for the better in your heart, but recognising that beyond that, you can do little else, except heal your own inbalances and heart.

• Identifying the critical issues, actively supporting the change for the better and recognising that  balance, focus and the “heart” and “energy” behind those actions are to be considered as foundations to those actions.

• Identifying the critical issue, understanding the passive and the active response, then going beyond. Going to and working with, the underlying issue that has caused the initial problem is in this category. Going to the spirit of things, addressing them in a way that can help cause a massive shift in mass consciousness awareneness, thus facilitating change without really becoming involved in the individual issue.

Phantom Koala and the Goanna

“Dearest PK“ asked Goanna wise
“why don’t the Trees now reach to the Skies-
why is the Rain so late to fall?
I know many things but with these, I  stall.“

PK slowly shifted to see
who questioned him so from beneath his tree
“Why Goanna, you smarty, didn’t you know
The government let them clear  the trees,  so….
The rain doesn’t come, the wind blows hard
and everyone’s mowing down their back yard
They’ve channelled the water away from the streams
and ruined the chance of our childrens’ dreams.“

This disturbed the Goanna who said, “But PK, surely not everyone acts in this way?“
Well,  PK just laughed and pulled at some leaves
“It’s what’s in ones heart – that’s what to believe
Does it make sense to kill? does it make sense to steal?
Does it make sense to eat  much much more than your meal?“
“Well, that is what they do – the clearers of land, they kill all the trees and they make out they’re grand. Then they take all the water and pump it away
and they tell us that industries show us the way.
They hop on their jet stream and swan round the world
praising themselves with their grand flags unfurled
saying ‘We have the answer – we are the best‘
(though to you and me both – we know they’re the pest).“
Goanna thought deeply on PK’s last words and dreamily saw that it was quite absurd
“So why do they panic and call each day drought, why do the leaders still hold so much clout?“
“Oh Goanna! Dear friend, you wise brave old soul
because they can’t see from their justified hole. They’ve dug down so deeply, their egos as spades – that the only thing left between them and the hades-

is redemption and love. We must give them a hand, to clamber back up and to save our sweet land“

“Phantom Koala and PART 3A of the NSW Planning Law”

This Goanna photo was taken at Upper Burringbar, Mt Warning Caldera Region, NE NSW, Australia

KOALA at QLD Departmentof Environment and Resource Management : Koala plan, Maps, Information Sheets, Koala Species Outline, Local Government Involvement, Mapping of New Koala Habitat Areas

KOALA PROFILE at NSW Threatened Species pages : KOALA – listed as VULNERABLE

“A Balance of Faeries” 1989 by al at bluecray.org – a story about habitat clearing, Koalas and the consequences. When this story, “A Balance of Faeries”,  which is a true story happened, the land which was cleared – Koala Habitat, was also part of the home to the biggest GOANNA that I have ever seen. It was about eight feet in length. This massive Goanna would have been very very old indeed!

Alan Moir cartoons at Sydney Morning Herald – summing up wealthy corporate and political gamesmanship – these cartoons will make you both laugh and think!

Melissa Merry: “Blogging and Environmental Advocacy: A New Way to Engage the Public?”

Koala School

Friends in my garden October 2009

The Striated Pardalot (top RHS) is a frequent visitor these days. His beautiful “tchip tchip” call can be heard through the bush, as I write this.

The Python, which is in the background?   I almost stood on him as I walked outside. Both the Python and the Brown Snake were sunning themselves and waiting for the small marsupials that abound here, to run along their pathways.

The White-Tail Spider was inside the house. He was nestled between the black keys of my piano, when I went to play, so I took a small brush, and brushed him into a glass, then took him outside. I like to take the “biting/hunting” spiders (wolf, white-tail, funnel-web spiders) outside. Firstly by putting a tall glass over them, then gently sliding some hard paper to cover the top of the glass, so that they can’t run or jump out of the glass, until I have emptied them out into the garden, close to where they can run for protection.

The Crow is the Father Crow of Benoit, my Crow friend (who has now grown up and left the Crow Nursery). I still put out water every day for the birds, and the parent Crows have their own water container. The Father Crow had just had a bath, in this photo. He is out there now splashing in his bath… he LOVES it!!!

The Goanna is also a frequent visitor. There are a number of these living nearby – of different sizes. This one is the largest one here – about four foot in length. I have, however, met one that was much much larger – over six foot in length, on the Marburg Range, west of Brisbane, many years back now.

The Skink – look hard in the collage – its there – is a common sight, both inside and outside the house.

The Honey Bee? Well they are constant visitors, although, since it has been so dry here, they do not seem as pollen loaded as usual, and I haven’t seen any native Black Bees for some months now.

Me trying to be very quiet and hidden in the garden

A note about taking photos for education and environmental advocacy purposes:-

Many animals do not like to have their photo taken, particularly birds. It is important when taking photos not to disturb them, as they are busy with their lives. These days, the lives of Australian wildlife can be somewhat stressful, so try not to stress wildlife by needlessly pursuing them, just for the sake of “capturing” their image. If you wish to photograph them or learn more by watching them, move slowly, preferably staying or sitting very still. And try not to focus too much attention on them – native wildlife are usually very very AWARE of their surroundings.

Eastern Brown Snake

Links:

Birds in Backyards – Birdfinder .

Honey Bee – bluecray environmental search

Native Black Bees – bluecray environmental search

Spiders at spiders.com.au

Snake Identification at wildlifeqld.com.au

Goanna – bluecray environmental search

Australian Lizards and Skinks – bluecray environmental search

Look carefully at this Ladybird Beetle... does it have an extra leg? NO! That is an ANT behind it!!

Honey Bees (introduced) in the Passionfruit Vine flowers, in the dry before the Spring rain came.

These photos are for you. I took these photos in my yard at Burringbar, New South Wales, Australia, where I live.

The baby crows in the photos are my friends. The three baby crows live in the trees beside my house, with their mother and father.   Baba O’Riley is the eldest child.  Benoit Mandelbrot is the middle child, and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is the youngest.

Baba is a very brave young crow. He has already chased a big sea eagle, high into the clouds above my home. Benoit is the brightest of the crow children. Lucy is just young and cute.  The crows like to eat grasshoppers, rats, snakes, mandarins, avocado, peanuts, orange, barley seed, corn, snake and bird eggs and earthworms.  They like to chase kookaburras, eagles, hawks, owls, cats and goannas.  The baby crows really love flying about with their mother and father.

I hope you like the photos! love al.

Below are the Chart Art links to the Burringbar Crows –  Baba, Benoit, Lucy and their Mother & father, plus stories of some of their adventures + more pics:-

Crow Magic

Crows Ash Tree

Children of the Crows

Baba’s First Big Flight

More Crows

Benoit Mandelbrot – A very Smart Crow

Benoit Mandelbrot at home in Burringbar

Benoit Mandelbrot the Crow, Figs, Swans and the Synchronicity of Symbols

Benoit is Back!

Corvus in the Midheaven, Mars Rising