Botany Nerds Ahoy
Let me know how you get on with tick prevention strategies GJ.
I've been hammered over the last couple of years by adult Ixodes (paralysis ticks) - nasty bites, and put on the couch for a few days feeling rotten from the injection of neurotoxins.
At the moment it's nymph stages of the tick, which aren't too gnarly but I think they do damage because they sensitise the immune response which makes a bite from an adult worse.
I'm trying to be more careful with clothing and footwear sprayed with picaridin.
More importantly, keeping tick spray (ether) with me all the time so I can zap them early, hopefully before too much toxin or immune response takes place.
If I can the freeze spray onto the tick before I scratch it that makes a big difference too.
Think I told this story before, but I was on an Air Asia from Coolie to KL heading for Mentawai and found a big adult paralysis tick crawling up my body heading for underarm (one of their fav places).
Luckily hadn't started to burrow in or my trip would have been over.
has anyone tried the Permethrin clothing treatment? I've come close to buying some of that sawyer stuff online from the states.
Yeah, I've had a fishing shirt pre-treated.
seemed like a hoax to me.
Guinea fowl will eat ticks.
I had a good tick collecting spot on a neighbours farm. then they got some guinea fowl, bugger all ticks.
We've got Muscovy ducks that also eat ticks.
Ticks also attach to them, so it's a good proxy for tick abundance when you see fully engorged adult Ixodes on them.
good to know FR.
been entertaining the idea of getting guinea fowl - good to hear some pre post anecdata thanks phil.
Hey guys how far north of port Macquarie are you? Are ticks down that south?
bonza wrote:good to know FR.
been entertaining the idea of getting guinea fowl - good to hear some pre post anecdata thanks phil.
anyone who can get guinea fowl should. best value thing you'll ever introduce to your yard.
thanks all. Sounds like the guinea fowl are a must. I just want them to be largely self-sufficient, dont want to be tied to the place to permanently keep an eye on them. I'm hoping they'll just roost in some trees overnight. They'll have access to water in a small dam, and plenty of pickings (ticks and other bugs I guess). Are they going to scratch around mulch and disturb trees and root systems like the turkeys? Maybe keep the turkeys away?
GuySmiley - northern sunny coast/mary valley
will keep you updated FR. What you describe with the nymphs and then adults is what I've experienced recently. And that chemical you mention was suggested to me also. The footwear has started to be sprayed, and I've got a load of work clothes getting blitzed in the dryer right now. I'm hoping that will kill any that remain in them after washing - which has seemed to be happening to me (putting on clean clothes and getting bitten immediately).
Anything you ask about Guinea Fowl GJ, I'm sure the answer will be a pleasant surprise, other than the noise they make, they alarm call and squawk at the drop of a hat (which has good points, they let you know if a snake is about, and all other birds if a fox is about), and close neighbors may be the only issue.
I won't bore you with GF details, but any questions, ask. Re above, they don't scratch about at all, just rubberneck insects and grass-seeds over a massive area. A few weeks of feeding them in a chook coop, and set them loose, they won't go far. Yup, they'll find a tree overnight.
They hang out together, maybe a pair will go off for a few weeks by themselves for a bit and come back. You could go away for 6 months, they'll still be there, kinda.
I'm located on the Northern Rivers.
Here are some of my friends, I think they were worth $2 when I took this picture.
Remember the Ripping Yarns episode Tomkinsons School days
"Call me school bully you miserable little tick''.
Jeez, what's going on there philo??
Is it a particularly bad season for ticks?
Went for a walk the other day (Main Range in SE Qld) and picked 2 adult ticks off me and about 7 nymphs, don't think I've ever had anything like that before.
That picture was taken in spring time about a decade ago when I was collecting and selling to the tick serum makers.
Not sure if it's a bad year this year, I haven't had any on me yet.
Are they all Ixodes?
Yep, all females.
.
Yep, all females.
.
thanks heaps basesix. Sounds like they will definitely be part of my management strategy. Get them settled in, so they know where their home is, and then essentially let them be free. My neighbour actually has a small flock (maybe 7) which sometimes roam through my place, which I have welcomed. I'll talk with her about getting some of my own. Would there be any issues having 2 separate groups/flocks quite close together? That neighbour's house is quite a way away, across an open paddock, several hundred metres. No other close houses/neighbours to annoy.
and far out philosurphizing - that shot might give me nightmares!
GreenJam wrote:thanks heaps basesix. Sounds like they will definitely be part of my management strategy. Get them settled in, so they know where their home is, and then essentially let them be free. My neighbour actually has a small flock (maybe 7) which sometimes roam through my place, which I have welcomed. I'll talk with her about getting some of my own. Would there be any issues having 2 separate groups/flocks quite close together? That neighbour's house is quite a way away, across an open paddock, several hundred metres. No other close houses/neighbours to annoy.
and far out philosurphizing - that shot might give me nightmares!
There shouldn't be an issue GJ, sometimes they will decide to join flocks, a neighbor's GFs (from 500m away) joined my flock a couple of years ago, good to have a chat about that prior, my neighbors just shrugged and went 'meh', which is all you can really do. 7 is a good amount, I'd say 4 minimum, maybe 10 max. 3 can work but, while they hang in a group, often there'll be 1 that is ostracised, and follows the flock at a distance.
(they are street smart as hell, but they are also amusingly stupid in certain ways, they will nest and also drops eggs about, but will very rarely sit on them. Your neighbor may be able to get some fresh layed eggs, if you stick them under a chook you often get good results)
Anyone catch this Yesterday
47 mins on about Song Birds is Interesting
https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/watch/2241487939946
udo wrote:Anyone catch this Yesterday
47 mins on about Song Birds is Interesting
https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/watch/2241487939946
Udo. Hi. Thanks for posting that. Songbirds alive, could hear Eastern Whipbirds, Lewin’s Honeyeater hammering a way like a machine gun, myriad other honeyeaters as well.
I recommend to all of us interested in the biological world the outstanding book explaining the whole story about the origin of songbirds and their voices, from right here in OZ.
‘Where Song Began’ by eminent Australian biologist Tim Low.
First published in 2014.
One of the best books I’ve read. AW
thanks again basesix. I think I'll aim for 5. You mention one being ostracised - I've noticed with the neighbours flock, when they wander around, there is 1 that stays away from the pack, but I'd got the impression that it was like a leader/watcher/sentinel as it seems to be keeping an eye out, watching for danger and leading the others around, while they are all largely heads down grazing. Anyway, it was an interesting dynamic to observe.
AW - I'm just flicking through a recent Land for Wildlife magazine, which always has great people, plant and wildlife stories, and there are a couple of book reviews. One on birds and one on plants, thought they would interest you -
Aboriginal Peoples and Birds in Aus - by Philip A Clarke. '....it highlights the significance of birds for First Nations people in ceremony, creation stories, the spirit world, and for food, medicine and material culture'. Sounds interesting and probably up your alley.
Plants: Past, Present and Future - by Zena Cumpston, Michael-Shawn Fletcher and Lesley Head (part of the First Knowledge series) - another one focused on Indigenous peoples' knowledge and traditional uses.
both books get good reviews in the mag.
thanks again basesix. I think I'll aim for 5. You mention one being ostracised - I've noticed with the neighbours flock, when they wander around, there is 1 that stays away from the pack, but I'd got the impression that it was like a leader/watcher/sentinel as it seems to be keeping an eye out, watching for danger and leading the others around, while they are all largely heads down grazing. Anyway, it was an interesting dynamic to observe.AW - I'm just flicking through a recent Land for Wildlife magazine, which always has great people, plant and wildlife stories, and there are a couple of book reviews. One on birds and one on plants, thought they would interest you -
Aboriginal Peoples and Birds in Aus - by Philip A Clarke. '....it highlights the significance of birds for First Nations people in ceremony, creation stories, the spirit world, and for food, medicine and material culture'. Sounds interesting and probably up your alley.
Plants: Past, Present and Future - by Zena Cumpston, Michael-Shawn Fletcher and Lesley Head (part of the First Knowledge series) - another one focused on Indigenous peoples' knowledge and traditional uses.
both books get good reviews in the mag.
Greenjam. Hi . Thankyou for the referral.
I’ve had the first book for a few months now, great reading.
I’ll check out the other recommendation. Thanks AW[/
A regular this time of year, never disappoints, fragrant and great small bird plant for cupped nests.AW
Hi AW, or anyone else, any idea on this? Reckon it's a garden escape, in a local reserve.
blackers wrote:Hi AW, or anyone else, any idea on this? Reckon it's a garden escape, in a local reserve.
Blackers. Hi. It’s a species of Echium, most likely Echium fastuosum.(aka. Echium candicans) Pride of Madeira.. Boraginaceae family.
It’s actually all through the small islands near Madeira, Canary Islands etc.
The genus Echium is also known famously for being the pesky weed Paterson’s Curse or Salvation Jane , Echium plantagineum..AW.
Cheers mate.
blackers wrote:Cheers mate.
Blackers. You mostly see the blue/purple coloured plants in gardens ,there’s a dark blue, also a light blue, light pink and on the odd occasion a dirty white. Intermediaries derived from this colour palette exist also.
Boraginaceous plants produce a lot of flowers insects love, especially bees.
One of the common names of Echium plantigineum (Paterson’s Curse ) is Salvation Jane because it’s favoured by bee keepers and aids honey production.AW
Thanks again Alfred. It stood out against leptospermum and melaleucas and I was wondering how invasive it may be. If related to Patto's curse I may need to clean it out
We could think like the Indigenous Australians perhaps. No idea about the logistics, but I harvested native seed for Eyre Native seeds for quite a few years, and saw some amazing techniques and innovations to harvest amounts required for viability. When I was on the council, I was picking and using and selling quandong fruit and seeds, and also played a part in the quandong ‘farming’ enterprize on Eyre Peninsula, with the CSIRO, so know some of the challenges involved. Including the ‘big guns’ (Beerenburg) feeling threatened, and wanting market monopoly.
Omega 3 is very beneficial, and the quantity and ratio looks good. Omega 3 is prone to rancidity though, although the flaxseed industry has dealt with that. Not in all cases though, I suspect.
https://amp.smh.com.au/national/salvation-jane-proves-a-blessing-2004011...
AlfredWallace wrote:A regular this time of year, never disappoints, fragrant and great small bird plant for cupped nests.AW
Is that clematis Alfred?
Is that clematis Alfred?
goofyfoot wrote:AlfredWallace wrote:A regular this time of year, never disappoints, fragrant and great small bird plant for cupped nests.AW
Is that clematis Alfred?
Is that clematis Alfred?
Goofyfoot. Spot on mate. Clematis microphylla
Ranunculaceae family. A few sub species exists for this plant depending upon your geographic location. A very tough plant with a tap root you could grind into a floury paste. Found inland, on the coast and hills. AW
Some of the Nungas I talked to thought about things like salvation jane, the same way that they viewed rabbits. Tommy Austin, king of ‘The European Rabbits’. Got a bit bored, the rest is ‘history’.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/how-european-rabbits-t...
Slight bungle, but the Nungas have a good outlook. Ya fucked up… again, but no need to totally capitulate. And then, of course, you know how we are about them other ‘ones’ experimenting and releasing viruses into the stratosphere.
Now that we’ve created ‘super rabbit’.
‘Oye have you ever thought about eating em, now that you’ve done all the hard yards. Or feeding your mutts.’
The mother countries have run amock a bit there too. Anyway, just an idea. If your gonna get rid of them, at least make use of em. Save a lot of fly spray.
Speaking of feeding the mutt, is this one those labradoodle thingies?
Erm no, not a labradoodle. A couple of photos from today.
Bud1 wrote:We could think like the Indigenous Australians perhaps. No idea about the logistics, but I harvested native seed for Eyre Native seeds for quite a few years, and saw some amazing techniques and innovations to harvest amounts required for viability. When I was on the council, I was picking and using and selling quandong fruit and seeds, and also played a part in the quandong ‘farming’ enterprize on Eyre Peninsula, with the CSIRO, so know some of the challenges involved. Including the ‘big guns’ (Beerenburg) feeling threatened, and wanting market monopoly.
Omega 3 is very beneficial, and the quantity and ratio looks good. Omega 3 is prone to rancidity though, although the flaxseed industry has dealt with that. Not in all cases though, I suspect.
https://amp.smh.com.au/national/salvation-jane-proves-a-blessing-2004011...
Bud1. Hi. Indigenous folks had it all wired, we simply didn’t heed their advice, observe their practices and retain the knowledge. Now look at the mess Australia is in regarding exotics.
Nice to hear your story and info about all things Eyre Peninsula, SA.
I’d be very interested to hear about the seed collection and the species you targeted and whether they were manually or mechanically obtained.
I liked your last words about the Omega 3 protein, interesting.
I’ve been all over that Peninsula, diverse in many ways. AW
blackers wrote:Erm no, not a labradoodle. A couple of photos from today.
Blackers. Nice photos, putting that macro lens to good use, like it.
Hmmm, not much to go on foliage and just a few flowers
Darwinia sp. if that’s wrong please don’t tell me the answer yet. AW
Ah you are very good, D. citriodora, variety.
I’ll get back to you later re the seed picking AW, but that looks like some sort of emu bush. I’m checking the ocean. Have a good one.
But just quickly, this was our ‘bible’. I wish I’d kept it.
https://www.treloars.com/pages/books/128209/leon-costermans/native-trees...
And just quickly could some one explain that imgur photo again? I tried it up the page, but had to put the link, or nothing came up, and I don’t know if that link would even open for snyone else.
Bud1 wrote:But just quickly, this was our ‘bible’. I wish I’d kept it.
https://www.treloars.com/pages/books/128209/leon-costermans/native-trees...
And just quickly could some one explain that imgur photo again? I tried it up the page, but had to put the link, or nothing came up, and I don’t know if that link would even open for snyone else.
Bud1. Leon Costermans books have always been great guides.
He started life as a geologist/geomorphologist and produced publications, knowing so much about the landscape, he then produced outstanding books on botany and more specifically, plant identification.
I had the pleasure of attending a large gathering of like minded folk at a community hall recently, where 90 year old Leon delivered his usual brilliance. He’s still got it, had the audience in his hand and everyone hung off everything he said. Still as passionate today as he was when he graduated from his early educational years.
On that particular evening he was promoting a book that took 17 years to research and write, outstanding skills for a person his age.
For those who may be interested, its a thick book, containing dialogue and descriptions like I’ve never seen before.. $75-$80, money very well spent.
‘Stories Beneath Our Feet-Exploring The Geology and Landscapes of Victoria and Surrounds’. AW
Bud1 wrote:I’ll get back to you later re the seed picking AW, but that looks like some sort of emu bush. I’m checking the ocean. Have a good one.
Bud1. Spot on fella. Emu Bush.
Eremophila maculata -Emu Bush. (Eremo-desert, phila-loving, desert loving, maculata-spotted or with spots).
Eremophila maculata comes in many different flower colours as well as different foliage colours and textures. Member of the Myoporaceae family.
A key diagnostic feature is inside the flower tube (corolla), spots.
Nectivorous birds love a corollary tube.
Emu Bush was so named because Emus and other birds eat the hard seeds, they enter the digestive system, gastric acids help break down the seed coat (testa) and when the seed hits the ground its primed and ready to germinate in suitable conditions.
Latin trivia, maculate means with spots, immaculate means without spots.
So, the next time anyone says somethings been cleaned immaculately, it really means without spots. A bit of fun.AW
As theres plenty of yellow around at present (wattles), here is today’s offering and its not a wattle.
AlfredWallace wrote:Bud1. Leon Costermans books have always been great guides.
He started life as a geologist/geomorphologist and produced publications, knowing so much about the landscape, he then produced outstanding books on botany and more specifically, plant identification.
I had the pleasure of attending a large gathering of like minded folk at a community hall recently, where 90 year old Leon delivered his usual brilliance. He’s still got it, had the audience in his hand and everyone hung off everything he said. Still as passionate today as he was when he graduated from his early educational years.
On that particular evening he was promoting a book that took 17 years to research and write, outstanding skills for a person his age.For those who may be interested, its a thick book, containing dialogue and descriptions like I’ve never seen before.. $75-$80, money very well spent.
‘Stories Beneath Our Feet-Exploring The Geology and Landscapes of Victoria and Surrounds’. AW
I ordered this book based on AW's recommendation. Absolutely astounding reference, the kind of book you will go back to every time something in the Victorian natural world piques your intrigue. Comprehensively indexed, pages full off brilliant quality illustrative photos, and engagingly written. Exhaustive, and a bargain.
I used Costerman back in uni days for the botany component of my course. Great to see he is still the go to resource
Bud1 wrote:...
And just quickly could some one explain that imgur photo again? I tried it up the page, but had to put the link, or nothing came up, and I don’t know if that link would even open for snyone else.
Detailed steps on page 1 of this thread Bud.
Costermans is the bible.
I recommend Bennell plants of subtropical eastern australia for those further north this side of the range. Probs a bit low brow for experts like AW but good for mere mortals like me.
Not sure what that is AW, but I recognise the general morphology from observations of plants up here.
Bud1 wrote:But just quickly, this was our ‘bible’. I wish I’d kept it.
https://www.treloars.com/pages/books/128209/leon-costermans/native-trees...
And just quickly could some one explain that imgur photo again? I tried it up the page, but had to put the link, or nothing came up, and I don’t know if that link would even open for snyone else.
Bud1. There is a new fully revised version available of the aforementioned book, it has a bottle green cover now. All the relevant plant name changes brought up to speed to match todays current classification.
For example, some plants that were once in the genus Leptospermum are now the genus Kunzea.
DNA work drives this ongoing revision, it’s vital, some think not, but it is.
It’s all about ancestors and relatives. The same for us humans.
The book is available from Stonemans Bookstore (a must visit) in Castlemaine, Victoria, they post anywhere.AW
bonza wrote:Costermans is the bible.
I recommend Bennell plants of subtropical eastern australia for those further north this side of the range. Probs a bit low brow for experts like AW but good for mere mortals like me.
Bonza. Hi mate. Thanks, i don’t know that book, i will check it out.
If i can’t identify a plant straight up, (pisses me off) i go through a process.
For the tropics, when I’m stuck, I’ll always go to this incredible book,
‘Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest’ by Wendy Cooper (a brilliant botanist in her own right), illustrated by her husband William T. Cooper (deceased), according to David Attenborough the worlds best bird painter and illustrator to ever exist, he’s correct.
Again, if I’m stuck, for the sub-tropics, i simply extrapolate from the plant families i know in the tropics and work my way to an identification.
The beauty with tropical and sub tropical plants is they generally produce some kind of significant fruit (whether its fleshy or woody) that’s attractive to another organism.AW
So Frenchy, so good.. southern WA styling...
Escargot & Bordeaux blend = brown snails & Pemberton cab merlot:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-16/retired-police-officers-career-ch...
Seems a keen interest for some, so why not.