Hi Jennifer,
Temperatures in 2006 in the midst of the Daintree rainforest were uncharacteristically moderate.
It was, however, exceptionally wet with a total of 6242.5 mm over 237 rainy days; 14 of which exceeded 100 mm.
Last year was the first year Cooper Creek Wilderness had broadband satellite and rainfall, despite its quantity, never once interfered with the network.
On New Year’s day a two-week old cassowary chick was savaged to death by marauding pig-dogs.
On the same day I captured this photograph of fawn-footed melomies:
All the best for 2007.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.
Great Photo. Yep, survival is all about hanging in there. Three of four bubs Neil? Is that one hanging onto mum’s belly?
Thanks Neil! Wonderful picture!
Hi Neil,
Thanks for the image….unfortunately I have no clue what a melony is? Maybe some Aussie can give me a short description???
Ooops…melomy
Placental rodents, mostly arboreal, with mosaic tail-scales that do not overlap (5 species in Australia, 10 in PNG). Maximum litter of 4 (3 in this case).
Thanks Neil,
Very interesting ….thought first it was some kind of a squirrel!
You know Neil, this species could go extinct and no one would probably notice. What a strange thing humans are.
Hi Libby,
Douglas Shire Council, the first municipality in the world to achieve Green Globe 21 benchmarking, has provided free Talon-G to landholders within the Shire, including north of the Daintree River, to manage this kind of vermin.
Just the other night, after a much appreciated downpour, I re-activated our hydro-plant and, under torchlight, observed a long-tailed pygmy possum running before me through the saturated grass. In thirteeen years of nightly scrutiny, it was my fourth sighting and no bigger than a melomy.
I have a very poor photo if you’re interested; just send me an e-mail.
All the best, Neil