“Our” whales sing differently

Tail of humback whale (photo by Ronda Green, Araucaria Ecotours, while on tour with Spirit of Gold Coast Whale Watching)

Humpback whales sharing the same ocean in the northern hemisphere generally sing similar songs.

The whales that travel the coast of Western Australia sing songs that differ considerably from those visiting Madagascar on the other side of the Indian Ocean.

This surprised researchers, who are now investigating the reasons for the difference, including determining whether the whales from the South Pacific, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans communicate with one another during their summer months in Antarctica

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/wcs-sfs020112.php

End of CSG blockade at Kerry, Scenic Rim

There was a dramatic finale today at the blockade of Arrow Energy CSG workers by farmers and other locals, including WTA members.

Although the blockade was primarily about effects of fracking on farmland it has great relevance to wildlife and to tourism also.

Visit http://wildlifetourism.org.au/wp-admin/post.php?post=1849&action=edit&message=1 and follow the link to the you-tube video (as well as various media reports and links to informtion on coal seam gas generally, and effects on wildlife and water).

And please let us know your views on fracking.

Turtle tourism helping economic comeback

Visitors to the Mon Repos turtle rookery helped boost the Bundaberg region’s economy over the Christmas period – read the full story here http://www.news-mail.com.au/story/2011/12/29/visitor-influx-at-mon-repos-rookery/.  This has been a relief for locals, as many trips were cancelled and/or refunds given last season due to storms and flooding.

Mon Repos is about 15km from Bundaberg, and has the highest concentration of breeding turtles on Australia’s east coast. The breeding season is November to February. The nesting turtles must be viewed in small groups accompanied by a ranger, keeping lights and noise to a minimum.

Bundaberg is about a 4 hour drive north of Brisbane and also easily reached by bus or train.

Read more details here about the turtles and how to view them without unduly disturbing them here: http://bookbundabergregion.com.au/pages/turtles/