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Life’s Never Boring – Drought and Hopeful for Flooding Rains
September 17, 2020Well after droughts, bushfires and a bit of relief from rain in March it is time to put the fingers to the keyboard and catch up on some overdue ramblings. Around Roma, Queensland we’ve had a lucky reprieve from one of the worst droughts ever according to families that have lived in the district for… Read more »
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When in Roma – Outback Queensland
June 29, 2020If you’re heading out to Roma and wanting the real country town experience, here are a few things you won’t want to miss! Get amongst the early morning country air on a Tuesday or Thursday and head out to the Roma Saleyards for a guided tour of the largest cattle selling centre in Australia. Make… Read more »
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Bushfire Rescue : Greater Glider
January 14, 2020Australia has an incredible array of fantastic and iconic wildlife but few people have ever seen or even heard of our beautiful Greater Glider Petauroides volans. As voluntary wildlife carers this charming animal recently came into temporary care following its rescue from a nearby bush fire which burnt its home. This particular glider was lucky… Read more »
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Explore the Unexplored
August 7, 2019Outback Queensland is host to some of Australia’s best kept secrets. This unique country of ours is so vast that some areas are yet to be properly explored. With a keen interest in natural history and native animals and plants, BOOBOOK ecologists love to explore the unexplored to further understanding of this wonderful place we… Read more »
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The Spiny Truth about Echidnas
June 27, 2019One of the privileges of living in an Outback Queensland town is that sometimes we are visited by some really cool creatures. This young Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus was rescued yesterday when it ventured into a yard in suburban Roma. It was foraging for termites around some garden bed sleepers. Some caring locals alerted us to… Read more »
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Native Marsupial Mice
April 11, 2019Planigales and Dunnarts are the official names for species of native marsupial mice. Dunnarts found in Roma, or the Maranoa region include the Striped-faced Dunnart Sminthopsis macroura, Fat-tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata and Common Dunnart Sminthopsis murina. They are small marsupials around the same size as the introduced and pesky house mouse. What distinguishes them from the… Read more »
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What the heck is a Narrow Nosed Planigale?
January 24, 2019Found this little critter in our house garden yesterday at Roma, Queensland. Only a youngster, it is a Narrow-nosed Planigale and only the second we’ve found in the sixteen years we’ve been gardening here. With an adult fitting comfortably in a matchbox they weigh less than 10g and are one of the smallest marsupials in… Read more »
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Life is Never Boring – Betty the Bettong
November 15, 2018I’m trying to think back to what has happened over the last couple of months as it all rolls into one big blur….does this ever happen to you? I never quite know whether that means we have too much on the go or if I’m starting to lose the plot as I get a bit… Read more »
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Christmas Surprise
September 6, 2018When I was twelve, not unlike any other Christmas morning, we jumped out of bed and raced to open presents from under the tree. Unbeknownst to us, while the door had been left open the previous day, a goanna had moseyed inside looking for a cool spot to escape the summer heat. After a few presents… Read more »