SteveNT
Very Well-Known Member
Just back from 3 days in central Arnhem Land where I was requisitioned by the fire abatement team to identify all the plant species at the new photo points, recording at intervals the effects of our burning program. We also got work started on fencing off important springs being ruined by buffalo, horses, donkeys and other ferals.
This is Weemol Spring, one of several in the area that feeds the Wilton River. Safe swimming here, only freshies.
Selma is pointing out a particular tree. Note the hand. Almost as much information is given by hand gestures as is given orally. When hunting 90% of talk is by hand gesture.
This huge sinkhole is in otherwise dead flat sandstone country. A limestone cave underneath collapsed leaving this. A buffalo musterer in a bullcatcher (cut down toyota with a hydraulic arm) almost went into this last year because the country is dead flat for 30km in all directions and you just dont expect a hole like this. The Rangers thought it was a meteor crater but there is limestone at the bottom and no shattering of the rocks.
Midnight Spring, another area we are fencing. There were thousands of red collared fruit bats that we were able to walk through. They didnt take off because there were sea and wedge tailed eagles circling above.
A wasp nest in the swamp. I have never seen this particular construction before.
The photo points are just star pickets, gps located, marking the spot where photos are taken each month to record changes in the vegetation.
Wilton River, usually crystal clear but now muddied by the rains that have finally arrived. At this time of year there is usually another 7 meters of water over this spot. This croc was shot by the Rangers last week because it was stalking kids at the crossing.
A purple winged mantid and a very fat tree frog at our accomodation at Bulman.
This banyan is a sacred site and fire has been creeping into the jungle here, so this is another site where fire breaks are put in by hand each dry season. The plant with round leaves is also very important. It is the toilet paper tree. Soft but strong!
These floodplains were just churned up mud a year ago but we shot 3,500 buffalo and the way it is bouncing back is remarkable. We are taking out another 4000 this year but there are another (estimated) 50,000 here in the Arafura Swamp.
Finally this is Dog (dingo) Hill in the middle of the Arafura Swamp. The TO is keen to take me there when the water drops this Dry season. The dark green cap is a remnant rainforest and he says some of the trees there are not found anywhere else in the region. Looking forward to it! No fire has reached this hill in living memory because the swamp is on all sides. Should be interesting.
I am back out there in a couple of weeks. The TO wants me to see another giant monsoon forest filled sinkhole and a bunch of fossil sites. It may be hot and sweaty (and you cant have a beer at the end of the day) but I really love my job
This is Weemol Spring, one of several in the area that feeds the Wilton River. Safe swimming here, only freshies.
Selma is pointing out a particular tree. Note the hand. Almost as much information is given by hand gestures as is given orally. When hunting 90% of talk is by hand gesture.
This huge sinkhole is in otherwise dead flat sandstone country. A limestone cave underneath collapsed leaving this. A buffalo musterer in a bullcatcher (cut down toyota with a hydraulic arm) almost went into this last year because the country is dead flat for 30km in all directions and you just dont expect a hole like this. The Rangers thought it was a meteor crater but there is limestone at the bottom and no shattering of the rocks.
Midnight Spring, another area we are fencing. There were thousands of red collared fruit bats that we were able to walk through. They didnt take off because there were sea and wedge tailed eagles circling above.
A wasp nest in the swamp. I have never seen this particular construction before.
The photo points are just star pickets, gps located, marking the spot where photos are taken each month to record changes in the vegetation.
Wilton River, usually crystal clear but now muddied by the rains that have finally arrived. At this time of year there is usually another 7 meters of water over this spot. This croc was shot by the Rangers last week because it was stalking kids at the crossing.
A purple winged mantid and a very fat tree frog at our accomodation at Bulman.
This banyan is a sacred site and fire has been creeping into the jungle here, so this is another site where fire breaks are put in by hand each dry season. The plant with round leaves is also very important. It is the toilet paper tree. Soft but strong!
These floodplains were just churned up mud a year ago but we shot 3,500 buffalo and the way it is bouncing back is remarkable. We are taking out another 4000 this year but there are another (estimated) 50,000 here in the Arafura Swamp.
Finally this is Dog (dingo) Hill in the middle of the Arafura Swamp. The TO is keen to take me there when the water drops this Dry season. The dark green cap is a remnant rainforest and he says some of the trees there are not found anywhere else in the region. Looking forward to it! No fire has reached this hill in living memory because the swamp is on all sides. Should be interesting.
I am back out there in a couple of weeks. The TO wants me to see another giant monsoon forest filled sinkhole and a bunch of fossil sites. It may be hot and sweaty (and you cant have a beer at the end of the day) but I really love my job
