Animals Archives - Page 3 of 20

Return of the Storm-bird – the Channel-billed Cuckoo comes south for the summer

I've been very interested in cuckoos generally—and Channel-billed Cuckoos in particular—for a few years, especially in relation to the knowledge that Aboriginal language groups here in the Northern Territory and beyond have about them. I'd love to hear any information that groups outside of the areas discussed in the post may have—feel free to drop me a line or post a comment.

By Bob Gosford|2024-01-12T16:52:37+09:30November 19th, 2017|Animals, Bird of the Week, Birds, Birds and people, Ethnoornithology, Photography, Some places I've been, The Northern Myth|1 Comment

Word of the Day: Mantharre (Death Adder)

If the death adder bites you on the leg it holds on for good and you die, the snake as well.

By Bob Gosford|2017-11-11T18:43:38+09:30November 4th, 2017|Animals, Fun stuff, Photography, Some places I've been, The Northern Myth|1 Comment

Word of the week: aherlkelh-ilem: “make the sun come up” (Anmatyerr)

The nyarew cuckoo [Horsefield's Bronze-cuckoo] sings out from hollow trees, or maybe from a forked branch. The nyarew sings out all night, and makes the daylight come.

By Bob Gosford|2017-11-03T06:53:44+09:30November 3rd, 2017|Animals, Bird of the Week, Birds, Birds and people, The Northern Myth|2 Comments

Call for Papers: ‘Indigenous land and sea management in Australia and beyond’ session at CHAGS 12

Themes for this session and discussion could include the importance of and development of cultural maintenance activities; issues related to sites and objects of sacred significance and knowledge; the protection, application and moderation of intercultural scientific knowledge; practical issues including funding and managing relationships between governments at local, state and federal levels; the benefits—or not—of working with NGOs and reflections on interactions between cultural practitioners from different local, regional and national areas.

By Bob Gosford|2017-11-01T07:14:43+09:30November 1st, 2017|Animals, Birds and people, Ethnoornithology, Indigenous land management, Some places I've been, The Northern Myth|0 Comments

Fire hawk stories feature at Barrapunta bird workshop

The workshop allowed for clarification of the rather confusing overlap of three bird names, karrkkanj, ngalmirlangmirlang and wunwunbu. Karrkkanj, it turns out, is a term for the Black Kite but can also be applied to two other raptor species, the Peregrine Falcon and the Brown Falcon.

By Bob Gosford|2018-04-21T19:15:22+09:30October 29th, 2017|Animals, Birds, Birds and people, Ethnoornithology, Fun stuff, Indigenous land management, Northern Territory politics, Religion, Some places I've been, The Northern Myth|0 Comments

Call For Papers: ‘Ethno-ornithology: advances in collaborative research’ session at CHAGS 12

We welcome theoretical and speculative papers exploring the significance of bodies of emerging literature (e.g. honeyguides, fire-following raptors) as discussed and understood by groups of collaborators. We favor co-authorship with Indigenous researchers and participation of Indigenous collaborators in this session.

By Bob Gosford|2017-10-29T18:13:42+09:30October 29th, 2017|Animals, Birds, Birds and people, Ethnoornithology, Indigenous land management, The Northern Myth|0 Comments

Talking Birds and Fire at the Barrapunta Bird Workshop, Arnhem Land, May 2017

Karrkkanj is a term for the Black Kite but can also be applied to two other raptor species, the Peregrine Falcon and the Brown Falcon, Professor Evans explains. The Peregrine Falcon can also be known more specifically as ngalmirlangmirlang and the Brown Falcon as wunwunbu; these are said to be husband and wife. Karrkkanj is also ritually significant as the one who founded the Lorrkkon mortuary cycle.

By Bob Gosford|2018-04-21T19:16:08+09:30October 25th, 2017|Aboriginal & Islander Art, Animals, Australian politics, Bird of the Week, Birds, Birds and people, Ethnoornithology, Indigenous land management, Northern development, Northern Territory politics, Some places I've been, The Northern Myth|0 Comments

Independence day for the Mimal Rangers of Arnhem Land!

Wednesday October 25 marks a new era for Indigenous landowners and managers as Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation celebrates its independence. Mimal has been on a long journey to independence since the inception of Mimal Rangers almost 20 years ago.

By Bob Gosford|2017-10-25T07:18:11+09:30October 25th, 2017|Aboriginal & Islander Art, Animals, Australian politics, Birds, Birds and people, Ethnoornithology, Fun stuff, Indigenous land management, Northern development, Northern Territory politics, Some places I've been, The Law, The Northern Myth|0 Comments

Fireflies—twinkling magicians of the night sky

"Magical – that's the word I keep on using, it was magical. It was like being around fairies – the forest was glowing.": Nick Moir

By Bob Gosford|2019-07-24T18:58:37+09:30September 19th, 2017|Animals, Bug of the week, Fun stuff, Some places I've been, The Northern Myth|1 Comment

Happy Thylacine Day: Thylacines were lucky to last as long as they did

Since the European invasion of Australia in 1788, on the whole Australia’s wildlife has been incredibly unlucky. The agents of extinction that Europeans brought with them – predators to eat them, herbivores to starve them, changed fire regimes, drastically altered habitats, direct hunting, invasive plants and even climate change – have brought the native fauna to its knees.

By Bob Gosford|2023-09-06T22:11:24+09:30September 9th, 2017|Animals, Camp Dog of the week, Dogs, The Northern Myth|0 Comments