Science

Around 35,000 Humpback Whales are expected to pass along the Sapphire Coast on their southern migration this summer. As we have seen this week, sadly some will fail the epic journey, but still play their part in the dynamic ecosystem we live alongside and shape. The juvenile Humpback that was found dead on rocks near the historic Tathra Wharf yesterday...

A reminder of the cycle of life has washed on to rocks near Tathra Wharf - what appears to be a dead juvenile Humpback Whale. It's a sad but natural twist on the usual joy surrounding traffic on the 'Humpback Highway'. Keen-eyed predators big and small seem to now be moving in and there are reports of three sharks in...

The winds buffeting the region signal the turning season, along with stone fruit blossoms starting to swell, and the bright brilliant sunshine early each morning. Endangered shorebirds wanting to breed and establish a nest is the next signal that points to spring in the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is hoping to draw on peoples love...

Not so long ago, in a galaxy far, far away... scientists from the Australian National University (ANU) detected a black hole swallowing a neutron star for the first time. The phenomenon was discovered just last week on 14 August when the ANU's SkyMapper Telescope responded to a detection alert and scanned the entire likely region of space where the event...

Those who live in, or regularly pass through the Monaro often find the landscape arresting - stark perhaps, but delicate and beautiful all the same. Professor Justin Borevitz from The Australian National University is no different. "The Monaro is my backyard and there's so much more to it than what you can see from the road, once you get onto...

Concerns for the health and future of Wallagoot Lake have arisen following February's large fish kill, with water levels in the lake now at their lowest since 2010. Doug Reckord, Principal of the Bournda Environmental Education Centre, says that marine scientist, Luke Brown, noticed the low levels while with a group of students last week. "In 2010, Jack Miller, who...

Are you ready to BioBlitz in Bega?! This weekend is your chance to get involved with this increasingly popular grassroots science event. After six successful Bega Valley Bioblitzes, number seven is on now (August 16 - 18) as part of National Science Week celebrations. The Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness is partnering with the Sapphire Coast Regional Science...

The NSW oyster industry has committed itself to playing its part in restoring natural oyster reefs along the state's coastline. Oyster reefs once covered vast areas of the intertidal and upper subtidal regions in many NSW estuaries, however, it is estimated that 99% of oyster reefs in Australia are now extinct. Small natural oyster populations still exist in most bays...

Local birdwatchers have welcomed news that parts of the Chinese coastline along the Yellow Sea have received World Heritage listing. "This is great news for the migratory shorebirds of the NSW Far South Coast," explains Leo Berzins form Far South Coast Birdwatchers. "The Yellow Sea is at the centre of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, a migration ‘super highway’ that sustains...

The revitalised Bega River is again one of the town’s treasures. There is more repair work to be done in this precious environment but the animals, plants, birds, and bugs that rely on this ecosystem have responded to the work of many in recent times. National Science Week will prove it – with the help of local citizen scientists, that’s...

Fisheries officers from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are concerned attempts to illegally open a coastal lake at Narooma could lead to large scale fish kills. Investigations are underway following ongoing attempts to illegally open what are know as Intermittently Closed and Open Lakes and Lagoons (ICOLLS). DPI Acting Director Fisheries Compliance, Brett Andrew, says fisheries officers have...

Two opposite elements were at play in the surrounding region over the weekend, united by wild winds that kept emergency services busy from Jindabyne to Moruya. Icy rain and snow in the Snowy Monaro caused minor traffic accidents and delays on busy snow routes while in Moruya, a speedy grass fire had Eurobodalla Rural Fire Service and NSW Fire and...

The future of dairy is being discussed in perhaps Australia's most famous dairy town. Around 150 farmers and industry experts are taking part in the Dairy Research Foundation's 2019 Symposium in Bega. An industry forum launched the conference yesterday (July 10) at the Bega Civic Centre in an atmosphere driven by the future and new leadership. In his opening remarks, NSW...