28 October 2011

The return of the Bettong

| johnboy
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eastern bettong

Simon Corbell has announced the release of bettongs at Mulligans’ Flat:

“It is exciting to see that Canberra is the new home on the mainland for this rare species who was last seen in the 1920?s,” Mr Corbell said.

“The bettongs were plentiful in the Canberra district before 1906 but quickly became extinct all over the mainland by the 1920s due to predation by foxes and cats, and land clearing for cropping and grazing.

“The return of the Eastern Bettong to the ACT is part of a larger grassy woodlands restoration project being carried out in Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo Nature Reserves – a collaboration between the ACT Government, the CSIRO, and led by Dr Adrian Manning of the ANU?s Fenner School.

“The aim of the restoration project is to unlock the secrets around how these endangered communities function and to provide land managers and the wider community with the tools to improve and protect these important natural places.”

“The arrival of the Eastern Bettong from Tasmania is a critical first step in returning a locally extinct species to
our grassy woodlands. It is thought that Eastern Bettongs serve as “ecosystem engineers? in woodlands, turning over the soil, and improving the penetration of water and nutrients.”

Tidbinbilla is also going to play host to Bettong breeding.

[Photo Courtesy Wikipedia]

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Cummerbund said :

so, yep, thats a cute bettong,and we all love them, and we want them to thrive…..
so, when will the Greens get seriously Green and impose boundaries on cats?

We have a minority Labor Government in the ACT.

Domestic cats musts be confined to their yards at all times in suburbs near nature conservation areas – http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/pets/cat_owner_information#catcurfew

TAMS staff are also tracking down and killing feral cats at Mulligan’s Flat – http://www.tams.act.gov.au/play/pcl/parks_reserves_and_open_places/national_parks/mulligans_flat/feral_animal_control

I think if I saw him scuttling around my back yard I’d think “Rat!” before I thought “Bettong!”.

so, yep, thats a cute bettong,and we all love them, and we want them to thrive…..
so, when will the Greens get seriously Green and impose boundaries on cats?

Stevian said :

Classified said :

4 Chopped chillis
2 Capsicum
1 Large onion
Green Curry Sauce (Hot)
Raw bettong (Cubed)

Cut capsicum and Onion into squares about 2cm wide
Place raw bettong, capsicum and onion squares onto skewers
Cook over coals for 8 minutes, turning regularly
Add sauce and chilli to taste

3 Skewers per serve

“Hot Rat on a Stick”

Also available at the charny tavern if you get ’em drunk enough…

Classified said :

4 Chopped chillis
2 Capsicum
1 Large onion
Green Curry Sauce (Hot)
Raw bettong (Cubed)

Cut capsicum and Onion into squares about 2cm wide
Place raw bettong, capsicum and onion squares onto skewers
Cook over coals for 8 minutes, turning regularly
Add sauce and chilli to taste

3 Skewers per serve

“Hot Rat on a Stick”

‘Gungahlin is being attacked by this re-introduced species’.

I just thought you should read what you’d written, in the hope that you either calm down, or work yourself into another comical frenzy.

We’ll know these Bettongs are really winning when they’re smeared across our beautiful roads.

Cute.

I want one.

Unfortunately so do the cats.

Excellent work from the CSIRO, ANU, and Government on this 10/10. More please.

wildturkeycanoe11:35 pm 28 Oct 11

Judging by what is in the chief ministers website, it looks like SC is trying to round up Canberran’s into as small a space as possible, by using the mighty power of the Bettong. If you place enough protected species around a city, eventually the residents will back away into a mini-metropolis. Gungahlin is being attacked by this re-introduced species, the west is backing away from some kind of almost extinct frog and the southside’s white Commodore numbers are dwindling to dangerous levels. On top of all this, more and more planes are swarming over the eastern horizon making the airport a frightening place from which we must retreat.
The A.C.T is a small territory, but if the Green’s have resorted to using a “cute little critter” to do something about Throsby, a species that doesn’t currently live there, what else are they going to try? Maybe we’ll see dinosaurs near Tharwa bridge!
BTW Classified, the cubes will be quite small considering the size of the dish. Better to stuff it with their self importance,serve with a cold dish of sarcasm and a garnish of toasted Greens.

Thanks, Classified – swamp rat, anyone?

4 Chopped chillis
2 Capsicum
1 Large onion
Green Curry Sauce (Hot)
Raw bettong (Cubed)

Cut capsicum and Onion into squares about 2cm wide
Place raw bettong, capsicum and onion squares onto skewers
Cook over coals for 8 minutes, turning regularly
Add sauce and chilli to taste

3 Skewers per serve

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