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ABC Alice Springs  By Emma Haskin and Alex Barwick 1st August 2021

Thousands of brilliant budgerigars are flocking to the Australian outback thanks to perfect breeding conditions across the country. Mark Carter, Alice Springs bird watcher and trained zoologist, said that the region has not had a budgie event this big in 10 years.

"There was an event in 2016 which was localised to certain areas," Mr Carter said.

Wonders Of Nature – Show Of Budgies – Australia

"This event involves huge number of birds across the landscape," he said.

Mr Carter said it was hard to comprehend how many birds there were out there at the moment.

"If you do the maths on how many budgies are out there across the landscape, it's mind-boggling,"

He said that there are a few factors as to why the numbers have exploded.

Budgies Love To Flock At Dams Water Holes - 2

"It's a combination of things: We had rain at the perfect time here and they bred up in other parts of Australia and gathered here," he said.

Mr Carter said that those budgies subsequently have stayed and continued to breed resulting in extraordinary numbers across the region.

He said that there was an abundance of food thanks to low cattle numbers and the budgies have "cashed in on that".…

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By Janet Vargas - Owner Of This Website

GOOD NEWS FOR GARDENERS AND BEGINNER GARDENERS. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF COMPANION PLANTING BEFORE. IT HAS REALLY INCREASED IN POPULARITY SINCE I FIRST HEARD OF IT. FOR MANY YEARS, CERTAIN GARDENERS HAVE FOUND THAT CERTAIN PLANTS PLANTED CLOSE TO EACH-OTHER CAN ACTUALLY HELP EACH-OTHER GROW WELL AND SOME ARE KNOWN TO HINDER EACH-OTHER. ORGANIC GARDENERS AND PERMACULTURISTS WATCH AND PRACTICE THESE PRINCIPLES VERY CLOSELY INSTEAD OF MONO-CROPS WHICH CAN ATTRACT A LOT OF BUGS.

CERTAIN HERBS AND VEGIES WHEN PLANTED TOGETHER CAN DETER A LOT OF INSECTS FROM DAMAGING OUR HERBS AND VEGGIES WE SPEND PRECIOUS TIME AND MONEY ON – NOT TO MENTION HOPEFUL EXPECTATIONS. PLANTING A DIVERSITY OF PLANTS TOGETHER IS ALSO KNOWN TO CONFUSE THE WOULD BE INVADING INSECTS FROM ATTACKING YOUR HOMEGROWN PRODUCE. THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN GAINING THE INTEREST OF SCIENTISTS ACROSS THE WORLD IN RECENT TIMES WHO ARE NOW INCLINED TO RECOMMEND THESE GARDENING PRACTICES IN PREFERENCE TO CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES – IT’S MUCH HEALTHIER FOR YOU. IT IS BETTER TO SIDE WITH NATURE THAN WORK AGAINST IT. BE A FRIEND OF NATURE AND NATURE WILL BE A FRIEND TO YOU.

From Very Edible Gardens in Australia

I FOUND THIS ARTICLE TODAY ON THE NET WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T HAVE A LOT OF GARDENING EXPERIENCE. MY SEARCH WAS FOR WINTER COMPANION VEGGIES AND I FOUND THESE HELPFUL PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES TO PUT INTO PRACTICE FOR A SIMPLE COMPANION GARDEN THAT WOULD WORK MOST TIMES FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. THE WRITER EXPLAINS HOW TO GET THE MOST BENEFIT OUT OF THE SOIL FOR EACH PLANT WE ARE GROWING. HAVE FUN. SHALL WE GO?

Learning Some Simple Practical Principles In Companion Gardening

There are a lot of books written on this subject, filled with long lists, many of which contradict the other.  We say: don’t get too carried away by matching each plant according to someone’s list.  There are however a some simple rules to grow by.  We’ll expand on each below:

  • Use plants with different nutrient requirements and roots at different depths as they compete much less.
  • Some plants are considered natural growth stimulants for other plants
  • Some plants are certainly natural growth inhibitors for other plants
  • Some plants capture nutrients from deep in the soil profile and make them available for nearby plants
  • You can create suitable micro-climates for one plant by using another (eg.

A Return To Nature – Now Referred To As ECO Therapy

Summer often means spending time outdoors, swimming, camping, taking walks, and just enjoying the great outdoors. These leisure activities are fun and good for you.

That's right. They're good for you!

ECO Nature Therapy Is Good For The Soul

Psychologists in the new field of Eco-Therapy believe that spending time outdoors is important for our health. Connecting more with nature can help improve depression, lower blood pressure, improve self-esteem, help with impulse control, decrease post-operative recovery time, and encourage new social behaviors in patients with dementia, according to ecotherapyheals.com and the book Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind.

Eco-therapists claim that eco-therapy can be especially beneficial for those with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental illnesses. Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder, and the incidence of depression has increased every year during the past century. Now, one in six people will experience a depressive episode in their lifetime.

Traditional treatment for depression has focused on medications and individual or group therapy.

Now, Eco-therapists suggest that benefit can be gained with activities such as gardening, walking or other outdoor exercise, or spending time with animals.…

Whoever Said Great Tasting Food Can't Be Good For You? I Think They Got That Idea From Sugary Fatty Snacks And Desserts. Yes, Spices Are Good For You! Especially These Three Spices. Some People's System Can't Handle Them Due To Certain Food Intolerance Of-course And There Are People Who Can Handle Some Spices But Not Others. The Benefits Listed In This Post Will Give You Plenty Of Reasons To Venture With Ginger, Saffron And Turmeric. Therapeutic Benefits Of Herbs And Spices Have Been Well Attested For Centuries - The Medical Profession Was The New Kid On The Block (the alternative, not the other way round). Never-the-less, You May Be Interested To Know There Is Much Scientific Validation To The Beneficial Properties And Effects Of Turmeric In Recent Times And Ginger And Saffron Are Claiming Attention More Recently, For Good Reasons.

One staggers at the ignorance and sometimes arrogance of statements made by Medicos. I had a MD/GP smirk at the idea of me saying I would use Slippery Elm Powder for a digestive upset with reflux some years ago (you mix it with some warm water).…

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By Jennifer Berry

EVERY FAMILY PANTRY SHOULD HAVE SOME!

I FOUND THIS ARTICLE WHEN HONEY CAME UP AGAIN IN MY RESEARCH THIS WEEK. I HAVE RESEARCHED HONEY MANY TIMES IN RECENT YEARS BECAUSE I LOVE ITS BENEFITS AND IT ABSOLUTELY INTRIGUES ME – NEVER FAILS TO FASCINATE ME. I LOVE TO TASTE HONEY FROM DIFFERENT FLOWERS – IT’S A BIT LIKE ENJOYING DIFFERENT CHEESES OR WINES.

Do You Know The Benefits Of RAW HONEY And How To Make Sure It IS Raw Honey?

ONLY, WE MUST BE VERY CAREFL TO MAKE SURE IT IS RAW HONEY WE ARE BUYING, NOT PASTEURIZED, AND NOT ADULTERATED WITH CHEAP TOXIC HGCS (High Glucose Corn Syrup) ETC. NASTY MANUFACTURERS! ALSO, BEWARE OF CHEAP “PURE HONEY” IMMITATIONS THAT CONTAIN VERY LITTLE NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND ARE DEVOID OF THE THERAPUETIC BENEFITS RAW HONEY OFFERS YOU. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE.

CONTENTS:

What is it?  Antioxidants  Nutrition  Antibacterial  Wounds  Coughs Diarrhea  Brain Health  Risks  Choosing honey  Storage  Summary

People have used Raw Honey in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. This sweet, natural substance contains healthful elements that processed honey does not have.

Honey provides a range of health benefits.…

From Mongabay News Website May 2021

The Australian government has moved to create two new marine protected areas that cover an expanse of ocean twice the size of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The two parks will be established around Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean to the northwest of continental Australia. The new parks cover 740,000 square kilometers (286,000 square miles) of ocean.

Lets Protect More Ocean Life In Australia

The decision was immediately welcomed by conservation groups.

“Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands are uniquely Australian and globally significant – there’s nowhere like them on Earth,” said Michelle Grady, Director of The Pew Charitable Trusts, in a statement. “Most famous for its annual red crab migration, Christmas Island was referred to as one of the 10 natural wonders of the world by David Attenborough himself. Its thriving rainforests, deserted beaches and fringing reef provide a haven for unique and rare seabirds, land crabs and marine life.”

“Christmas and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are recognized as globally significant standout natural wonders,” added Darren Kindleysides, CEO of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, in a statement. “Oceans across the globe are in deep trouble from pollution, overfishing, habitat loss and the very real and immediate impacts of climate change.…

FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, I HAVE BEEN COLLECTING REALLY CUTE PICTURES OF ANIMALS AND BABY ANIMALS IN PINTEREST FOLDERS, AND I FOUND SOME IN GOOGLE IMAGES TO ADD TO THIS ARTICLE FOR YOU TO ENJOY AND TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THIS POST IS TALKING ABOUT.

Cute Baby Crocodile On Someones Lap

SOME OF YOU EXPERIENCE THIS WITH CUTE PETS OR BABY PETS OF YOUR OWN AND SOME OF YOU, LIKE ME, CANNOT TAKE ON THE ADDED COMMITMENT TO OWNING A PET. AT THE END OF THIS POST, I WILL GIVE YOU A LINK TO MY OTHER WEBSITE THAT SHOWS MY PINTEREST COLLECTIONS OF PETS, SO YOU CAN VISIT AND DERIVE MUCH PLEASURE FROM THEM!

Article By Good News Network – 2020

There may be a good reason for why we love to watch little piglets and fluffy ducks online.

Seeing adorable animals actually helps to reduce stress levels in humans, researchers at England’s University of Leeds have found.

And we don’t need to see adorable critters in real life for them to have an impact on our sense of wellbeing.

Adorable Baby Hedgehog In Someones Hand

Partnering with Tourism Western Australia, the University of Leeds explored the physiological and psychological impact of ‘cute’ animals on students and staff at the college.…

By Natalie: A Mum and registered Dietitian with a Passion to help Parents Create a Home Environment where they can Raise Healthy Kids!

Lots Of Ideas For Children's Play Outdoors.
See What You Find!

When the weather is nice, it should be easy to get your kids to go outside to play. Right? But kids can be surprisingly reluctant to skip out the door for playtime. It hasn’t always been like this!

Many kids in the upcoming generation are replacing outdoor play with indoor, sedentary activities like iPad games, texting, or social media. They’re also more involved in knowledge-based downtime like homework and studying than kids from past generations.

How Do Kids Benefit From Outdoor Play?

Studies have shown that kids who spend more time outside might be happier and more relaxed. Time outdoors can even improve short-term memory, concentration and cognitive skills. (It’s almost like nature makes us smarter… amazing!)

It’s Up to Us To Facilitate Outdoor Play

There’s a REAL need for active, outdoor play. Now more than ever. The more outdoor activities you can encourage and facilitate for your kids, the more they’ll reap the physical and emotional benefits of such play.…

From TheNewDaily.Com.Au May 3, 2021

Everyone Loves Butterflies, hey?

A kaleidoscope of colour has enveloped parts of north Queensland as the region revels in a butterfly boom. The explosion in numbers has caught the eye of scientists encouraged by the increase.

It flies in the face of fears in recent years that the iconic Ulysses butterfly may be dying out.

The Joy Of Finding Butterflies In My Garden

Thankyou he caught my eye this morning, I must say last week or so I'm definitely getting more butterflies in the garden, which is nice.

“One of the species we are seeing a large increase in numbers is the Ulysses,” said James Cook University senior botanist at the Queensland Herbarium, Ashley Field.

“A couple of years ago people were starting to become concerned that their numbers were down but their numbers are definitely up.”

The Cassowary Coast, Cairns, and the Tablelands are teeming with the beautiful insects with prime weather conditions behind the boom.

Dr Field said consecutive years with reasonable wet seasons had created an ideal environment for butterfly-attracting plants to thrive.

“It’s a Goldilocks effect. It’s the middle ground,” he said.