Blog Action Day

Today is Blog Action Day and for this event I intend to raise

awareness for our coastal environment.

Being a country with massive coastlines, and much coastal development,

these areas have come under increasing pressure.

Right to the shore in many cases.

As a child, some 30 or more years ago, I was fascinated by

the life that existed in the rockpools at the tidal edge.

Filled with creatures of all manner of shape and size, it provided an

environment for learning within usually limited areas

affording a good view at what was going on.

From that time, 30 years ago, I have watched a slow decline

due to pollutants and the action of people on the area.

Pollutants devastated the weed beds that are the basis of this platform of life

and from that came a wholesale reduction of the variety that once existed.

In recent times, a reduction of industrial pollutants has seen the weed beds return somewhat,though the variety of creatures is slower to recover due to people.

Recently I had to rescue a large red octopus from a group of youths with sticks.

Such is the uneducated disregard that is often shown.

New housing developments close to the area in Shellharbour called by locals "The Farm" will undoubtedly have similar effects to the neighbouring tidal communities, as did previous efforts such as the devastation of the mangrove areas at Minnamurra...once a place with a thriving oyster lease, it is my opinion you would be lucky to find anything more than sand flies, due to the removal of most of the mangrove swamp that played host to the breeding activities of many species.

It was still in good shape till the bypass was put in.....

.......through the middle of it.

Take a look at the few photos below, as there is a fire sale on...and everything must go.

A year of Blogging

Today is the anniversary of this blog, and to celebrate I am going

to say little and let the photos speak for themselves.

As a site devoted to the natural world, the following photos reflect

the wonders that surround us all if we just take the time to have a look.

Take the time to care for this world of ours.

It is a truely amazing place

Tidal Environment

Recently, while down at coastal rock pools, I found an area with

small rocky mounds protruding above the flat mud stone surface.

On these mounds, pictured below, were a multitude of small sea snails gathered

together with the surrounding areas devoid of any snails.

I wondered why they should behave in such a way, and found out why as

I walked amongst this strange landscape.

As the water evaporates, it becomes more and more salty, until the area is a mass of salt crystals. For the snails it is a case of find high ground or die. As large seas break over the seawall and fill the shallow area, it dilutes the salt content and the snails go on their way till next it dries beyond their tolerance.

The lady bird, pictured below, was not noticed until I processed the photo at home,

so I was not able to get a better shot.

It was most likely feeding on the small insects that inhabit the area.