Birds and houses

8 May

THREE NEAT THINGS

My fortnightly newsletter - a dose of goodness, productivity hacks, and small business tips. Sign up here!

ISSUE 061 | 7 May 2024

Hi friends!

Last weekend, my husband and I took a road trip to the Mallee in Victoria - an extraordinary landscape where we pursued the 'golden trinity' - the elusive Mallee fowl, the Pink Cockatoo, and the Regent Parrot. Spotting all three in less than 24 hours was super exciting for such novice ‘birders’ as us. We also learnt to yell out BOP! when spotting a bird of prey, that there were magpies with different coloured backs, and that the endangered male Mallee Fowl can move up to a tonne of sand per day to maintain the temperature of their nest.

This experience was more than a testament to our newfound birdwatching skills - it was a reminder of the delicate balance of nature and the critical importance of habitat conservation. Each bird sighting underscored the significance of our actions in protecting these species and their environments.

For those interested in exploring the Mallee and perhaps catching a glimpse of these spectacular birds themselves, Explore The Mallee offers brilliant guided tours. Their expertise not only vastly increases your chances of memorable sightings, but also enriches your understanding of the local ecosystems and their conservation efforts.

If anyone has suggestions for good birdwatching tours in the top end, hit me up!

Marnie x

This month, a house feature in Green magazine for my clients Ben Callery Architects and Truewood Constructions - a collaboration to open up a Victorian home in Northcote to the elements, engaging the senses and creating a biodiverse, ever-changing habitat for humans and nature alike.

READ

A Queensland cattle station the size of Yosemite National Park has been bought for conservation after an anonymous donation of A$21 million. The 352,000 hectare property contains 34 ecosystems and is home to the endangered night parrot and vulnerable yellow-footed rock-wallaby.

Now ‘only’ another 60 million hectares needs to be protected in the next 6 years to achieve the goal of protection of 30% of land by 2030, in an attempt to halt species extinctions and environmental degradation.

READ

Congratulations to seven of my clients (over two fantastic passivhaus projects) for being nominees in the sustainability category of the Houses Awards, Australia's top residential design competition. This year, the jury highlighted trends in sustainable design such as net-zero energy homes, spaces for adult children, multifunctional home offices, renovations of older properties, and smart designs for downsizers and the elderly.

SEE