Ben's Ecology Blog

I went to Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve. A rare example of a new nature reserve being retrofitted into suburbia Melbourne. It was previously a golf-course that shut down due to (from what I can tell) not being financially viable anymore. So the council bought it and are in the process of constructing a new nature reserve. Not all is open yet, with just two areas open to the public, the Chain of Ponds and Wildflower Meadow (that previous was called 'the grasslands') as viewed on the masterplan…

The Musk DuckFor starters it's a really cool duck. The Musk Duck or Biziura lobata, is a large aquatic duck found across southern Australia. They get their name from producing a strong odour from a gland on the rump. They have ashy, grey-brown plumage and a fan tail, that aids in their identification. They frequent deep freshwater bodies with surrounding vegetation. This is a male musk duck, easily determined by the large leathery lobe under the bill that he can inflate during courtship…

I was washing up last night, doing the usual routine, when I hear this knock on the window. A solid thump. I immediately look up yet nothing is there. Strange. I look back at my dishes. 15 seconds pass and then I hear it again. I concluded this was far to loud for it to just be my imagination now. Was there someone out there? Do I check? I'm living by myself so this is odd, if not a bit worrying. Real strange. I'm wasn't expecting anyone at 7pm on a Sunday night. But okay, I go back to washing…

I am writing this post to give an update on the Eucalyptus leucoxylon I planted on the 24/8/25. It is with sadness I announce that my guerrilla gardening attempt, planting a Euc in the night, failed. The euc is dead. And not just dead, but nowhere to be seen. I was unable to locate nor discover any real evidence of its remains. I suspect it was ripped up by a lawn mower, or removed by the council somehow. Who knows, it's difficult to say. This was confirmed by a visit on the 3rd of April, 2026.…