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Terry the green sea turtle practises for release by swimming with predators – video
Footage taken at the Sealife Melbourne aquarium shows a green sea turtle that was rescued from a beach on the Mornington peninsula swimming laps alongside predators to prepare for his release into the wild. Terry the turtle has a phalanx of divers to act as bodyguards for his first foray into the tank
Continue reading...Stripes of wildflowers across farm fields could cut pesticide spraying
The stripy fields have been planted across England as part of a trial to boost the natural predators of pests that attack cereal crops
Long strips of bright wildflowers are being planted through crop fields to boost the natural predators of pests and potentially cut pesticide spraying.
The strips were planted on 15 large arable farms in central and eastern England last autumn and will be monitored for five years, as part of a trial run by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH).
Continue reading...Super blue blood moon: Get ready for a rare celestial show
Shorten hails cheap wind and solar, but will he stop Adani?
Liddell, the coal plant that “predates colour TV”, trips again
Phase one of “world’s largest” EV fast-charging network completed in Queensland
Disappointing Reliability Review highlights failings of AEMC
Green sea turtle 'Terry' practises swimming with predators before release
The turtle washed up on a beach in August and will be released into the wild next month
A green sea turtle rescued from a beach has been swimming laps alongside predators at Sealife Melbourne aquarium to prepare for his release into the wild, with a phalanx of divers to act as bodyguards.
The immature turtle was discovered washed up on a beach on the Mornington Peninsula in August, severely underweight and battling pneumonia.
Continue reading...Skywatchers await 'super blue blood Moon'
Lobsters and crabs should not be boiled alive, say campaigners
Q&A: How will China’s new carbon trading scheme work?
The killer whale that can say 'hello' and 'bye bye'
Photon, Canadian to co-develop 1.14GW of big solar in NSW
Lismore opens Australia’s largest floating solar farm, could add storage
Birdwatch: purple sandpiper snatches a snooze in Somerset
By the tidal waters of a lowland river it’s a thrill to spot this Arctic breeding shorebird – even if, for this bird, sleep is on the schedule
The birds were so well camouflaged I almost didn’t see them. A dozen waders, perched on a rocky outcrop alongside the River Parrett, Somerset, at high tide, the water lapping at their feet. Most were turnstones, whose faded tortoiseshell plumage blended in surprisingly well with the rocks. A couple of dunlins, too, the ubiquitous small wader also in drab winter garb.
And one other bird: plump, dark and fast asleep, head tucked beneath its feathers. Only an unusual plumage feature, the patch of yellow at the base of its bill, gave away its identity as a purple sandpiper. Though at this time of year slate-grey sandpiper might be more apt.
Continue reading...The make-up artist making designs with dead insects
RSPB Minsmere winter starling murmuration
Jon Castle obituary
The seaman Jon Castle, who has died of cancer aged 67, led many of Greenpeace’s most dramatic marine campaigns, including the occupation of the Brent Spar oil platform and the opposition to nuclear testing.
After 25 years with Greenpeace he turned his skills to wider humanitarian causes, including rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean and sailing to the Chagos Islands in protest at the British refusal to allow people to return to their homeland following their eviction to allow the US to build a military base. He always acted, he said, not just out of a love of nature but for right against wrong.
Continue reading...Labor branches push for new environment act and independent watchdog
Exclusive: ALP’s internal advocacy group wants sweeping reforms to protect natural heritage to be adopted as policy at next conference
Bill Shorten is facing rising internal pressure to make the environment central to Labor’s election pitch after 250 ALP branches passed a motion calling for strong new national laws and an independent agency akin to a “Reserve Bank for environmental management”.
Branches from every state and territory have backed a campaign by the Labor environment action network (Lean), an internal advocacy group, for sweeping reforms to protect natural heritage to be adopted as policy at this year’s ALP conference.
Continue reading...UK given days to show it will comply with EU air quality laws
UK and eight other states will need to take drastic measures on illegal air pollution to avoid court referrals next week, says EU
The EU has given Britain and eight other states until next Friday to show how they will comply with EU air pollution laws or face the European Court of Justice.
The ultimatum came as London reached its legal air pollution limit for 2018 in just the year’s first month, and could lead to heavy fines being imposed on the UK even after Brexit.
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