by Paula Peeters | Jul 1, 2026 | A cartoon guide to Australian Ecology, Wildlife illustration
Australian magpies are fiercely loyal, great singers, care for their families, breed co-operatively and love to be silly. Here’s some advice from one of Australia’s favorite birds. Show up for your friends, even when the going gets tough. Don’t be...
by Paula Peeters | May 22, 2026 | Tales of science, Wildlife illustration
Two Glossy Black-cockatoos peer down at me from a sheoak tree, both busily munching seeds from a sheoak cone held in each left foot. Gentle gurgles and chortles pass between the two – it’s a male and a female, maybe mates for many years now. A patter of sheoak cone...
by Paula Peeters | May 7, 2026 | Beechmont Nature Journal, Tales of science, Wildlife illustration
At this time of year, I see two different types of large parrots everyday. The Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo (above) and the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (below). One of them eagerly gobbles down the bird seed offered by some of my neighbours. The other never visits the...
by Paula Peeters | Dec 7, 2025 | A cartoon guide to Australian Ecology, Cartoon, Tales of science
Hopping is a very energy-efficient way to move, for kangaroos. But no other medium-large mammal hops. Why? A key to hoppies: Big hoppies = Macropus, Osphranter Small bouncy hoppies = Bettongs & Potoroos Various wobbly hoppies = Notamacropus, Onychogalea, Wallabia,...
by Paula Peeters | Dec 1, 2025 | A cartoon guide to Australian Ecology, Cartoon, Tales of science
Forget about bees’ knees, what about bird knees? Bird leg anatomy is often misunderstood, but helpful to know, especially for artists. The bone names are -Thigh = FemurShin = Tibia & fibula in humans; tibiotarsus in birdsFoot = Tarsals & metatarsals in...
