6 Jun 2015

Why are Australian swans black?

posted in: Tales of science, Wildlife illustration, Writing | 4

Australian swans are black, while most swans are white. Why should this be? When I was a child, growing up in Australia, the only swans I saw were black. At Lake Wendouree in Ballarat, or in the Botanic Gardens of … Read More
26 Mar 2015

Why is the ibis often grubby, and the egret always clean?

posted in: Tales of science, Writing | 9

Lifestyle choices or better beauty products? The Australian white ibis often looks grubby, but the white plumage of egrets always looks freshly laundered – with a purity and glow that the makers of clothes detergents would die for. Both birds … Read More