We have created a short video of Istari for the new year. Enjoy a few minutes with the plants and animals of Istari here in the Clarence Valley. Turn your sound up and listen to the bush.

It is the start of summer in 2022 so it is December. The goannas are out including the stunning bells phase. The bandicoots are very active. We caught on camera the short eared possum and a Melomys. What is a melomys?

Lots of plants are flowering including the egg and bacon, eijllow hakea and the vine Travellers Joy. The hatpins are out around the wetland.

We saw the dingo (Canis familiaris) from our wildlife camera. He sauntered along the path we had made through the bush.

Dingos are an apex predator in the Australian bush.

The rain finally began to fall in December. A little at first leading to great excitement when we had 8mm overnight. November only registered 9mm so 8mm in one day was really something to get excited about. The earth was dry after so little rain for so long.The rain finally began to fall in December. A little at first leading to great excitement when we had 8mm overnight. November only registered 9mm so 8mm in one day was really something to get excited about. The earth was dry after so little rain for so long.

The young forest is cool. The swamp turpentine and the flooded gums fight for the light forming a protective canopy. The forest ferns love the shade too, flourishing this close to the creek. The path winds through the trees following the creek.

It all begins with an idea.

Summer has arrived but thankfully the cicadas haven't started to 'sing' yet.

The crunchy grass is finally beginning to grow again after months of little rain. The wetland is still dry even though we've had several thunderstorms rumbling off the mountains to our west. The creeks are all flowing again but only just. We still need more rain. Summer is our rainy season so hopefully the storms will continue.