Adept adapters
By: Kylie Piper
| January-14-2010
Each morning I wander through Hyde Park on my way to the office. This morning I was greeted by a mob of cockatoos (I counted about 30 before I gave up) foraging for their breakfast and some lorikeets perched in the poplar trees near the ANZAC memorial, having a great old chat to each other.
It made me think about how often we lament the loss of native animals around our cities, and how rarely we actually stop and notice those that are not only left but thriving.
As we continue to increase the size of our cities, our houses, our TVs, and change the environment to suit ourselves, these animals are adapting to suit the environment. They are making their homes in the parks, rooftops and backyards of our cities and in some cases doing a damn fine job of it. We often only think about these creatures when they are affecting our lives – when that pesky possum nests in the roof or the blue-tongue lizard scares the cat!
This year I plan to stop and smell the bottlebrush! If you live in Sydney and are heading home at dusk (or dawn after a big night out), look up to watch the bats as they fly over the city. Don’t lament that you parked under a fig tree and your car is now ruined, but wonder at this amazing ritual of nature.
If you live in the bush and drive past a mob of roos, don’t wonder when the next roo-shooter is coming through, but marvel at the evolution that created Australia’s unique animals.
It’s the year of biodiversity, so take a look at the world differently – it might just surprise you!
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