Authorities are investigating after 80 birds, mostly magpie geese, were found dead at Hasties Swamp near Atherton, Australia.

Cairns Post

State authorities investigate deaths of 80 birds at Tablelands swamp

• Kimberley Vlasic
• The Cairns Post
• December 05, 2015 6:30AM

 

 

Authorities are investigating after 80 birds, mostly magpie geese, were found dead at Hasties Swamp near Atherton.'

AUTHORITIES  are investigating after about 80 birds were found dead at Hasties Swamp near Atherton. 

Tully man David Clarke was showing friends around the Tablelands on Wednesday when they came across the gruesome scene.

“We could see a big flock of birds on the edge of the lagoon,” he said.

“When we were driving out, we discovered a sick bird on the road.
“There was no injury to it, so we released it back into the water.

“Then we saw the dead bodies of dozens of birds and ­others in a dying state, that’s when we realised something drastic was going on.

“It was distressing to see birds flapping around dying.”

Mr Clarke reported the deaths and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, and Biosecurity Queensland are now investigating.

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Magnitude 7.1 very strong and very shallow Earthquake - SOUTHEAST INDIAN RIDGE

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M7.1 - SOUTHEAST INDIAN RIDGE

Preliminary Earthquake Report

• 4 Dec 0115 22:24:55 UTC
• 5 Dec 2015 04:24:55 near epicenter
• 4 Dec 2015 16:24:55 standard time in your timezone

• 1020 km (632 mi) ENE of Heard Island, Heard Island and McDonald Islands
• 2961 km (1835 mi) SW of Busselton, Australia
• 3005 km (1863 mi) SW of Bunbury, Australia
• 3048 km (1889 mi) SW of Albany, Australia
• 3124 km (1936 mi) SW of Perth, Australia

Location Uncertainty

Horizontal: 8.6 km;
Vertical 1.8 km

Parameters

Nph = 89; Dmin = 1118.9 km;
Rmss = 0.98 seconds; Gp = 42°
Version =Event IDus 100043z2

For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

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Southeast Indian Ridge 7.1 Magnitude EQ
USGS
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M 7.1 - Southeast Indian Ridge

Time

2015-12-04 22:24:55 UTC

Location

47.643°S 85.093°E

Depth

10.0 km

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M 7.1 - Southeast Indian Ridge

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The bizarre looking Blue Dragon is seldom seen in shallow waters - but washed up this week on a beach in Australia

Daily Mirror UK

What is it? Weird glowing blue sea creature that eats jellyfish washes up on Australian beach

• 13:01, 15 Nov 2015
• Updated 13:02, 15 Nov 2015
• ByRoss Logan

 

Sylke Rohrlach/Flickr

Blue glaucus aka Blue Dragon

A strange and seldom-seen sea creature has made a rare public appearance.
This is the Blue Dragon - or glaucus atlanticus - which was caught on camera after washing up on Australia's Gold Coast.

The bizarre-looking creature is in fact a sea slug, and feeds on blue bottle jellyfish - otherwise known as Portugese Man O' War.

While the jellyfish has a powerful sting that can severely injure humans, the Blue Dragon is unaffected by the venom.

In fact, the Blue Dragon packs a fairly nasty sting of its own.



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Australia - carcass of a young humpback whale has washed up at Levy’s Point.

Whale washes up at Warrnambool beach | photos

By MADELEINE McNEIL & JONO PECH

Nov. 12, 2015, 1:17 p.m.

 

 

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Whale washes up at Warrnambool beach

THE carcass of a young humpback whale has washed up at Levy’s Point.

Two Warrnambool residents walking their dog made the discovery on Tuesday evening and reported it to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning on Wednesday afternoon.
Their father, who contacted The Standard, said the whale washed up at the eastern end of the beach, near the rocks.

“It’s in a reasonable condition at the moment and is washed fairly high on the sand,” he said.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning confirmed the reports on Wednesday night.

Senior biodiversity officer Mandy Watson said the animal had been identified as an 11-metre humpback whale, suggesting it was a young animal.

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Extreme Weather - Australia, State of Victoria, [Statewide]

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Extreme Weather

Australia

State of Victoria, [Statewide]

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Extreme Weather in Australia on Sunday, 01 November, 2015 at 10:36 (10:36 AM) UTC.

Description Storms along the New South Wales-Victorian border have brought down trees and damaged a number of houses near Strathmerton, the Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) has said. A storm in a line from Tocumwall to north of Seymour has brought down a number of trees south of Shepparton around Kialla and in communities around Cobram and Nathalia. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) also warned of a severe storm, possibly with large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain near Pakenham, east south-east of Melbourne. The bureau issued an updated severe weather warning for destructive winds, large hail and heavy rainfall for the north east, west and south Gippsland and parts of the central, east Gippsland, northern country and north central forecast districts. Locations affected may include Morwell, Traralgon, Sale, Moe, Bairnsdale and Maffra. "The humidity has been building all week. It's built even further in the last 24 hours," senior forecaster Richard Carlyon said. "[The bad weather] wasn't too widespread yesterday. "But it looks like today, being more unstable, more humid and also a low pressure trough moving through we do have more ingredients available today for a more widespread nature of severe storms." Monday is expected to be much cooler and less humid but, in a fairly unsettled week, the pick of the days is Melbourne Cup day. "It looks as though the cup will be run on a dry day, temperature in the low 20s," Mr Carlyon said. "We should see a fair bit of sun around as well. So [it will be] a fairly pleasant day after an unsettled day [Saturday] and Oaks Day will be wet."

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Reports of storm damage in northern Victoria as storms sweep across state

Updated Sat at 11:51pm

Photo: Racegoers had to dodge the puddles after early morning storms yesterday. (ABC News: Patrick Rocca)

Related Story: Derby Day downpour as Victoria braces for 36 hours of thunderstorms

Map: VIC

Storms along the New South Wales-Victorian border have brought down trees and damaged a number of houses near Strathmerton, the Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) has said.

A storm in a line from Tocumwall to north of Seymour has brought down a number of trees south of Shepparton around Kialla and in communities around Cobram and Nathalia

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) also warned of a severe storm, possibly with large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain near Pakenham, east south-east of Melbourne.

The bureau issued an updated severe weather warning for destructive winds, large hail and heavy rainfall for the north east, west and south Gippsland and parts of the central, east Gippsland, northern country and north central forecast districts.

Locations affected may include Morwell, Traralgon, Sale, Moe, Bairnsdale and Maffra.



Read More Here
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Extreme Weather Australia State of New South Wales, Sydney

 

Crews kept busy restoring power after storm hits Sydney, parts of NSW

WeatherZone

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Extreme Weather

Australia

State of New South Wales, Sydney

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Extreme Weather in Australia on Tuesday, 20 October, 2015 at 10:32 (10:32 AM) UTC.

Description Emergency crews are working to restore power to about 5,000 homes and businesses after a severe storm swept across Sydney and parts of New South Wales. The storm was forecast to bring heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding in parts of the Mid North Coast, Hunter and Central Tablelands. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has cancelled its warning for Metropolitan Sydney and the Illawarra. However, a severe thunderstorm warning for damaging winds has been issued for residents in parts of the Hunter, Central Tablelands and far western NSW. A spokesman for Ausgrid said about 5,000 customers in Sydney are without power, with Hurstville among the worst affected areas. Earlier, power was restored to about 10,000 homes around Arncliffe. The spokesman said about 15,000 homes lost power during the height of the storm. Fire and Rescue NSW said firefighters had been kept busy with more than 60 incidents caused by wet weather and lightning strikes. Paramedics were called to Newtown in Sydney's inner west after reports someone was possibly struck by lightning. Police said the person was "conscious and breathing" when the ambulance arrived. The BoM said the lower western district of NSW was likely to be hit with damaging winds. Locations affected might include Wentworth. The State Emergency Service said a number of trees fell in Campbelltown and Bankstown. A strong wind warning is also in place for the Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast and Sydney Coast.

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WeatherZone

Crews kept busy restoring power after storm hits Sydney, parts of NSW

Tuesday October 20, 2015 - 23:33 EDT

 

Fire and Rescue NSW said firefighters had been kept busy with more than 60 incidents caused by the wet weather and lightning strikes. - Audience submitted

 

Emergency crews have been kept busy restoring power to homes and businesses after a severe storm swept across Sydney and parts of New South Wales.



Late on Tuesday night, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued a severe thunderstorm warning with damaging winds for locations including Broken Hill, Wentworth and Fowlers Gap.
                       

Read More Here
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Thousands left without power after 10,000 lightning strikes hit Brisbane as a vicious thunderstorm crashes through Queensland's south-east

 

• 4,500 homes in Brisbane were left without power due to severe storms
• 10,000 lightning strikes hit the Queensland capital from 2.00 pm Tuesday 
• Queensland was hit by another round of severe thunderstorms
• Residents in Brisbane were warned to seek cover just before 3pm
• The storm comes after hail and heavy rains seen on Monday 
• Immediate threats have subsided, however thunderstorms and hail persist

By Aneeta Bhole and Lucy Mae Beers and Martha Azzi For Daily Mail Australia and Aap

Published: 00:47 EST, 29 September 2015 | Updated: 13:44 EST, 29 September 2015

More than 4,500 homes in Brisbane have been left without power after a severe storm hit the Queensland capital just after 2.30 pm on Tuesday.

Properties were without power after 10,000 lightning strikes hit the city of Brisbane.

Flights at Brisbane Airport were also delayed in the chaos, while reports of road accidents were recorded in the Chermside, Greenslopes and Auchenflower area, reported 9news.

Scroll down for video

More than 4,500 homes in Brisbane have been left without power after a severe storm hit the Queensland capital just after 2.30 pm on Tuesday

Severe weather warnings were cancelled by the Bureau of Meteorology at around 4.15pm who commented in a statement that: 'The immediate threat of severe thunderstorms has passed however thunderstorms are still occurring in the area with small hail possible.'

Brisbane residents were battered by both hail and torrential rains, as large thunderstorms hit south-east Queensland.

Dark clouds moved over the city just before 3 pm on Tuesday after the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the region.

 

 

 

Flights at Brisbane Airport were also delayed in the chaos, while reports of road accidents were recorded in the Chermside, Greenslopes and Auchenflower area,

The warning followed the detection of two severe thunderstorm cells tracking eastward from near Esk and Kilcoy, respectively, earlier in the afternoon.

'It's still moving eastward, it's still around,' forecaster Kev Hutchins told AAP of the city-bound cell.

'It's a fairly large cell, too.'

Read More and Watch Videos Here

Mimosa Plants Have Long Term Memory, Can Learn, Biologists Say

Jan 16, 2014 by Sci-News.com

By using the same experimental framework normally applied to test learnt behavioral responses in animals, biologists from Australia and Italy have successfully demonstrated that Mimosa pudica – an exotic herb native to South America and Central America – can learn and remember just as well as it would be expected of animals.

Mimosa pudica at the Botanical Garden KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany. Image credit: H. Zell / CC BY-SA 3.0.

Mimosa pudica is known as the Sensitive plant or a touch-me-not. Dr Monica Gagliano from the University of Western Australia and her colleagues designed their experiments as if Mimosa was indeed an animal.
They trained Mimosa‘s short- and long-term memories under both high and low-light environments by repeatedly dropping water on them using a custom-designed apparatus.
The scientists show how Mimosa plants stopped closing their leaves when they learnt that the repeated disturbance had no real damaging consequence.
The plants were able to acquire the learnt behavior in a matter of seconds and as in animals, learning was faster in less favorable environment.
Most remarkably, these plants were able to remember what had been learned for several weeks, even after environmental conditions had changed.


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HAZMAT - Australia, State of New South Wales, Cliftleigh

Earth Watch Report  -  Hazmat

• Firefighters clean up a radioactive spill at a work site in Cliftleigh between Heddon Greta and Testers Hollow on Monday afternoon. Photo by Marina Neil

View Additional Photos Here
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HAZMAT

Australia

State of New South Wales, Cliftleigh

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HAZMAT in Australia on Monday, 20 January, 2014 at 10:02 (10:02 AM) UTC.

Description

A radioactive substance has been released into the soil at a new housing development in Cliftleigh. Six fire crews were called to the housing estate off Main Road at 5.30pm yesterday after a bulldozer ran over a densometer and smashed it and its radioactive substance into the ground. A densometer is a probe used in geotechnical engineering and it had been put in the ground to determine the depth of the soil. Firefighters said the device contained a small radioactive isotope which had broken during the impact from the earth moving machine. Firefighters wore protective gear and used specific equipment to measure the level of radioactive activity in the soil. They then treated the incident using HAZMAT techniques. Police were also called to the incident and set up an exclusion zone around the estate. One resident who witnessed the clean up, but did not want to be identified, said it was concerning that the radioactive substance had entered the soil. She was worried about the impact it would have on the environment. Another resident was worried the substance might have already damaged the soil.

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Crushed device raises radiation fear in Cliftleigh

By BELINDA-JANE DAVIS

Jan. 20, 2014, 10:20 p.m.

• 
  
• Firefighters clean up a radioactive spill at a work site in Cliftleigh between Heddon Greta and Testers Hollow on Monday afternoon. Photo by Marina Neil

A RADIOACTIVE substance has been released into the soil at a new housing development in Cliftleigh.

Six fire crews were called to the housing estate off Main Road at 5.30pm yesterday after a bulldozer ran over a densometer and smashed it and its radioactive substance into the ground.

A densometer is a probe used in geotechnical engineering and it had been put in the ground to determine the depth of the soil.

Firefighters said the device contained a small radioactive isotope that had broken during the impact from the earthmoving machine.

Read More Here
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Related articles

• HAZMAT - Australia - Australia

100,000 Dead Bats Fall From The Sky In Australia

DAHBOO77


   

Published on Jan 9, 2014

Initial reports say that they have dies due to the heat . My question , is out of ALL the life on Earth, Why just the bats ?? From 25 Different Colonies!
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• The Telegraph

100,000 bats fall dead from the sky during a heatwave in Australia

Australia's heatwave has been blamed for causing 100,000 bats to drop from the sky, with the smell of rotting carcasses filling towns

The RSPCA said the heatwave could have a devastating effect on the state's wildlife Photo: Alamy

By Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney

11:42AM GMT 08 Jan 2014

About 100,000 bats have fallen from the sky and died during a heatwave in Australia that has left the trees and earth littered with dead creatures.

In scenes likened to "an Alfred Hitchock thought bubble", a heatwave across the north-east state of Queensland in recent days caused mass deaths of flying foxes from an estimated 25 colonies.

"It's a horrible, cruel way to die," a conservation worker, Louise Saunders, told The Courier Mail.

"Anything over 43 degrees [Celsius, 109F] and they just fall. We're just picking up those that are just not coping and are humanely euthanising what we can."

Health experts have warned residents not to touch the dead creatures amid concerns about the spread of virus or bites and scratches from bats that may still be alive. At least 16 people have been are receiving antiviral treatment after coming into close contact with a bat.

Read More Here

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Related articles

• Australia's heatwave blamed for causing 100,000 bats to drop from the sky - @Telegraph
• 100,000 bats fall dead from the sky during a heatwave in Australia
• Heatwave causes thousands of dead BATS to fall from the sky
• Kangaroos, emus, parrots drop dead, as Australia sizzles in record-breaking heatwave
• Australia swelters in heat wave
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• While North America freezes, Australia sizzles in heat wave
• Australia swelters in heat wave
• 100,000 dead bats fall from the sky in Australia

Heat Wave - Australia, State of Queensland, Brisbane

Earth Watch Report  -  Extreme Temperatures

Brisbane Times

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Heat Wave

Australia

State of Queensland, Brisbane

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Heat Wave in Australia on Thursday, 02 January, 2014 at 09:26 (09:26 AM) UTC.

Description

Brisbane is predicted to hit 40 degrees on Saturday in a heatwave that will see the state's southeast swelter. Weatherzone meteorologist Rob Sharpe said Saturday would be an absolute scorcher. "On Friday, all of Brisbane suburbs will go close to their hottest day of summer so far, with Amberley heading for 40 and Brisbane into the mid 30s. But the hottest will still be on its way," he said. "On Saturday, heat will peak over south-eastern Queensland with Amberley likely to hit 43 degrees, possibly reaching its record of 44.3 degrees set in 1994. "Brisbane should also soar to around 40 degrees, with the chance of going just as hot as the western suburbs if afternoon westerlies stop the sea breeze reaching the city." If the heat was to rise that high on Saturday, it would be the first time since February 2008 that Brisbane cracked the 40 degree mark, Mr Sharpe said. "On Saturday afternoon many will be desperate for the cool change to come. Thankfully some relief will arrive in the early evening with a south-easterly change," he said. "However some heat will linger for two more days with Monday heading for the mid 30's again in the city before a stronger cool change on Monday night." A sea breeze limited Brisbane’s CBD to 32 degrees on Thursday, Mr Sharpe said. The forecast heatwave had threatened to postpone a surface upgrade of the Story Bridge - work that will see it close for the first time in 20 years this weekend. The 73 year old structure, which carries an average of 97,000 motorists each day, will close between 10pm Friday and 5am Monday in order for resurfacing and safety enhancement work to be carried out. A Brisbane City Council spokeswoman said council officers had assessed the weather conditions on Thursday morning to determine if the work could proceed. About 1pm, officers announced the project would proceed as scehduled.

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Heatwave could see Brisbane reach 40 degrees

Kim Stephens and Cameron Atfield

A heatwave could see Brisbane reach 40 degrees on the weekend.

Brisbane is predicted to hit 40 degrees on Saturday in a heatwave that will see the state's southeast swelter.

Weatherzone meteorologist Rob Sharpe said Saturday would be an absolute scorcher.

‘‘On Friday, all of Brisbane suburbs will go close to their hottest day of summer so far, with Amberley [in Ipswich] heading for 40 and Brisbane into the mid 30s. But the hottest will still be on its way,’’ he said.

‘‘On Saturday, heat will peak over south-eastern Queensland with Amberley likely to hit 43 degrees, possibly reaching its record of 44.3 degrees set in 1994.


‘‘Brisbane should also soar to around 40 degrees, with the chance of going just as hot as the western suburbs if afternoon westerlies stop the sea breeze reaching the city.’’

If the heat was to rise that high on Saturday, it would be the first time since February 2008 that Brisbane cracked the 40 degree mark, Mr Sharpe said.

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Heatwave set to hit Queensland

Brisbane is predicted to hit a sultry 39 degrees on Saturday.

Queensland is about to swelter through a heatwave, with the mercury tipped to reach close to 50C this week.

But South Australians are already sweating through 2014, with some northern centres posting temperatures in the high 40s.

Once it gets over 45 it doesn't matter whether it's 45 or 55, it's still bloody hot 

In the western Queensland town of Birdsville, the mercury could soar as high as 48C on Thursday, while in Brisbane temperatures are predicted to hit a sultry 39C on Saturday.

Temperatures are expected to be five degrees to 10 degrees above the average across the state in the next few days, the Bureau of Meteorology said on Wednesday.


Diamantina Shire Mayor Geoff Morton, who lives in Birdsville, said it would be business as usual in the town despite the forecast 48C heat, 1.5 degrees shy of the 1972 record.

Read More Here

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Brisbane residents will be searching for a place to keep cool on Friday and Saturday.

Searing temperatures that have set new heat records in central Queensland are heading to the state’s southeast.

Four weather stations recorded their highest ever January temperatures on Thursday as a stagnant mass of hot air in central Australia continued to affect inland Queensland.

In the state’s northwest, Century Mine reached 44.5C and 45.6C in Camooweal, while further south temperatures at the Monument hit 45.5C, and 46C in Bedourie.

However, it was Birdsville residents in southwest Queensland who endured the hottest temperatures in Queensland when the mercury reached a scorching 48.1C at 4pm.

Forecasters say a trough coming from the west is pushing the hot air southeast, and Brisbane and surrounding districts will be affected in coming days.

The temperature in Brisbane is predicted to soar to 37 degrees on Friday and 41 on Saturday.

West of the capital, residents of Ipswich and Gatton are set to endure 43-degree heat on Saturday.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Pradeep Singh said Queensland’s wet season was unusually late in arriving for the second year in a row.

‘‘Normally the monsoon starts affecting northern Australia around late December/January but it didn’t happen last year and it hasn’t happened this year, so the heat’s just been building up over inland parts of Australia,’’ he said.

Read More Here

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