Nature Kids – National Parks Association of NSW

Nature Kids: Healing habitats

Posted by NPA NSWon May 31, 2021June 1, 2021in Nature NSW, Winter 2021Leave a comment

Glider discoveries

What member of the possum family eats only eucalyptus leaves, has fluffy ears, a long furry tail and can fly?*
Answer at the bottom of the page

Nature Kids: The magic of nature and technology

Posted by NPA NSWon March 1, 2021March 1, 2021in Autumn 2021, Nature NSWLeave a comment

Hear that sound … ?

Cicadas are magical insects that provide a familiar loud soundtrack to summer. But how much do you know about these amazing animals?

Nature Kids – Summer 2020

Posted by NPA NSWon November 29, 2020February 22, 2021in Nature NSW, Summer 2020Leave a comment

Nature everywhere … from tall trees to tiny bees

CAMERA CONNECT

If you can’t get out to see the wonders of nature first-hand, why not let the wonders of technology show you? At the end of August two white-bellied sea eagle chicks hatched in a nest 20 meters up an ironbark tree in Sydney’s Olympic Park. Three cameras provide a live feed for viewers all over the world!
Check out EagleCAM and the Eagle Diary on the Birdlife Australia website.
There’s also FalconCAM in Orange.

Read More “Nature Kids – Summer 2020”

Nature Kids – Spring 2020

Posted by NPA NSWon August 31, 2020September 1, 2020in Nature NSW, Spring 2020Leave a comment

What species am I?*

I am an endangered freshwater wading bird who likes wetlands, marshes and swamps.
My nest consists of a scrape in the ground, lined with grasses and leaves. The male sits on our eggs and mostly cares for the young.
I forage at night on mud-flats and in shallow water, and eat worms, molluscs, insects and plants.

How to make a monoprint & paint with bush brushes

Collect foliage (leaves, branches, grasses etc).
Apply paint or ink to both sides of some foliage.
Place foliage between 2 sheets of paper & apply pressure with your hands, a rolling pin etc
Separate the paper & use ink or paint on other foliage as bush brushes to decorate your mono-print with different marks, patterns or textures.

Did you know?

In October of each year, waterbirds are counted in an aerial survey that takes 100 flying hours. The Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey is an annual research project that records the numbers and distribution of 50 waterbird species, and checks the health of rivers and wetlands. Guess how many wetlands the survey covers? (answer below)
Check out the interactive map, plus pictures and videos on the project logs.

WATCH THIS inspiring short clip about his love of nature.

A UK teenager who taught himself to identify bird calls noticed the appearance, during lockdown, of rare birds in places normally occupied by people.
To share pictures, drawings, stories or poems about nature, email
npakids@npansw.org.au

GOOD NEWS FLASH! NSW FIRSTS!

First Bilby joeys in NSW National Parks in 100+ years

In 2018 and 2019 bilbies were reintroduced into two NSW conservation areas. Up till then, this native mammal had not been seen in NSW National Parks for more than 100 years! And now Mallee Cliffs National Park in southwest NSW is home to a new generation of baby bilbies (known as joeys).
Find out more about the Greater Bilby and ecologists’ work to save the species on the Australian Wildlife Conservancy website.

First NSW large-scale Regent Honeyeater release

June 2020 saw the first large-scale release in NSW of captive-bred Regent Honeyeaters, which is designed to boost the wild population. Learn more and listen to the bird call this critically endangered species.
abc.net.au/radio/newcastle/programs/breakfast/regent-honeyeaters/12379292

*Australian Painted Snipe