Interview with Lord Howe Island expert, Ian Hutton

Ian Hutton on Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island is situated approximately 700 km north east of Sydney in the South Pacific Ocean. The island was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1982. The listing was for its outstanding natural universal values.

European rats were introduced to the island when a ship ran aground there in 1918. They quickly spread, hunting native animals and insects and threatening their food supply. This rat population have caused significant damage to the wildlife populations on the island, as well as the endemic plant life.

Ian Hutton, resident Lord Howe Island expert and tour guide recently spoke with Robyn Williams on Radio National. During the interview they discuss the history of the island, Ian's view on how to best deal with the island's introduced rat population, threats to the birds that breed on the island and information about their breeding cycles and habits. Listen to the interview on the Radio National website.

For more information about the rodent problem on the island and the proposal to eradicate them, visit  the New South Wales Department of Environment website.

Join Ian Hutton on Lord Howe Island for a comfortably accommodated tour. Ian will be your guide as you visit the many wildlife hot-spots on the island, including the bird breeding colonies and Ball's Pyramid. A glass-bottom boat cruise is also included to allow you to see the abundant marine life around the island group. Places are limited on this fascinating tour, which should be on the 'must do' list for all nature enthusiasts. Reserve your place today!

What do you think of the proposal to reduce the introduced rat population on Lord Howe Island?

Australian Orchid Events, Tours & Groups

 Photo credit: Wayne Merritt, Coates Wildlife Tours Orchid Specialist Guide

The 19th Annual Australian Orchid Conference & Show will be held in Perth, Western Australia from the 11th - 16th September, 2012.

This year's line up of world-class orchid experts from around the globe is attracting orchid enthusiasts both near and far. Experts speaking at the conference include Terry Root of California's Orchid Zone, Roy Tokunaga from H&R Nurseries in Hawaii and Johan Hermans, an expert in the orchids of Madagascar. Click to read more about the expert speakers at the 2012 conference. Click for more information on the Australian Orchid Conference & Show or join the Facebook page.

Coates Wildlife Tours are running a Terrestrial Orchids tour, commencing on the 19th September 2012. The 10 day, accommodated, small group tour will be guided by native orchid specialist, Wayne Merritt. Wayne will take participants to out-of-the-way locations to view Western Australia's most sought after native orchids, with particular focus on species that have been Declared Rare Flora (DRF). Species that will be targeted include the Dunsborough Spider Orchid (Caladenia viridescens), Grand Spider Orchid (Caladenia huegelii), and the unnamed recent discovery Caladenia nyabing. The tour will also visit some of W.A.'s most ecologically diverse national parks.

Join a small group (no more than 12 participants) of like-minded people to experience the magnificent ecological diversity of Western Australia's south west and Wheatbelt regions on the Terrestrial Orchids tour. It's the perfect way to follow up the Australian Orchid Conference! Bookings are limited, so reserve your place on tour today. Orchid enthusiasts may like to look at this list of Western Australian native orchids for a taste of what's in store on the tour.

Another eagerly anticipated orchid event is the Melbourne Orchid Spectacular & Victorian International Orchid Fair, run by the Orchid Societies Council of Victoria. This year's spectacular will be held between the 24th August and the 26th August at Springers Leisure Centre in Keysborough, Victoria.

You may also be interested to join the Australian Orchid Enthusiasts Facebook group for some lively orchid-oriented discussion.

Do you know of any other events or resources for orchid enthusiasts? If so, we'd love to hear about them, please let us know in the comments.