Macca's Meanderings

Hello from Croker Island Garngi Rangers use motion sensing cameras in our work. The camera below was set up to monitor this remote creek for illegal activity. Most of the photos from these cameras are nothing special as the camera has been activated by something like a piece of grass moving in the wind or a wave breaking. Below are a few of the more interesting photos. A sea eagle flies passed looking for a meal.  Below, probably the same sea eagle flies passed again some days later. It seems sea eagles are also into selfies! Look just to the left of the sea eagle near the end of the little sand spit - a 2.5 metre croc enjoying the morning sun. And again the sea eagle flies passed. This time a bit closer. That's a better selfie! And then a jabiru drops in. At this time of the year the low tides happen during the middle of the day so we have been taking the opportunity to access some remote beaches looking for ghost nets and marine litter. Below is a large section of ghost net - par...

Hello again We recently had a biosecurity person from the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment at Croker Island for the best part of a week. We conducted three surveys - The photo below shows us checking bananas for the disease called Banana Freckle - it is serious threat to the banana industry. We were also looking for Citrus Canker amongst other diseases - thankfully nothing nasty was found.  We also did an aquatic biosecurity survey at low tide looking for aquatic creatures that we don't want in Australia - like the Asian Green Mussel. They can easily hitch a ride on vessels, marine litter or ghost nets. Ranger 'PK' accompanies us when it is convenient. Here she is watching a traditional owner who accompanied us on a recent boat trip and wanted to take a couple of fish home.  One of the Class A (highest priority) weeds we are seeking to eradicate is mimosa pigra. It is a floodplain weed which, if left untreated will form a mono-culture. The p...

 Hi Recently the Garngi rangers responded to an emergency beacon that had been activated southeast of us.  Some local Croker Island residents were returning from Maningrida, and were overdue. Their family had contacted the rangers expressing concern so we contacted to Water Police who coordinate all marine searches in the NT. They had just received a call from the Australian Search and Rescue people down south about a beacon activation. They provided the coordinates for the beacon - about 45 kilometres south east of us. They requested that we respond ASAP. While preparing to depart, they had an Australian Border Force aircraft fly over the site. They confirmed a vessel anchored about 150 meters off the coast with 7 occupants, one waving a fuel jerry can. We quickly filled a couple of jerry cans with petrol and departed. The photo below shows Templer Island passing to our left side.  There were a couple of storms building over the mainland however over the sea was fine. Ju...

Hi again from a very hot a humid Croker Island Nancy arrived back at Croker on Tuesday after three weeks in Darwin getting to know our grandson Noah.  She also spent some time with other family - sorry Jayse, Kristy and Dean but you have been 'bumped' by Noah. Haha. Our little dog, PK gave Nancy a very energetic and warm welcome at the Croker Island airport, racing out onto the aircraft parking apron to greet her - no airport security here!!  After months of windy south east trade winds we have moved into the build up season which brings light winds but much warmer and more humid weather.  On Thursday ranger Clayton and I (Bryan) did a boat patrol around the outer islands.  As you will see in the first photo and the videos below the water was glassy smooth with great visibility. Ten kilometers out we came across a group of small dolphins - most were only about half grown. We stopped, switch the motor off and watched these amazing creatures swim playfully around the b...