TRAIL CAMERA PHOTOS and GHOST NETS

-

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 - partly buried.

After a bit of digging Cynthia was able to get a tow trap around it.

We then towed it down the beach to a place where we could get it off the beach to dry out.

Eslyn and Clayton next to the net. It will dry out here for a week or two and then we will burn it. We don't have heavy equipment to carry it to the local dump from the remote parts of the island.


Another day we were accompanied by some of the local employment services participants who assisted with a beach clean up near Cape Croker. This marine litter has accumulated over just the last 12 months as we cleaned this beach last year. The tides and wind bring it to our beaches from other places. This is really frustrating!

Below, a pile of burnable litter.

The tide is coming in quickly now so it is time to head for home so we don't get caught on the beach by the incoming tide. See the burning litter.

The litter that will not burn is deposited in the local dump. 


Next week we are going to be assisting the rangers from Coburg Peninsula and a Charles Darwin Uni researcher doing some marine surveys. Until then take care. 

Bryan and Nancy




 

Comments

Unknown said…
I have seen on you tube and Facebook, some contraption that floats in the sea collecting litter, I have seen some photos of literally islands of floating rubbish in some areas, it is a huge problem unfortunately .
Great photos!
31 October 2022 at 13:18
Stan and Jeanette said…
You are truly blessed to call this adventure all in a days work. God bless you and Nancy and stay safe
14 November 2022 at 12:30
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A GRAND DAUGHTER - WELCOME AMELIA

-
Image
Hi everyone,  Recently a beautiful granddaughter joined our family - welcome Amelia. We were able to meet her while visiting Darwin recently. Below are a few photos of Amelia with Granny and Pa. What a blessing she is! Noah is growing quickly. He does not have to be asked twice to go to the nearby playground. Noah and Amelia getting to know each other - beautiful!! Laura has recently been touring in Italy and Croatia. She had a ball and already has a few ideas for the next trip. She is coming to Darwin next weekend for a friend's wedding - we are all looking forward to catching up again. Nancy and I are flying into Darwin for the weekend. Noah - keeping us all laughing. Sadly, Kristy, Amelia and Laura were not in this happy photo. Jayson changed jobs earlier this year. This sees him working anywhere in and around Darwin and recently he has been back at Tindal RAAF Base near Katherine as part of the major upgrades happening there at the moment. Noah really looks forward to when uncl...
Read more

IFFV - Illegal Foreign Fishing Vessels

-
Image
Hi  For a few months now we have been reporting Illegal Foreign Fishing Vessels (IFFVs) in our area. Some may have seen reports of Indigenous rangers in the Kimberley's, WA discovering IFFVs, often hiding in creeks and sometimes actually going ashore and camping. Concerningly, we have had the same issues around here. Apart from the illegal fishing aspect there is also a very real biosecurity risk. Indonesian has many diseases that we do not want in Australia - Foot and Mouth, Rabies etc. Last Monday we observed an IFFV in the area where we were conducting our marine research - but more about that later. Firstly, let's back up a little.  Last year we detected an IFFV near McClure Island - see the photo below. The crew were apprehended and the vessel destroyed. A couple of months ago we reported sightings of IFFVs around Croker Island and the adjacent mainland.  Around 3 weeks ago we discovered three IFFVs and one canoe hiding in the creek near where we subsequently setup o...
Read more

FAMILY, FIRES, HELICOPTERS and CARBON ABATEMENT

-
Image
 Hi Last weekend we flew into Darwin for the weekend. Laura was flying up to Darwin for a friend's wedding. She had not met niece Amelia yet so I think the wedding was more of an excuse.  Dean, Kristy and their little family.  Aunty Laura meets Amelia. Granny and Pa with our grandchildren - a real blessing.  While in Darwin a friend from Inverness in Scotland was passing through Darwin. It was great catching up with Bev.  Trevor and Leonie were in town for the wedding. Leonie and Nancy met in the maternity ward in Gove hospital back in 1984. We have kept in touch even since.  Recently the Garngi rangers have been busy with our carbon abatement early dry season 'cool' burning. This involves both ground and aerial burning and if done well reduces the amount of carbon that ends up in the atmosphere. We receive some good income from this work.  For the aerial burning we use a Robinson R44 helicopter. The rear left door is removed and an incendiary machine ...
Read more