Episode 3: In this final episode, Laurie and Nick talk ducks, kangaroos, a passion for wildlife and footy.

Episode 2: In this episode, Nick continues his chat with Laurie Levy on whales, kangaroos, ducks and the importance of volunteers in saving wildlife.

Laurie Levy – Environmentalist discusses his life and work as one of Australia's best know animal rights protectors.

Nick introduces Laurie Levy, environmentalist and wildlife activist.

Laurie is best known for his stance on duck and native waterbird shooting and Laurie outlines the early days of the actions that lead to the duck shooting campaign. We hear about Laurie’s passion for wildlife and about his lesser know early whale protection work. Together with anecdotes and stories of lessons learned, Laurie stresses the huge importance of volunteers in saving wildlife. (We have included links to whale stranding incidents Laurie mentions in our podcast)

He reminds us that the the continuing fight against shooting of native birds has now been a 40 year battle in Victoria. Making duck shooting season the longest running reality TV show of our generation. Are we close to the final showdown?

Laurie also discusses his involvement with the national slaughter of kangaroos.

It is a privilege to listen to his life and we get an insight into how Laurie kept fighting the good fight with passion and a bit of help from the media and the Australian public.

Mass whale stranding at Cheynes Beach, WA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj7QF27f4Xo

The stranding at Crowdy Head (1985 ABC documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jj_bKtHwEU

The Whale Savers (1984 Levy-Bethune documentary) https://youtu.be/_VHUROM7SVg

In Conversation with Laurie Levy - Coalition Against Duck Shooting https://voiceless.org.au/in-conversation-with-laurie-levy-founder-of-the-coalition-against-duck-shooting/

Nick is speaking with local ornithologist, Larry Wakefield, on the birds of Mornington Peninsula.

Here are some links you may be useful that were mentioned in the podcast.

• Birdlife Australia website birdlife.org.au
• Birddata birdata.birdlife.org.au
• Ebird  ebird.org
• One of Larry's favourite birds is the red-browed-finch

• Most comprehensive  “The Australian Bird Guide” Menkhorst et al. www.publish.csiro.au
• Easiest to use in the field “ The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds” Slater et al.

• Morcombe & Stewart Guide by mydigitalearth.com Field guide for 'Birds of Australia' (for both iPad and iPhone)
• Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab of ornithology merlin.allaboutbirds.org for both Apple and Android

Nick is speaking with local ornithologist, Larry Wakefield, on the birds of Mornington Peninsula.

Larry speaks on 'Lifers', the Orange-bellied parrot, Lewin's rail, the Hooded plover and the Flame robin.

Larry encourages joining a club or 'friends' group as the best way to get involved in bird watching.

Nick asks Larry about the status of birds on the Mornington Peninsula with the changing environment since pre-European times.

As well as editing and publishing "Where to find birds around Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula", Larry is also the Mornington Peninsula Database Coordinator and has worked to update and improve BirdLife Australia’s Birdata database.

Nick continues his chat with Chris about how many kangaroos are there, how you can be involved in citizen science in helping 'count your mob' and the 5 big myths. They also touch on the perverse taxation that rewards land development over conservation of habitat.

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/mornington-peninsula-kangaroo-count-count-your-mob 

https://trustfornature.org.au/

https://www.mup.com.au/books/the-colonial-kangaroo-hunt-paperback-softback

https://www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.com/WFF/Home.html

To get involved in protecting our remaining wildlife on the peninsula please email us [email protected]

Nick chats with Chris, a long-time resident of the Mornington Peninsula, about our kangaroos and the challenges they face with farm management, urban creep, cars, dogs, fences and culling on private land.

To get involved in protecting our remaining wildlife on the peninsula please email us [email protected]

Dirk Jansen speaks with Nick about ways the public can help in saving the koalas and their local environment.

The group's main goal is to create and maintain a wildlife corridor connecting existing sections of koala habitat and food trees on the Mornington Peninsula. This involves planting in the existing koala corridors, thereby encouraging koalas out of urban areas and away from the many threats they face.

"To achieve our goals, we need funding to purchase and plant trees and vegetation for the wildlife corridors. To raise the funds we hold fundraisers, sell merchandise and apply for grants.  All money received goes directly towards bringing our project and goals to life."

https://www.mpkoalas.org.au

Dirk Jansen speaks to Nick about his passion for saving koalas and their environment.

The Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation group started in 2019 with the local community realising the importance of preserving the local koala population from the threat of development.

"We started out with a Facebook group which continues to record the sightings of koalas on the Mornington Peninsula. Our membership is increasing and, with the support of the Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network, is well on the way to achieving many of our aims in preserving and improving koala habitat."

https://www.mpkoalas.org.au/