by Sharyn Munro
Even when I went right up below them, they held the pose, frozen at a half-upright angle, brown and grey, mottled and flecked and streaked just like the branch on which they were perched. Their eyes were tightly closed, like a child when first learning to hide: ‘I can’t see you, so you can’t see me.’ These birds were adding, ‘And if I stay very still you’ll go away.’
I did.
MISSING TAILS
I am fortunate to be able to live amongst so many wild creatures, who belong here more than I do or ever could. Yet there are lots of tails I’d love to see but never will, because they’re extinct, or so few are left that they’re on the critically endangered list, or the steps on the way to that, the vulnerable or threatened species list.
The more I learn about the amazing animals around me, the more I grieve that so many equally unique and interesting Australian creatures are now gone. Their combined richness is what biodiversity means, and even though we may not understand how, all creatures, including us, have or had a place in an ecosystem; we are all linked. Like any chain, break or even weaken a link, and things eventually fall apart. Unfortunately those links are often invisible to us short-sighted slaves of Progress—until the effects of the breakdown, mostly irreversible, cause us trouble.
Australia holds the shameful record of having wiped out the most mammal species of any country in the world: 27 unique types of furry warm-blooded creatures, like us but oh so different, will never exist on this earth again, thanks to our clumsy Progress. And we’ve done it in only a little over 200 years. We’ve been rotten caretakers, compared to the original ones, who managed it so well for thousands of years.
We can add 23 bird species and four frog species to the tally of Australian creatures that are now gone forever. We can’t do a thing about this but we can help in trying to prevent it happening to the 22 animal species that are critically endangered right now, and the 345 species that are threatened!
My wildlife refuge is my own way of doing this, plus having my property conserved in perpetuity under the Native Vegetation Act, but there are various avenues and degrees of involvement for concerned people, landowners or not, including volunteering, observing and recording, donating and lobbying.
Even in towns, we can at least try to do no more harm, for example by keeping pets in at night when many native animals come out to feed. Think of small creatures like the Lesser Bilby, lost forever, every time it seems a chore to do so. It probably didn’t ever live in your area, but others of the 54 extinct animals did. If you want a more personal iconic image, find out from your local National Parks office what is under threat in your region, what birds, mammals and reptiles might not be around much longer.
When I see the wild animals around me living such efficient and rich lives in the natural world we inhabit here, requiring of me only that I should leave them alone, I wonder that we got our priorities so wrong, on such a large scale, in this country.
Most of the developed countries have similarly diminished the biodiversity of their original and often unique plants and animals, and sadly many of the developing countries are racing to catch us up in thoughtless greed.
Think of the tragedy of the once-mighty Amazon rainforests and all the creatures they supported. Or closer to home, the Great Barrier Reef, rescued from pollution, but now victim of global warming, doomed if governments don’t take brave steps towards a new way of sustainable living.
Change is essential. Tourism related to our World Heritage reef employs far, far more than the carbon-guilty coal industry, but it’s concentrated in fewer hands and buys less political influence. Forget finding Nemo: after all, what’s the point of cute fish or pretty coral if we can’t keep our polluting and privately profitable coal industry?
That’s apparently also worth more than our beaches and coastal cities, destined to be submerged as the polar ice melts and the seas rise. Who needs polar bears anyway?
It’s way past time that, as a species, we human animals got it right in how we value and treat what’s left of our natural world. And we don’t have much time to stop the ticking carbon clock. Apart from the intrinsic, intricate and unique beauty and diversity of our Earth—its land and sea and air, and all the creatures that live within—we need it to survive, so we can.
And even if we don’t have tails, I’m sure the other animals will tolerate us—so long as we stop wrecking this world we must all share. It’s the only one we’ve got.
The Greater Bilby: going, going...?
ADDENDUM
In memory of the tails that are gone forever...
EXTINCT MAMMALS
Eastern Bettong
Burrowing Bettong
Brush-tailed Bettong
Desert Rat-kangaroo
Pig-footed Bandicoot
White-footed Rabbit-rat
Central Hare-wallaby
Rufous Hare-wallaby
Eastern Hare-wallaby
Banded Hare-wallaby
Lesser Stick-nest Rat
Tammar Wallaby
Toolache Wallaby
Lesser Bilby
Short-tailed Hopping-mouse
Long-tailed Hopping-mouse
Big-eared Hopping-mouse
Darling Downs Hopping-mouse
Lord Howe Long-eared Bat
Crescent Nail-tail Wallaby
Western Barred Bandicoot
Desert Bandicoot
Broad-faced Potoroo
Gould’s Mouse
Christmas Island Rat, Maclear’s Rat
Christmas Island Rat, Bulldog Rat
Thylacine
EXTINCT BIRDS
Tasman Starling
White-throated Pigeon (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe Pigeon
Red-crowned Parakeet (Macquarie Island), Macquarie Island Parakeet
Red-crowned Parakeet (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe Parakeet
Rufous Bristlebird (western), South-western Rufous Bristlebird
King Island Emu
Kangaroo Island Emu
Emu (Tasmanian)
Roper River Scrub-robin
Buff-banded Rail (Macquarie Island)
Lord Howe Gerygone, Lord Howe Warbler
New Zealand Pigeon (Norfolk Island race)
Norfolk Island Long-tailed Triller
Norfolk Island Kaka
Southern Boobook (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe Boobook Owl
White Gallinule
Paradise Parrot
Lewin’s Rail (western)
Grey Fantail (Lord Howe Island)
Grey-headed Blackbird, Norfolk Island Thrush
Vinous-tinted Thrush
White-chested White-eye, Norfolk Island Silvereye
Robust White-eye
EXTINCT FROGS
Southern Gastric-brooding Frog
Northern Gastric-brooding Frog, Eungella Gastric-brooding Frog
Sharp-snouted Day Frog, Sharp-snouted Torrent Frog
Southern Day Frog, Mt Glorious Torrent Frog
To be aware of, and, I suspect, horrified by, the wide range and number of our Threatened Fauna—critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable—who are at various stages along the way to joining those missing tails if we don’t act, go to:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/
CONTACTS
TAIL-SAVERS
Here’s a few places to start finding out how you can help prevent more tails from going missing, whether you own land or not! Most initiatives aren’t national; states have varying names and rules for similar progams.
Not all have websites, but where they do, to simplify the list, I have just given those, assuming that non-computer-using readers can look up the names in their phone books. Apologies to any major service I’ve omitted, but for the future, please let me know by posting a comment on my website: www.sharynmunro.com
I haven’t listed peripheral groups, such as the widespread local Landcare groups whose activities help with regenerating habitat, the loss of which has been a bi
g factor in the demise of many species. My last book began: ‘Wherever you live, you need to feel safe and in tune with your surroundings.’ This is so for all creatures, not just we humans.
STATE CONSERVATION COUNCILS—umbrella bodies for many local and regional groups and programs, so great sources of linked contacts.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Nature Conservation Council of NSW: www.ncc.nsw.org.au
Landholder conservation options: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/cpp/
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Conservation Council of Western Australia. Inc:
www.conservationwa.asn.au
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Conservation Council of South Australia: www.ccsa.asn.au
TASMANIA
Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: www.parks.tas.gov.au/tpws.html
QUEENSLAND
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service’ Nature Refuges:
www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/nature_refuges/
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Conservation Commission of the NT (Natural Resources, Environment & the Arts):
www.nt.gov.au/nreta/wildlife/nature/index.html
VICTORIA
Parks Vic: http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1conservation.cfm
Plus they suggest trying Friends of Parks Vic in each area, and:
Trust for Nature: http://www.trustfornature.org.au/
Bush Heritage: http://www.bushheritage.org.au/
Wildlife Victoria: http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/
THE THREATENED SPECIES NETWORK (Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust & World Wildlife Fund Australia):
Victoria email: [email protected]
NSW & ACT email: [email protected]
Queensland email: [email protected]
Or go to: www.wwf.org.au
SPECIFIC
Save the Bilby Fund: www.savethebilby.icemedia.com.au
Save the Tasmanian Devil: www.tassiedevil.com.au
SOURCES
Any zoological facts in this book are correct to the best of my knowledge, as told to me by people who ought to know, or as referenced from my own books, many of which are getting on, like me. Op shops and charity book sales don’t usually offer the latest editions! However, I have checked online, and most facts remained current.
BOOKS
Australian Museum, The Complete Book of Australian Mammals, 1983, Cornstalk Publishing.
Barbara Burton & Harry Frauca, The Koala, and The Echidna, 1974, Lansdowne Press Young Nature Library.
Bruce Edwards & Harry Frauca, Possums, 1972, Lansdowne Press Young Nature Library.
David Rothenberg, Why birds sing, 2005, Penguin.
Ed. Jack Pollard, Birds of Paradox, 1967, Lansdowne Press.
Helen Piers, Frogs, 1979, Angus & Robertson.
Jill Morris & Lynne Tracey, Australian Frogs, amazing amphibians, 1995, Greater Glider Productions.
Pauline Reilly, Lyrebird, 1994, Kangaroo Press Pty Ltd.
Peter Slater, A Field Guide to Australian Birds, Volumes 1 & 2, 1970, 1974, Rigby.
Peter Wilson, Australia’s Insect Life, 1970, Horwitz.
Ralph Buchsbaum, Animals without backbones, vols.1 & 2, 1964, Penguin.
Raymond T. Hoser, Australian Reptiles & Frogs, 1989, Pierson & Co.
Rutgers/John Gould, Birds of Australia, 1967, Methuen.
WEBSITES USED AND RECOMMENDED
Wikipedia (by individual subject search)
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/ (search for specific animals)
www.australianfauna.com
www.animalinfo.org/country/austral.htm
www.marsupialsociety.org
www.echidna.edu.au/monotremes/echidna_watch.html
http://www.bugsurvey.nsw.gov.au/html/popups/bpedia_26_vtol_ba-sw.html
http://www.backyardnature.net/earthwrm.htm
http://www.whybirdssing.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The traditional owners of these mountains, who respected all creatures and would never have let any tails go missing; ABC Radio National’s Bush Telegraph, whose ‘Country Viewpoint’ segment provided the initial outlet for some of these pieces; my friend and webmaster Fred Baker, whose encouragement to blogging led me to record my wild friends on camera and thus helped my memory, especially in illustrating these tales; my ‘official’ photographer, friend Robert Bignell, whose Old Brush property is also a haven for wildlife and sympathetic half-wild humans; editor Anouska Jones, who treads as lightly on my manuscripts as she does on the earth; designer Nanette Backhouse, who gave the book its final breath of life, so that ‘the words were made flesh’, with the perfect face to present to the world; and my publishers, Benny and Gareth St John Thomas of Exisle, who suggested this book, for their ongoing support.
THE WOMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN
Sharyn Munro
Living alone on a remote mountain would not be every woman’s choice. In fact, Sharyn Munro had so often been asked, ‘Why do you live there?’ that she decided to write a book as her answer. The Woman on the Mountain is the resulting lyrically written account of her journey towards a sustainable and truly rewarding lifestyle in her beloved mountain forests, with ‘only’ the abundant wildlife for company.
That decades-long journey was no planned passage, but a stumble over setbacks, propelled by almost accidental decisions. After the ups and downs of relationships, single parenting, and an unlikely variety of jobs, at 56 she found herself alone—in the bush. Unsure whether she could manage the hard work and mechanical demands of a self-sufficient lifestyle, she nevertheless gave it a go—and mostly succeeds.
She has also learnt to live in tune with nature on her wildlife refuge, despite the occasional discordant note, helping to repair past damage and trying to do no more. ‘Civilised conservation’ she calls it, ‘having your cake and eating it too—before the wallabies do.’
Sharyn’s sustainability concerns became global as climate change loomed—and arrived.
As more people long for a simpler life, The Woman on the Mountain reveals what can be achieved when vision and passion are combined with a little hard work, a lot of adaptability—and a dash of humour.
FRONT COVER FLAP
How would you feel if your neighbours ate your roses, solicited for sex on your front lawn or took over your shed? This is what Sharyn Munro has to put up with from her animal companions in her mountaintop refuge! Every day she learns something new about Australia’s amazing native animals, and in Mountain Tails she reveals what it’s like to live so close to nature—both the good and the bad!
PRAISE FOR SHARYN’S PREVIOUS BOOK, THE WOMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN...
Many of us dream of taking a bold step into a brand-new life away from it all. This is just what happened to Sharyn ... Why she went there, how she faces the challenges and accepts with whole-hearted love the trees, wildlife, and magical space around her is a story to inspire us all to make the world a better place.
—WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE
A complete treat, this book is daring and heroic.
—ISLAND MAGAZINE
...a book that might change your life.
—DR PETER HAY
BACK COVER FLAP
Sharyn Munro writes to make sense of the world. From award-winning short stories to non-fiction, her work explores her fellow creatures, human and non-human, their connection to each other and to place. She lives alone in a solar-powered mud-brick cabin on her mountain wildlife refuge in the New South Wales’ Upper Hunter—except when she’s out campaigning to save the planet for her grandchildren. Visit Sharyn at her website: www.sharynmunro.com.
BACK COVER MATERIAL
By the acclaimed author of The Woman on the Mountain, this collection of true tales about Sharyn Munro’s wild neighbours will delight her scores of fans as well as earn her many new ones. For 30 years Sharyn has shared her mountain forest wildlife refuge with the native animals, from quolls to kookaburras, snakes to kangaroos, frogs to koalas. As her sole companions f
or the past six years, they have provided a wealth of material that Sharyn has captured here in both words and drawings.
From short cherished glimpses to long endured invasions, Sharyn shares her experiences—intimate, humorous and incidentally informative—as well as her hopes and fears for these unique creatures’ futures. So come and take a walk in Sharyn’s gumboots and experience life on the wild side!