Treeswift Wildlife & Nature

01/04/2023

Gang-gang Cockatoo at our Community Day!

30/03/2023

Always lovely to see a Magpie Goose...or two (hundred)!

Magpie Geese are one of the few bird species that can actually digest toxic plants. This is because they have a special adaptation in their gut that allows them to break down the toxic compounds in certain plants and use them for nutrition.

30/03/2023

Here are some spectacular highlights of the amazing night we had on Tuesday- Feathertail Glider, Southern Boobook and Southern Greater Glider!

It's amazing how much wildlife there is in our forests, most of which can be found not too far out of the city!

A big thanks to Lena Schlegel (instagram: ) for sharing these fantastic photos, and congratulations on getting such amazing shots 📷 🦉🌙

29/03/2023

🦞 Time for something a little different!

Last night we were lucky enough to find a Central Highlands Burrowing Crayfish (Engaeus affinis) whilst on a custom nocturnal tour in the Healesville region.

They are a tiny little creature, only around 6cm or so in length and a striking bright golden/orange colour (this iPhone picture doesn't do it justice!).

A rarely seen animal, they spend most of their time underground in communal burrows in yellow clay and seepage area along tree fern creeks. Sometimes at night, the males will venture out for a walk along the forest floor - just like this guy!

You can learn more about this fascinating animal by visiting our WildGuide page: https://treeswiftwildlife.com/central-highlands-burrowing-crayfish/

28/03/2023

It's , our favourite day of the week!

Meet Mr. Grumpy! This Tawny Frogmouth might look cute, but it's not in the mood for socialising today 😒

Maybe it didn't get enough sleep, or maybe it's just not a morning (evening?) bird. Either way, we're giving him his space and letting him be grumpy in peace!

Who else can relate? 😂

27/03/2023

We love our Wildlife Photography Classes at the zoo!

Ready to take some spectacular images? We've just added a whole new set of dates as well as a gallery on the website featuring some of our participants photos!

Check it out: https://treeswiftwildlife.com/wildlife-photography-class-the-zoo/

27/03/2023

Meet the Krefft's Glider, a tiny flying marsupial from Australia that glides through the air with the greatest of ease!

These little guys might be small, but they sure are mighty. Not only can they glide up to 50~ metres at a time, but they are expert climbers, jumpers and nectar-pollen-insect finders!

They are one of the most regular (and most-loved) species of our nocturnal tours. Thanks to David for sharing his exceptional capture of this one lapping up sap from a Silver Wattle last week during our Nocturnal Photography Class!

26/03/2023

Another weekend, another Greater Glider tour, and another $600 raised for the Wildlife Crisis Appeal WWF-Australia and the Kinglake Friends of the Forest Inc.

We had a spectacular night out (one of our best ever!) with 35x Southern Greater Glider, 6x Yellow-bellied Glider, 1x Krefft's Glider as well as a spectacular encounter with a pair of Greater Sooty Owl!

Want to help protect our wet forest icons and witness these incredible species for yourself? Join us on an upcoming Greater Glider Nocturnal Walk, we'd love to have you!

Details on our website: https://treeswiftwildlife.com/greater-glider-conservation-tours/

Images by Jonathan Aitken

25/03/2023

🐵 🦓 Looking for a unique and exciting way to improve your photography skills? Join our photography classes at the zoo, where you'll have the opportunity to capture stunning wildlife shots just like Margaret's incredible photo of a Gorilla!

Our classes have been in high demand and have sold out quickly, but we have great news for you! We've just added a new set of dates to our schedule, so there's still time to sign up and join us for an unforgettable experience.

Don't miss out on this chance to learn from experienced photographers and capture breathtaking images of exotic animals. Head to our website now to secure your spot before it's too late!

Learn more: https://treeswiftwildlife.com/wildlife-photography-class-the-zoo/

24/03/2023

Have you heard about the Helmeted Honeyeater? It's a critically endangered subspecies of the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater and is endemic to Victoria.

This particular bird was photographed by Geoff Anderson (.d.anderson) on a recent photography class visit to Healesville Sanctuary.

Zoos Victoria began a recovery program for the Helmeted Honeyeater in 1989 and are committed to the captive breeding of the birds to increase their numbers in the wild. Their program includes reducing potential threats to their existence and establishing a stable wild population at ten distinct but inter-connected colonies.

24/03/2023

🍃 The Sydney Red Gum, Angophora costata, has just been named 2023 Eucalypt of the Year!

Read all about it at the following link from Remember The Wild

The Sydney Red Gum, Angophora costata, has just been named 2023 Eucalypt of the Year! It's no wonder the tree is so well-loved, with those fantastically wiggly limbs that capture the imagination, and smooth red bark that calls out to be touched!

23/03/2023

Here are a few non-bird-or-mammal critters from our walk last night at Blackburn Lake in Melbourne. From L-R we have Striped Marsh Frog, Orange-rimmed Satin Moth, Mountain Huntsman and Delicate Garden Sunskink.

Besides the amazing Tawny Frogmouth, Krefft's Glider, Grey-headed Flying Fox and numerous Common Ringtail Possum we usually see, it’s always great to stop and appreciate the wonderful diversity of the entire natural kingdom, from bug to berry, frog to fern, and lizard to lionfish. You never know what you’re going to see!

(All pics taken on an iPhone)

22/03/2023

🍄 👻 A nice clump of Ghost Fungus this morning! We can’t wait to head back after dark to photograph their ghostly bioluminescent glow!

22/03/2023

A few sneaky shots of the beautiful ironbark forest we recently explored one of our bird walks. Highlight species included Southern Brown Tree Frog, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Scarlet Robin, White-throated Needletail, Blue-winged Parrot, Pale-flecked Garden Sunskin, Leaf-curling Spider and heaps more!

21/03/2023

🌿 We enjoyed another lovely encounter on our WIldlife Photography Course yesterday, when this Eastern Yellow Robin decided to jump up on an old mossy tree fern! Very exciting!

21/03/2023

A majestic Great Crested Tern surveys his ocean kingdom from atop his throne of salt and brine.

Thanks Alan for sharing your image with us - captured on our Bellarine Peninsula Wildlife Photography Weekend.

20/03/2023

For us, one of the most rewarding experiences is sharing in the wonderful photographic achievements of our guests.

Take this absolutely stunning composition by Andrea B who attended our recent class at Healesville Sanctuary. This lovely capture highlights the stunning gold/white spots around the face of the female Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, one of our most beloved native species.

Congratulations Andrea, thanks for joining us and for sharing your gorgeous photo!

20/03/2023

A nice start to the week out on our Melbourne-based Wildlife Photography Course. Our first spot featured Tawny Frogmouth, Mistletoebird, Crimson Rosella, White-winged Chough, Laughing Kookaburra, and dozens of Eastern Grey Kangaroo!

Believe it or not, this photo was taken on an iPhone!

19/03/2023

An Australian Boobook courtesy of Julie M, who captured this fantastic image on our recent Nocturnal Photography Class!

Have you seen an Australian Boobook before?

17/03/2023

🐸 A big fat Pobblebonk (or Eastern Banjo Frog) found last night on one of our nocturnal tours.

What a gorgeous looking frog!

17/03/2023

Time for a bit of good news to end your week!

In the 6 months we have been organising our Greater Glider Fundraising Nocturnal Walks, we are proud to share that we have raised over $4,000 in donations. It has been our pleasure to support the outstanding conservation efforts coordinated by Kinglake Friends of the Forest Inc and WWF-Australia and look forward to continuing our partnerships with them, and many other groups, in the future.

The Southern Greater Glider, and many other Wet Forest species, are under constant threat by land clearing, climate change, exotic predators, and more, so it has been our great pleasure to take out over 80 people to see these magnificent animals in the wild and help spread the message of conservation.

If you'd like to help support us and have always wanted to see a Greater Glider in the wild, we have a whole suite of new dates scheduled across 2023. We hope you'll join us in protecting the wet forest specialists and will consider joining us on a nocturnal fundraiser walk soon!

Details for future walks here: https://treeswiftwildlife.com/greater-glider-conservation-tours/

17/03/2023

As the day draws to a close, the world is treated to one of the most beautiful natural displays that can be witnessed - the sunset. The sky transforms into a canvas of vibrant colours, ranging from deep oranges and fiery reds to soft pinks and purples.

One of the best times to witness a sunset is during the dusk hours, when the sky is slowly transitioning from daylight to darkness. During this time, the colors in the sky become more intense and vivid, as if nature is putting on a grand show before the day comes to a close.

Thanks to Greg McMillan Photography who captured this particularly stunning dusk sunset on a recent Treeswift Wildlife & Nature photography tour.

16/03/2023

The Beautiful Firetail is one of Australia's most stunning and sought-after native finches. They can also be exceptionally tricky to connect with, so we were thrilled to observe these juvenile birds enjoying a dustbath on our tour through Wilsons Promontory last week.

Have you seen a Beautiful Firetail before?

You can learn more about this fascinating species by checking out the WildGuide entry on our website: https://treeswiftwildlife.com/beautiful-firetail/

15/03/2023

An Australian Magpie warblers out across the magnificent blue of the Bass Strait. It doesn't get much perfect (or Aussie!) than this!

15/03/2023

We're back at Healesville Sanctuary this Friday for our classic Zoo Photography Class! Only 1x spot left, so get in fast and snap it up!

Come along, and you might just get a Barking Owl snap like this one!

Details here: https://treeswiftwildlife.com/wildlife-photography-class-the-zoo/