Bob Gosford examines the odd relationship between fire and birds in the NT, where cockatoos flock to the still burning grasslands to plunder the seeds and insects that lie cooked on the ground.
Animals
Bug of the week: Golden Drummer Cicada
After quite a few summers of his aimless suburban youth spent chasing Cicadas, Bob Gosford enjoys a glorious crop of Golden Drummer cicadas in Alice Springs, after a wonderfully wet year that has seen record rain,
Snail of the Week
Bob Gosford spent the day poking around under some scattered Mulga trees in the MacDonnell Range, looking for rare snails that live in the delicate moist environment at the base of the trees.
PHOTO GALLERY 
Putin, lover of Russia and furry animals
A most wonderful photo gallery of Russian PM Vladimir Putin posing with different animals. Yes, it’s topless Putin swimming with dolphins, military Putin the horse-whisperer, wild Putin patting a tiger and many more goodies.
Bird of the week – the Night Parrot (maybe) resurfaces
There’s been a recent sighting of the Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis. For a dedicated sub-set of Australian birders the Night Parrot is a “grail” bird, says Bob Gosford.
Why we should kill oil-soaked birds
All the efforts to clean and salvage the oil-soaked birds from the Gulf of Mexico spill are in vain. The most humane thing to do is just kill them, says experts.
PHOTO GALLERY: The animals being drowned in oil
As the Gulf of Mexico spill continues to flow, HuffPo takes a look at the oil-covered pelicans, crabs, fish and seagulls suffering the consequences of BP’s actions.
The tasty temptations of a blue light disco
Is it possible to mistake a colour for a piece of food? It is if you’re an insect. Genetically altered fruit fly larvae mistake the “aroma” of blue light for far more delicious things — like bananas and marzipan.
Save the ugly animals!
Scientists aren’t always logical when it comes to researching endangered animals, with far more studies on cute animals like meerkats than on endangered but less attractive species.
PHOTO GALLERY: Pets behaving badly
Puppies are cute, until they’ve ripped up your couch and eaten all your shoes. A silly but hilarious photo gallery of LA Times’ readers’ pets being busted in compromising positions.
Pour your ants a latte
Ants are pests, sneaking into cupboards and getting into jars. But there are greener ways to kill ants than chemical sprays: like coffee beans, cinnamon and cayenne pepper.
The animals being screwed by the Gulf oil spill
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico couldn’t have come at a worst time for marine life, since its peak spawning season. Bluefin Tuna may be at risk of extinction, a resident pod of sperm walls are under threat and oyster farmers are stressed.
The forgotten heroes of war. An Anzac Day special
The Anzac legacy is a contentious one, but if there’s one aspect of war we can all agree on, it’s that military animals — goats, elephants, dolphins and bear cubs! — are pretty adorable, writes Mel Campbell.
PHOTO GALLERY: The animals disrupting nature’s balance
Just because Mother Nature created them, doesn’t mean they aren’t destroying her. Animals including elephants, cattle, goats — along with your more expected locusts, rats and cane toads — are all destroying the environment.
Bug of the week: f*cking flies
All the rain that has been dumped on central Australia over the past few months has given a stimulus to all sorts of things to go forth and procreate. Cue the flies getting busy, writes Bob Gosford.
Do gay animals exist?
Albatrosses are known for being the most monogamous birds in the animal kingdom, but don’t assume they’re all male and female couples. Jon Mooallem explores the taboo topic of homosexuality in the animal kingdom.
Moth Larvae of the week
A soaked Alice Springs means moth larvae are out in abundance crawling for a feed. Bob Gosford captures the fluffy looking critters, and asks how do you tell if you have a butterfly or a moth?
Video of the Day: Dominating the animal kingdom
In a combination of minor cruelty to animals and a fascinating study of the incredible armadillo, a Japanese TV show sees which animal will walk the maze without knocking down the domino wall surrounding it.
Datapig: low-emission meat means we’re cookin’ with gas
Some animals do a lot more burping and farting than others. Datapig David Gillespie gives the lowdown on which beasties are responsible.
Learning from animals
Ten things that science and technology have pilfered from the animal kingdom, including bullet trains mimicked on kingfisher bills and vibrating walking sticks that copy bat technology (ever heard of ‘blind as a bat’?).
PHOTO GALLERY: Rare photos of exinct animals
From the Bubal Hartebeest to the Quagga to the Syrian Wild Ass: a fascinating-but-depressing gallery of now-extinct beasts captured on film.
Modern design from a Victorian era
The latest hipster home trend? Victoriana oddities like taxidermied dogs and skeletons of birds. Lovers of sleek minimalism look away.
Flying the pet-friendly skies
An animal-only airline has taken off (boom-tish!) in the US, for pets — or owners — who aren’t so keen on the cargo holds of regular airlines. Passengers get pre-boarding walks, playtime, meals and to ride in the main cabin.
How cats control your brain
Finally: scientific proof that cats do, in fact, have secret powers of mind control and will eventually rule us all. All hail our new fuzzy overlords!
