Newsletter – January 2025

 

Greetings Friends,

This monthly newsletter (No. 48) includes, hottest year on record, value of birdwatching, Lee Point DHA housing project, quiz, plants and wildlife.

 

1.0 Hottest year on record

The year 2024 was the world’s hottest on record globally and global average temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above its pre-industrial levels – refer Guardian article.

Fig 1. Chart on left shows global average temperatures relative to pre-industrial levels.

 

In 2024, Darwin recorded the highest number of days with a maximum temperature equal or greater than 35 C – 48 days (~7 weeks) – refer Extreme weather watch. The Australian Institute has made temperature predictions to 2090 for Darwin.

City of Darwin has been trying to cool Darwin by planting more trees (to increase canopy cover) and taking actions to protect urban forests and biodiversity. They also want a moratorium on land clearing at Lee Point, refer Newsletter Oct 21.

 

2.0 Lee Point DHA Housing Project

Alleged illegal clearing – This 7-minute video, Unacceptable Impact by the ABC News in July 2024 provides background on the clearing breach in May 2024.

The Development Consent Authority (DCA) decided that the clearing breach was no longer continuing and no further action was required. FLP have applied to NTCAT to have the DCA decision reviewed. People are calling for action – read more

Missing reports – hundreds of scientists have called on government to find an alternative location for the Lee Point housing project. The current site requires an “environmental offset” because of a significant environmental impact.

FLP have made numerous requests to the Australian Government for reports on what other sites were considered to:

· avoid an environmental offset at Lee Point or

· optimise long term public benefit for defence housing

DHA have had three ministers since 2020, the latest being MP Matt Keogh. None of these ministers have provided any information on what other sites were considered.

Larrakia, tradititonal owners of Darwin, don’t want housing at Lee Point.

 

3.0 Value of birdwatching

 
Fig 2. Birdwatching can bring positive lasting impacts to the mood and mental wellbeing for people of all ages and abilities – photo Lisa Cox USFWS.

 

US Fish and Wildlife Service reported that the economic benefit of birdwatching has been soaring in the US with 96 million people (3 in 10 people) engaged in birdwatching. Birders spent over $100 billion US in 2022. In comparison, the total NFL revenue was $20 billion.

Darwin is a birdwatcher’s paradise and has great potential for increasing the economic benefits from birdwatching. However, this means looking after key Darwin birdwatching sites such as Lee Point. Planning for Lee Point has further information.

Five senators and two MLA’s went birdwatching at Lee Point/Binybara in 2024. We are hoping more elected representatives and federal candidates will join us this year.

 
Fig 3. Senators on a Wilderness Walk

 

Images of 2024 has photos of what happened at Lee Point/Binybara in 2024 including photos of senators and MLA’s that went birdwatching.

Calendars with photos and artwork from 2024 are now on sale at Sunday Nightcliff Markets. Some months feature birds from Lee Point/Binybara.

 
Fig 4. Front cover of calendar showing Lee Point dam.

 

4.0  Quiz

Q1. This plant is seen around Lee Point dam and in other places. Do you know its name?

 
Fig. 5 Flowers

 

5.0 Plants and Wildlife

 

Fig 6. Sundews (a carnivorous plant) have been appearing with the recent rains.

 

 

Fig 7. Lesser Wanderer Butterfly

 

 

Fig 8 Masked Finch (top) and Chestnut-breasted Mannikan Finch.

 

Wilderness Walks

 
Fig 9 Savanna woodland habitat after recent rains.

Wilderness Walks record between 25 to 50 bird species(according to time of year), refer ebird for latest sightings. Please check FLP Facebook for times.

 

Enjoy the monsoon when it comes

 

Answers to Quiz

Answer Q1 – Butterfly Pea or Asian Pigeon Wings (Clitoria ternatea).

This plant is native to the Indonesian island of Ternate – refer Wikipedia