top of page
Rick LeCouteur
Inviting young readers to marvel at the wonder of nature's creatures
Rick's Blog
#bunyipsbooksbeyond
Use the menu below to explore "All Posts," or delve into selected topics like "Children's Picture Books", and more.
Search
RIck LeCouteur
6 days ago5 min read
From Predator to Purse: The truth behind crocodile leather (#271)
Crocodiles have roamed the Earth for over 200 million years, outliving the dinosaurs and surviving mass extinctions. Â As apex predators,...
6 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Mar 53 min read
Hierarchy of Life: How humans rank the natural world (#264)
Anthropocentrism and speciesism are closely related but distinct concepts.  Both involve human attitudes toward other species, but they...
38 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Jan 273 min read
The Flightless Cormorant: A symbol of resilience in peril (#241)
Will your grandchildren be able to see a flightless cormorant in the wild?  The Galápagos Islands are a place of wonder, a natural...
12 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Jan 42 min read
Bonza Biodiversity Bonanza: Australia’s expanding protected areas (#218)
As the world grappled with its share of challenges in 2024, Australia quietly achieved some remarkable milestones in conservation. Â ...
13 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Nov 1, 20243 min read
Wildlife in the City: Red-tailed hawks and urban wildlife adaptation (#124)
What does it take for a wild hunter to survive in our urban jungle, and what can we do to help it thrive? Â This morning, glancing above...
26 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Oct 30, 20243 min read
Murmurations: Nature's masterclass in teamwork and trust (#123)
Today, I watched a murmuration of starlings.  It started me thinking.  The mesmerizing dance of a  murmuration  - a vast flock of...
28 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Oct 28, 20244 min read
Echoes of Extinction: The urgent call to heal our planet (#120)
As we peer out over an ever-evolving landscape of environmental crises it becomes clear that the damage to our planet is no longer a...
23 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Oct 28, 20243 min read
Australia’s Unlikely Hero: How the white ibis tackles toxic toads (#119)
In Australia, few creatures are as notorious as the white ibis, or, as locals dub them, the "bin chicken." Â Known for its scavenging...
23 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Oct 15, 20243 min read
Probing the Depths: The Ibis and its tactile super sense (#114)
Ever wondered how ibises manage to find food hidden deep in murky waters or buried beneath layers of mud? Â With their long, curved...
37 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Oct 13, 20244 min read
Feral Cats Down Under: The Feral Cat Invasion (#111)
In the vast and rugged landscapes of Australia, a silent predator roams undetected. Its presence is barely noticed, yet its impact is...
14 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Oct 11, 20243 min read
Jizz vs. Gestalt: Decoding the subtle art of bird identification (#106)
In the world of birdwatching and ornithology, identifying a bird is rarely just about analyzing a list of specific features like size,...
13 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Oct 10, 20243 min read
Five Years to Save the Planet: Call to action (#105)
In the next five years, the fate of every living creature on Earth could be sealed. As wildlife populations plummet and ecosystems teeter...
7 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Sep 28, 20243 min read
The Colugo: Borneo’s mysterious gliding marvel (#93)
Dive into the shadowy canopies of Southeast Asia's lush rainforests where the colugo, often mistaken for a flying lemur, performs its...
4 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Sep 26, 20243 min read
Wallace's Line: Nature’s invisible divide (#90)
In the heart of Southeast Asia lies an invisible boundary that has fascinated scientists and naturalists for over a century. Known as the...
14 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Sep 25, 20242 min read
Rosettes of the Wild: Jaguars vs. Leopards (#88)
When you think of big cats like jaguars and leopards, it’s easy to get lost in the mesmerizing beauty of their fur. But these patterns...
20 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Sep 25, 20243 min read
Birds' Bills: More than just a beak (#86)
Birds' bills are remarkable structures that play a crucial role in their survival and interaction with the environment. Often used...
8 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Sep 23, 20242 min read
Hunting with a Punch: Octopus-fish alliances and leadership (#82)
What happens when a solitary octopus teams up with a diverse group of fish to hunt? Surprisingly, it’s not just about cooperation - it’s...
12 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Sep 17, 20243 min read
Rainbow in Feathers: The outback’s most vibrant bird (#77)
Imagine a bird so vibrant it seems painted by the hand of an artist - a living rainbow darting through the Australian outback. Meet the...
10 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Sep 16, 20244 min read
Vanishing in the Arctic: The plight of the snowy owl (#74)
Imagine a vast, snowy landscape, where the silence is broken only by the faint rustle of wings and the sharp, piercing gaze of a Snowy...
5 views
0 comments
RIck LeCouteur
Sep 15, 20244 min read
Invisible Barriers: Bird migration, high-rise hazards, and Flaco's urban tale (#73)
Every year, billions of birds embark on epic migrations, traversing continents and oceans in search of breeding grounds and warmer...
24 views
0 comments
bottom of page