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Rick LeCouteur
Inviting young readers to marvel at the wonder of nature's creatures
Rick's Blog
#bunyipsbooksbeyond
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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...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 26, 20243 min read
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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...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 25, 20242 min read
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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...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 25, 20243 min read
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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...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 23, 20242 min read
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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...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 17, 20243 min read
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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...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 16, 20244 min read
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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...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 15, 20244 min read
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Tales with Tails: Animals in children's picture books (#72)
Young readers generally have a fondness for animals, a sentiment that literature has effectively harnessed for educational purposes....
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 14, 20242 min read
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The Secret Behind Eyeshine: Evolution of the tapetum lucidum (#71)
When you shine a flashlight into the woods at night, you might catch a glimpse of glowing eyes staring back at you. This eerie...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 14, 20243 min read
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Wild Hearts: 7 inspiring ways to teach kids to respect wildlife (#68)
In an increasingly urbanized world, fostering a deep respect for wildlife in children is more important than ever. By nurturing this...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 12, 20242 min read
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Fur Seals: Seals or sea lions? (#67)
Despite their name, fur seals are not true seals but are more closely related to sea lions. Taxonomically, fur seals and sea lions belong...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 12, 20241 min read
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Seal vs. Sea Lion: A quick guide to telling them apart (#66)
Have you ever found yourself gazing at a group of sunbathing marine mammals along the shore, wondering whether they’re seals or sea...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 11, 20243 min read
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Krill and Consequences: The industrial threat to whales in Antarctica (#65)
Just as they begin to rebound from the brink of extinction, the great whales of the Southern Ocean now face a new, insidious threat....
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 10, 20242 min read
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Nature's Gender Divide: A tale of sexual dimorphism (#62)
Imagine walking through a lush forest and spotting two birds of the same species - one dazzles with vivid colors, while the other blends...
Rick LeCouteur
Sep 3, 20243 min read
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