Azure Kingfisher spotted on Bruny Island

May 23, 2018

Tasmanian Azure Kingfisher

"Calling all Wildlife lovers!" ??…common Azure Kingfisher - not so fast?! This 'Tasmanian Azure Kingfisher' ( Calyx aureus subsp. diemenensis ) is endangered and endemic to Tasmania - and to our knowledge - has never been photographed on Bruny Island with only a handful of irregular 'unconfirmed' sightings in the past; 'hence, it was considered to have never existed on Bruny.' So, you could imagine our excitement in having this beautiful specimen frequent our 'Bruny Island Coastal Retreat's' nature reserve - obviously due to being exceptionally rare throughout Tasmania, let alone Bruny - but then our complete dismay to learn of the federal 'Department of Environment' (who are tasked with stopping Australia's world-leading and accelerating species extinction rate) having its job numbers slashed by a third, all in the same day!

What's the population of this beautiful bird - 'numbers are scarce estimates'? Are they holding steady or heading towards extinction - 'no one knows'? Unfortunately, the only authority that 'monitored such' is experiencing its own reclassification from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered and most likely hastening the negative trend for many Australian species by receiving yet another nail in their collective coffin!

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More Bruny Island Journal

Bruny Island IGS Art drawing

November 13, 2017

IGS art camp at Bruny Island Lodge

Students and teachers from International Grammar School Sydney stayed Bruny Island Lodge for an art camp. Using inspiration from the natural surroundings, they worked together to create works of art.

Unloading a car at Brooke St Pier

November 3, 2017

Travelling to South Bruny Island

If you live on an island you may as well enjoy the journey, because getting here is just a fact of life, as it has been for generations of people who have called Bruny Island home

Amy and Kim get married

April 4, 2018

Amy and Kim get married

Congratulations to Amy & Kim on getting married. They held their wedding ceremony and reception at Bruny Island Lodge.

Old photo of Bruny Island Lighthouse taken in December 1912

September 11, 2017

Keepers of the Light: Cape Bruny Lighthouse

Cape Bruny Light keepers have been doing battle with nature since 1838. Tending the light to ensure that maritime travellers did not meet the same grisly end as so many before them had done, it was an arduous and unrelenting life.