Let's Save the World
The Eco Preservation Society isn't forcing one to take extreme steps, but rather encouraging each of us to take a minumum of one eco friendly step toward becoming more sustainable. If most of us take one step then as a complete, we could make a substantial difference.
Mission Statement
The Eco Preservation Society is a membership, educational and networking organization specializing in the promotion of sustainable human action focused on achieving positive environmental effects. Our job is to market study, travel and instruction applications that advance environmental awareness and facilitate public consciousness with a call to action.
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The University of Queensland is seeking potential Category C members for their Animal Ethics Committees.
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Threatened Species Commissioner Sally Box this week announced the launch of the Australian Government’s new 10-year Threatened Species Strategy.
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On 30 April 2021, 46 reclassifications were made to the conservation status of fauna and flora species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
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PlatypusWatch Network and WPSQ Upper Dawson Branch will run two workshops in the Taroom region on 26 June 2021 for community members who would like to learn about platypuses and how they can get involved in an exciting citizen science project.
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Wildlife Queensland commends the Palaszczuk Government’s stand against the Federal Government’s attempts to further weaken Australia’s environmental laws.
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Join Wildlife Queensland and guest presenters, Dr Teresa Eyre and Josh Bowell and Sam Horton for a fascinating free one-hour webinar about Australia's greater gliders.
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Learn about the greater glider and how you can help protect and conserve this vulnerable species in this fantastic free greater glider event series.
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Wildlife Queensland’s Scenic Rim Branch is calling for volunteers to help plant trees this month to link critical habitats across the Scenic Rim.
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Wildlife Queensland was pleased to donate part proceeds from the 2020/2021 Batty Boat Cruise season to Bat Conservation and Rescue Qld Inc. (BCRQ) in April.
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Fraser Coast Backyard BioBlitzes 2020-2021 2021 Fraser Coast Summer Backyard BioBlitz (13-14 February 2021) Read a Summary of Observations made on the iNaturalistAU website. 2020 Fraser Coast Spring Backyard BioBlitz #5 (10-11 October 2020) Read a Summary of Observations made on the iNaturalistAU website. Fraser Coast Backyard BioBlitz #4 (25 – 26 July 2020) Read ...
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Butterflies and gliders and platys, oh my! Find out what the Wildlife Queensland projects team has been up to in April.
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huge effect on how (and for how long) you use your kitchen. As a result, it's important to conduct research prior to purchasing cabinetry.We'll take a closer look at these materials to see if they're a good fit for your kitchen:
Medium Density Fiberboard
MDF is a thick, solid composite made from reclaimed wood filaments, wax, and a resin binder. It's CNC-processed under high pressure and commonly used as cut-outs for single-piece kitchen frames. It is much denser and heavier than particle board, making it an excellent option for kitchen cabinets. But it's the simplicity of MDF that sets it apart. MDF is free of knots and rings, making it more uniform in cutting and use than natural woods. The typical MDF surface is rough, flat, and smooth, making it suitable for veneering, painting, and just about every other treatment. It's also a gluable, dowelable, and laminateable material. MDF is therefore less costly than most natural forests, which is a plus. Then what's the only flaw? If not sealed, MDF has a tendency to warp.
Compressed wood
Many cabinet makers tend to use pressed materials (such as plywood) when creating their cabinets. And it's not without excuse. It's a moderately low-cost material that has better damp resistance and is generally more stable than MDF. It's a sheet material made from glued together thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer with neighboring layers' wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees from one another. It's a common choice in many Scandinavian kitchens and can be used in a variety of settings.
Chipboard
Cabinets made of chipboard or particleboard are perhaps the least conventional cabinet construction type. Chipboard is a composite consisting of wood chips and flakes, sawdust, and wood fibers, all of which are glued together with an adhesive under heat and pressure. Since it's actually scraps of wood ground into small parts with glue keeping it all together, this mixture isn't as powerful as the others. When cost is more critical than strength and appearance, chipboard is typically the best choice. However, the low price comes at a cost. Particleboard has the downside of being vulnerable to moisture-induced expansion and discoloration, particularly if it is not sealed with paint or another sealant.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel gives a kitchen a modern feel, and it's not the same thing as wood. Stainless steel was first used in commercial kitchens, but it has since made its way into many home kitchens. It's easy to understand why. Since stainless steel does not expand and contract like wood, it is a great choice for damp areas (like kitchens). Stainless steel is also corrosion-resistant, robust, and simple to clean. All of this comes at an expense, as stainless steel cabinet frames and doors are significantly more expensive than other manufactured woods.
It takes a lot of research to find the perfect cabinet materials for your kitchen project. Since cupboards take up such a big area of the room, it’s important to know the difference between the choices out there.
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Give Mum a subscription to Wildlife Australia and we will send her a beautiful set of 8 Steve Parish Inspired by Nature booklets.
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Pollyanna the platypus is a part of important population research being conducted by UQ PhD Candidate and PlatypusWatch ecologist, Tamielle Brunt.
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Wildlife Queensland Fraser Coast used the COVID pandemic to set up a new Backyard BioBlitz program for members and other wildlife enthusiasts.
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In an historic decision, the Queensland Parliament unanimously passed the Waste Reduction and Recycling (Plastic Items) Amendment Bill 2020 today to ban certain single-use plastics from use.
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The role of windows in the kitchenWindows in the kitchen serve the same purpose as windows in every other space in the house: they provide light and ventilation while also providing a great deal of architectural versatility.
In a kitchen, ventilation allows for a breeze in a space that would otherwise be hot, but windows above cooking flames should be avoided. You may also want to think of other uses for windows in your kitchen, such as access to outdoor window box planters, a pass-through to an outdoor dining room, or a view of small children playing in the yard.
If you're planning a major renovation, it's a good idea to have a contractor come in to discuss your options.
Styles and Materials for Kitchen Windows
Let's look at some choices now that we've addressed the aims and drawbacks of windows. To begin, there are several common window styles for kitchens:
Casement windows are windows that open outwards.
These are the windows that are hinged to the frame and swing open like a door with a crank shaft. These are flexible and can be used in almost any room. They are also used in pairs to produce a striking image. Casement windows open with a crank, allowing for optimal airflow (a plus in the kitchen) and the ability to "scoop" air from a passing breeze. When you need to reach over a sink or cabinet to operate a window, casement and awning windows are preferable to double-hung windows in the kitchen.
Windows with awnings
These functional little windows are hinged at the top and open outwards to provide coverage for the opening. Awning windows are useful not just because of their size, but also because they can be opened even when it's raining, which is especially useful for a small window above the kitchen sink.
Windows with a bay or bow shape
For a bay window, one wide central window is framed by two smaller angled windows, and for a bow window, four or five similarly sized windows are arranged in an angled curve. Both take up a lot of room but have a beautiful view of the outside. They often provide extra storage space for items that need sunshine, such as potted plants or herbs.
Window placement in the kitchen
Kitchen windows are typically higher than windows in other rooms, so 42 inches should be enough to accommodate lower cabinets, counters, and backsplash. Working within the limits of your exterior walls, aim to place windows to optimize natural light and weather movement from west to east. East and west-facing windows gain or lose more heat than windows facing north or south.
The traditional positioning of windows above a kitchen sink allows you to gaze out while washing, but today's modern kitchens offer you more options. Many homeowners are foregoing upper cabinets in favor of a wider view and a more flexible design with more windows.
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Wildlife Queensland’s Yellow-Bellied Glider Project team has had recent success locating yellow-bellied glider colonies in the western suburbs of Logan.
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Wildlife Queensland's Batty Boat Valentine's Day Cruise on 14 February was a big hit, with passengers receiving a special Valentine's Day choc and raffle prizes awarded to four excited winners.
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Wildlife Queensland Townsville Branch Vice President Liz Downes recounts the recently completed 56th successive year series of pied imperial-pigeon counts at North Brook Island.
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Clean Up Australia Day is on Sunday, 7 March. Wildlife Queensland branches are once again hosting clean up events throughout the state and encourage residents to get involved.
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Register for this event About the event Topic: The Richmond Birdwing Butterfly When: Wednesday, 24 March 2021; 10:30 – 11:30 AM (AEST – Brisbane timezone) Where: Zoom webinar In this FREE one-hour Wildlife Queensland webinar, special guest presenters, Dr Ian Gynther (Department of Environment & Science) and Richard Bull (Richard Birdwing Conservation Network) will ...
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Wildlife Queensland’s Upper Dawson branch and the PlatypusWatch Network are calling for citizen scientists to be part of an important platypus project in the Upper Dawson River.
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Wildlife Queensland has renewed its call for a state-wide ban on the use of enclosed yabby traps (opera house nets) in Queensland.
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PlatypusWatch Network needs your support to change the legislation/regulation around the use of Opera House Nets in Queensland.
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Our recent Upper Dawson Branch gathering on Duke’s Plain brought together a friendly group of members from around Taroom and Theodore for our first outing of the year.
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Using Containers That Are TightAll food should be kept in airtight jars to prevent bugs from gaining access to it.
Place Traps and Pesticides
Use roach or ant sprays, or put boric acid or diatomaceous earth in hard-to-reach cracks and areas of your kitchen. All of these pesticides will last for several weeks if used properly.
Using baited roach traps to get rid of roaches. The boric acid should suffice for ants. Cut up some lemons and squeeze them all over windows and sinks for a homemade ant repellent... Ants dislike the smell, so your kitchen will have a new, lemony scent.
Maintain a Safe Atmosphere
Remove and clean all dishes from the sink at all times. Enable no dishes to pile up in your sink. The safest place for bugs to attack is there. Often, wipe down all of the counters with a decent household cleaner on a regular basis. Cleaning your kitchen takes time, but it is necessary if you want to combat the bug problem. To stop a re-infestation, keep your kitchen tidy, put all food away, and clear the garbage on a regular basis. Drop naphthalene balls in kitchen corners (bugs fear the smell), pour bleach down drains on a daily basis, and cover cracks on the exterior and interior of your house.
Ant Traps for Your Kitchen: Various Styles
Household ants can cause a lot of problems in your kitchen, so you should consider using ant traps, sprays, or bait to get rid of them. Since most sprays are toxic, they should not be used in the kitchen or anywhere else in the house, especially if you have small children or pets. Ant traps do not catch the insects because they are simply bait containers containing an insecticide and attractant. Ants come in, eat, and then return to their nest, bringing small pieces of bait to feed the queen and the rest of the colony.
Stuff to Think About When Selecting an Efficient Ant Trap
You must first recognize the type of ants that have invaded your home before choosing the most appropriate ant trap for them. There are over 12,000 different types of ants in the world, resulting in a plethora of species. However, there are around a half-dozen different types of household ants. Once you've found the insects, you'll need to find out how to get rid of them. Note that a good battle against the enemy is highly dependent on accurate identification: some ant forms are more drawn to certain traps than others. If you're uncertain, you should seek advice from a pest control company.
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The RBCN and Moreton Bay Regional Council hosted a birdwing butterfly vine workshop earlier this month for Land for Wildlife property owners in the Moreton Bay region.
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The Natura Pacific team partnered up with Matt Cecil (WPSQ) and Dr Teresa Eyre (DES) late in 2020 to produce an episode of the 'Back from the Brink' series examining the story of the greater gliders.
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Thank you for supporting our Quoll Quest Christmas Appeal 2020 to save the endangered spotted-tailed quoll. Your generous donations will fund surveys in identified bushland areas between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast to understand if spotted-tailed quolls still inhabit the region.
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Despite the challenges of COVID-19, 2020 saw good progress in the war on Australia’s fire ant invasion with the continued roll-out of the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program throughout South East Queensland.
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The Final Report from Professor Graeme Samuel's independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act was tabled in Parliament on 28 January and is now available online.
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The field survey component of the most comprehensive survey of Queensland's crocodile population in over a decade has been completed.
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QGN has continued monitoring glider populations across the Brisbane region in addition to surveying for gliders in the West Logan region with some significant early findings.
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University of Queensland (UQ) student Taylor McGregor completed a three-month placement with Wildlife Queensland in 2020 as part of the Society's Student Placement Program. Read about Taylor and her experience at Wildlife Queensland.
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Wildlife Queensland Townsville Vice President, Liz Downes, is the 2020 Queensland Volunteer of the Year!
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Platypus habitat in Australia has shrunk by 22 per cent in 30 years and the animal should now be listed as a nationally threatened species, according to new research led by the University of New South Wales.
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As the newly elected Palaszczuk Government swings into action, it must plan to deliver a number of significant pre-election commitments for the environment,
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Pollinator Link® members Jake Slinger and Michael Fox discuss how a new citizen science project will help urban residents create wildlife-friendly gardens to benefit pollinators.
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This World Wildlife Conservation Day, we invite you to join us in commemorating and remembering the nearly three billion animals killed or displaced during Australia's devastating Black Summer bushfires.
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The Queensland Government has just introduced legislation to ban plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and plates/bowls in Queensland. Subject to consultation, it will include expanded polystyrene (foam) cups and clamshell containers.
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Degree of hosting: Close company Every great kitchen starts out with the basics! First things first: pick the star performer for you. Aiming for memorably tender steaks to flip? Consider the classic gas grill that's built-in. Will you rather smoke meat over crackling charcoal? A kamado grill or BBQ smoker can't go wrong. With a pizza oven, bring Italian crunch into your space; every time you bake flawless pies! Our checklist for outdoor kitchens expands on these principles, suiting every intent. Note that your primary attraction affects your needs for protection. Ventilation is also a great start: add an overhead vent hood and island vent panels, and note that an insulated jacket is required for any built-in grill. The grill and the island are covered from each other!
Degree of hosting: Friends & family
It is easier than you would imagine to bring your better backyard life up a notch. We call the game "Grilling and Chilling" at this stage! Enjoy hotter fire (and more sizzling steel to deal with), hold kitchen equipment within reach (but beyond sight), and enough ice to make any penguin jealous (and engineering a cunning plan to steal that ice maker). This level of design of outdoor kitchens provides greater capacity with a lot more comfort. For more ideas on what to add to your dream outdoor room, be sure to check out the BBQ kitchen checklist above!
Degree of hosting: Blowout Barbecue
You've found it for those of you who really want the finest outdoor entertainment. We're talking about more cooking, more storage, more refrigeration, and premium seating and ambience to wrap the room with outstanding luxury. It's time to pull out all the stops here. You suddenly squeeze year-round enjoyment out of your investment when you have a patio heater (one of our favorite additions to any outdoor area). To create the place to be for any televised event, add an outdoor-rated TV.
Security of kitchens
Clearance
Our crazy science has told us after diligent experimentation (and too many singing eyebrows), the following: covering a fire with claustrophobic walls and a low ceiling just makes the fire angrier. On an unrelated note, when he drops by on his day off, we've learned to pat down Chef Tony for lighters. From our due diligence, learn! The first rule in the safety code is respecting kitchen clearances: mind those gaps and beat the sun!
Ventilation procedures
That's right: for as long as it takes, we'll bang this drum. Ventilation does not necessarily shield the visitors away from smoke and odor (and you, as you stand over your smoking flames). It even vents away discoloration, streaking smoke, and grease from the surfaces of your kitchen. Meanwhile, scorching heat is sucked out, incidentally, less risk of a fire hazard. As outdoor kitchen ventilation is sometimes a zoning code requirement, consult with your local property laws.
Jackets of Isolation
Several outdoor kitchen islands are made with combustible materials and have a solid grill. The problem here can already be found by those of you who recall a few science classes. These stainless steel buffers restrict the roaring heat of the rest of your kitchen investment from accessing the humble insulated jacket. They even protect the undercarriage of your grill from corrosion and weathering! Treated or not, every island needs an adequate insulated jacket, also partially constructed with flammable materials.
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Containers for Change, Queensland’s container refund scheme, was introduced on 1 November 2018 to help clean up our state. The scheme aims to increase recycling rates and reduce litter by encouraging Queenslanders to exchange eligible drink containers for a 10 cent refund. As members and supporters of Wildlife Queensland know we were a strong advocate ...
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Wildlife Queensland’s popular December Batty Boat Cruise is back and it’s the perfect way to celebrate the festive season with friends or family.
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Wildlife Queensland’s Platypus Watch Network has been granted $26,930 from the state government to survey and document the population distribution of platypuses within the upper Dawson River and tributaries around the Taroom region.
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In this one-hour webinar, Matt Cecil (Wildlife Queensland) and Dr Sean Fitzgibbon (University of Queensland) will provide a fascinating look at Queensland’s quolls, with a specific focus on the endangered spotted-tailed quoll. Learn about these amazing marsupials, their habitat and ecology, as well as the threats they face and current conservation initiatives.
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In this special webinar, co-hosted by Archdiocese of Brisbane and Wildlife Queensland, resident platypus ecologist Tamielle Brunt talks about: the uniqueness and importance of platypuses threats to platypus populations in south-east Queensland platypus survey methods and findings PlatypusWatch Network – Wildlife Queensland’s community-based program what you can do to help platypuses. Download the presentation Protecting ...
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Wildlife Queensland’s Quoll Seekers Network is continuing the search for the elusive spotted-tailed quoll in areas north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and into the Mary River Catchment – and they need your help!
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In the lead-up to the State general election, Wildlife Queensland provides a roundup of election policies that may impact our environment and its wildlife over the coming four years.
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Wildlife Queensland has launched a new guide this World Habitat Day to help save the endangered spotted-tailed quoll.