From: James.Bannan@f369.n633.z3.fidonet.org (James Bannan)
Newsgroups: k12.chat.teacher
Subject: Global Environment Watch
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 92 00:24:12 PST
Organization: FidoNet node 3:633/369 - City Limits BBS, Boronia Vic

Wanda, heres something the kids might like to read.
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DATE:  13 October 1992
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GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT WATCH
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Global Environment Watch was conceived to link people around the world to share their experiences and observations of the environment immediately around them.
It doesn't require anyone to be an expert, just prepared to write what they see.
The more we share the more we come to know about the global village of planet earth.
You may find things very similar or very different, or you may just find out more about where you live.  Whatever it is, share it with the rest of us.
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LOCATION
Suburb of Ringwood; City of Melbourne; State of Victoria; Australia
Latitude: 37o 47 ' South.   Longitude 145o14' East
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STUDY AREA
My backyard and Ringwood Lake.
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THE WEATHER
We have a high pressure system passing through at the moment that is bringing some relief from all the rain we have been having.  Today we had an early light fog that lifted to a lovely warm sunny day (22oC).  Already though we have passed the average rain fall for October and Sept was 100 mm (4 in.) higher than the normal average of 80mm.
We have had some flooding in the rivers through Victoria and there is still quite a bit of water running off the footy oval and around the lake area.  At least today I could the washing dried.  We have  a full moon at the moment. I can see the Ole Man in the Moon's belly button.  Others might call it the moon cater Copernicus.
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THE PLANTS
I saw the first of the dandelionflowers out today.  I sure that there must be heaps more of it out.  For generations we have used these flowers with their long stringy storks to make daisy chains to hang round your neck or on your head.  Sometimes you may even have a competition to see who can make the longest dasiy chain.  It is also known as Cape Weed.  I looked up its technical name - Arctotheca calendula.  Apparently its from South Africa and can be found all over the world.  Unfortunately I wish it wa



sn't all over my backyard.
The wattles basically look like they have finished flowering.  They small yeelow flower balls have withered though not much sign of the seed pods yet.  There are reeds growing in the lake.  They are about a 30 centimetres tall at the moment.  I think the black pacific ducks nest in these when they are taller.
THE BIRDS
The cormorants were out fishing again today.  There are a lot of small fish (2.5cm - 1 in. long) in the lake so may be they are feeding on these.  There are only three cormorants about at the moment.  They are funny to watch after feeding as they hang their wings out to dry in the sun.  The four Wood Ducklings are doing well.  They are about half the height of mum and dad.  Their wings however are only a third the length of their body in comparsion with the full body length wings of the parents.  Wood duck



s are very protective. The female normally leads in the front with the male guarding the rear.  The ducklings looked cute in their feather down suits.  There is only one Pacific Black duckling at the moment it looks about a week old.
Some Welcome swallows have taken up nesting in the lake outlet cage again.  The oulet at the northern end of the lake is about 6 feet (1.8 metres) across.  I think the lake overflow goes down here and into the nearby creek.  A cage covers the opening and the swallows build a protected nest in its framework because th outlet is surrounded by water.
A Magpie Lark has built its mud nest in adead tree by the lake.
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THE ANIMALS
I saw ole man carp and his mate again today .  They swim so close along the bank you could reach out and touch them.  I am amazed with all the fishing that they have never been caught.  A lot of people feed bread to the ducks so may be they are never tempted by the fisherman's worms.
Surprise Surprise.  Tommy tortoise showed his hed today.  He has a rock he normally sunbakes on but I saw him raise his head out of the water like a stick and then quietly slip under again.  I watched where he went under and followed the line of bubbles along the lake. Maybe he was feeding on the bottom.
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THE MINI-BEASTS
Put out some carpet in the backyard to make a veggie patch. Underneath it today were butchie boys, millipedes and slugs.  Slugs are just so slimmey.  There were also heaps of tiny ants.  My worms are doing really well and eating up all the food scraps.
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Cheers Jimbo Down Under


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