Monday, February 06, 2006

Wildlife in Melbourne Suburbs- a Mopoke ?

 Paperbark Ti Tree that could hide a frogmouth These are pictures of a Tawny Frogmouth [which I grew up calling a Mopoke -perhaps not one?]. They are members of the nightjar family, and are more closely related to kookaburras and kingfishers than to owls. They eat insects, worms, slugs and snails, small mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds. Their eyes face sideways not the front like an owl. They are not found in Tasmania or desert country. This bird was very accustomed to humans and this photowas taken in May 2005 about 200 meters from Gardiners Creek. I never saw one in the city before. As a kid I saw them in the bush around Lysterfield Resevoir but I never saw another until this one. I have not seen him since. Photo taken at dusk. I have heard he lives in a tree in the next street - much closer to the creek. Paperbark Titree that could hide a frogmouth - lots like this are near where this bird was sitting.

Dying - Choices Please!

A great blog that discusses the rights of a teminally ill person to die the way of their choice. here

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Frederick William PEERS Liverpool to Melbourne 1852 - Grimes Hunter Dunn

"Fred W Peers" stockbroker, Sketch by Lionel Lindsay, 1896 Melbourne newspaper "Free Lance" . Frederick William Peers who owned a large property on the Dandenong Road, Caulfield, Melbourne. He was born 19th March 1842 West Derby, Lancashire, England, the son of William Hunter Peers cotton broker of Liverpool and Janet Grimes born 1792 Scotland. William Hunter Peers was the son of John Peers and Mary Hunter,and he died 8th May 1863,Motshaven, New York, 1863. Frederick William Peers arrived in Melbourne with his mother; elder brother John Grimes Peers, (1841 Liverpool England -1896 Bairnsdale, Vic) sister Janet Alice Peers [1843 Liverpool Eng. - 1917 Vic) Charles Harley Peers (1844-1853). Frederick Peers married Margaret Henrietta DUNN in 1867 at Carlton, Vic. They had 11 children. More information on them and his parents too at web site http://www.geocities.ws/jumeau_overflow/peers.html .