Finally got one of my long-form presentations on YouTube. This one was delivered last weekend as a keynote for the Parrot Society of Australia’s conference dinner. The talk is called ‘Saving Australia’s Rockatoo’: youtu.be/JHieoOKkxeA

Saving Australia's 'Rockatoo': Good return on investment

YouTube video by Dr Christina N. Zdenek

youtu.be

Important to be aware of 👇

IUCN Snake Specialist Group@iucn-snake.bsky.social · 4w ago

An emerging fungal disease, likely originating from captivity, is spreading to wild snakes across 5 species in Queensland so far. Dr Shelly Butcher of Uni of Queensland is researching the topic to guide management and conservation efforts. Don't release your pet snake! www.bhg.com.au/garden/funga...

Another 10 people are now educated in snake: handling, identification, first-aid, antivenom, relocation consequences, emerging reptile fungal diseases, sexing, and conservation. #OzReptileAcademy

Night-time sound is helping protect the #PowerfulOwl🦉#conservation with @openecoacoustics.bsky.social. Learn more🔗 ardc.edu.au/article/voic... w/ @cnzdenek.bsky.social @birdlifeoz.bsky.social @doktrnick.bsky.social @lucyparkerpaul.bsky.social @rob-clemens.bsky.social #ecoacoustics #NCRISimpact

Citizen Scientists Support Powerful Owl Conservation with Ecoacoustics

The Open Ecoacoustics Workshop showcased citizen science and cutting-edge AI technology combining to drive Powerful owl conservation.

ardc.edu.au

Science shapes society…when it’s communicated clearly and effectively. Join us in a 1-day, practical workshop on #SciComm & media training! Join from online anywhere. Get the know-how and confidence to share your science/work/project for increased impact. cbcs.centre.uq.edu.au/events-and-s...

Science communication and media training to increase impact

cbcs.centre.uq.edu.au

An article about our recent fabulous news of a Palm Cockatoo chick fledgling from an artificial log hollow. I like to call them ‘zombie’ hollows- they are dead but given (vertical) life once again. #PalmCockatooProject news.mongabay.com/short-articl...

What's killing our owls? Spoiler...a certain type of rat poison! My 45min interview on the topic available on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/22oL... @birdlifeoz.bsky.social

What's killing our owls? S26 Ep9

open.spotify.com

The biggest conservation win ever for the endangered Palm Cockatoo! On the back of 18 years of my research on this difficult species, People for Wildlife and Indigenous rangers and I were able to make an install an artificial hollow that was immediately used! 💥 capeyorkweekly.com.au/artificial-h...

Artificial habitat delivers world-first win for endangered palm cockatoo | Cape York Weekly

For a bird species relying on centuries-old trees and well-timed cyclones, nesting habitats are hard to come by, but an…

capeyorkweekly.com.au

Can snakes be deadly after they die? Have a listen to this podcast by Dr Ann Jones ABC to find out! I provide expert comment: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Why are our owls dying?? It’s all about which rat bait that you, your neighbours, your council, and pest controllers are using. Read this excellent article by @andrewstafford.bsky.social , with expert comment from myself among others. www.canberratimes.com.au/story/919290...

Owl be damned: regulator stops short of rat poison ban

Conservationists are pushing for a regulator to outlaw a common class of rodenticides having pervasive effects on owls...

canberratimes.com.au

If you’re wondering why owls and Tawny Frogmouths are dying, have a read. Your dog or cat might be next if we don’t speak up and hold the regulator to account. I wrote this article w/ Dr Holly Parsons.

BirdLife Australia@birdlifeoz.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🦉 Check out this article written by two of our incredible ecologists, breaking down the latest information on why the proposed rat poison reforms won’t protect birds. Read it here: birdlife.org.au/news/why-pro... #birdlifeaustralia #ratpoison #sgars #birds #owls

I wrote this article w/ Dr Holly Parsons. If you’re wondering why owls and Tawny Frogmouths are dying, have a read. Your dog or cat might be next if we don’t speak up and hold the regulator to account.

BirdLife Australia@birdlifeoz.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🦉 Check out this article written by two of our incredible ecologists, breaking down the latest information on why the proposed rat poison reforms won’t protect birds. Read it here: birdlife.org.au/news/why-pro... #birdlifeaustralia #ratpoison #sgars #birds #owls

Just out: new information reveals that Australian Parliament House uses long-lasting, harmful rat poisons (SGARs) that are killing owls, eagles, quolls, and Tawny Frogmouths 😳😡. I give expert comment for this @yahoonews.com article about it: au.news.yahoo.com/calls-for-ch... @birdlifeoz.bsky.social

Calls for change as controversial product found in iconic Aussie spot: 'Unacceptable risk'

It's feared they could be having a toxic effect around the surrounding area.

au.news.yahoo.com

Before-after photos of my habitat garden (rainforest plant community section). Supporting #UrbanBirds with @birdlifeoz.bsky.social, #UrbanFrogs, and #UrbanLizards! 🥹 AND our mental well-being, especially on wfh days 💃🤓! If u were a frog, would u live here??

For those of you who missed any #SnakeWeek talks that we (IUCN Snake Specialist Group) helped organise, have no fear...the @snakeweek.bsky.social YouTube channel is here! Watch & learn about snakes and snake researchers at your own pace. Some evening entertainment for you! www.youtube.com/@SnakeWeek

Exciting times for snake knowledge sharing this year! The World Congress of Snakes is happening for the first time ever! It'll be held 1–4Oct 2026 in Sri Lanka. Early-bird registration ends 31March. We have several members of our Snake Specialist Group planning to attend. www.worldsnakes26.com

First World Congress on Snakes 2026 | Inaugural International Snake Conference | Kandy, Sri Lanka

Join the first-ever World Congress on Snakes (WSC 2026) - a historic inaugural event featuring world-renowned keynote speakers, symposia, workshops, and groundbreaking research presentations. October ...

worldsnakes26.com

Another productive and enjoyable meeting of our regional (Australia/Melanesia/Oceania) group under the IUCN SSC Snake Specialist Group! A few things we got up to this time: We made plans for the World Congress of Snakes (see www.worldsnakes26.com), ...(1/n)

Before-After photos of my #HabitatGarden near #Brisbane, 15 months apart. Who thinks we should abandon lawns and make habitat gardens instead?

#HabitatGarden update: it’s thriving!

#HabitatGarden plant highlight: Wahlenbergia tumidifructa. An unassuming, perennial herb that bunches in thickets reminiscent of grass, up to 600mm. It’s native to much of Australia and serves as great erosion control at the bottom edge of my small suburban block south of #Brisbane. #WildOz

4 generations of Eastern Pilbara Spiny-tailed Skinks (Egernia epsisolus). The baby was just born last week 😍.

Need a Christmas present idea? The @birdlifeoz.bsky.social bird calendar was just released, and it has stunning photos of some stellar Aussie birds 🤩! This gift also helps support BirdLife’s mission to save birds. birdlife.org.au/product/2026...

2026 BirdLife Australia Calendar - BirdLife Australia

Order your 2026 BirdLife Australia Calendar featuring some of our favourite photos from the BirdLife Australia Photography Awards! Support wildlife conservation with this stunning calendar!

birdlife.org.au

Nice unprompted feedback from a student of mine at Uni Southern Qld @soaes-unisq.bsky.social 🤓. I’m currently teaching 3rd year undergrads there in the course Biodiversity and Conservation Science.

Good morning, all, from my #HabitatGarden near #Brisbane

Out today! @theguardian.com writes an important article about the snake catching industry in Aus. A fascinating read. We took the journalist on a snake-education journey at our venomous-snake handling course to guide the article. Expert comment by yours truly 🤓. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Snakes, sheilas and a backblocks shed: the school teaching how to wrangle Australia’s most venomous reptiles

‘If you wouldn’t mind,’ the instructor says, handing out legal documents to all those who enter, ‘signing your life away’

theguardian.com

Another cracking snake-handling course on the weekend! This time for 15 students: a large-property owner, zookeeper, future snake-catchers, 3 school grounds persons, and even a journalist from @theguardian.com ! Our next course is 29Nov (near Gatton, Qld). DM if interested. #OzReptileAcademy

It’s springtime in Australia, aka swooping season. Here I provide expert comment for the ABC about a swooping crow at Noosa: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Cranky crow forces tourists to duck for cover at holiday hotspot

Noosa Council has received multiple reports of the crow swooping walkers, which experts say is unusual for the species.

abc.net.au

Yay! It’s that time of the year again. Get ready to keep your eyes peeled and start counting birds! #AussieBirdCount is an important snap-shot for Australia’s birds, common and threatened, plus we can all probably is a mindful 20min peacefully observing nature 🥹💚.

BirdLife Australia@birdlifeoz.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Just ONE WEEK to go until the Aussie Bird Count kicks off! 🐦 From 20–26 Oct, Australians everywhere will spend 20 mins counting the birds! One in six Aussie birds faces extinction – which means every bird counts! 👉 aussiebirdcount.org.au #AussieBirdCount #BirdLifeAustralia #BirdLifeOz

Extinctions serve as important warning signs that something is very wrong in the environment. Will we finally heed these warnings? Our mental wellbeing and over half our economy depends on it. theconversation.com/and-then-the...

And then there were none: Australia’s only shrew declared extinct

Australia’s only known shrew has been declared extinct. Its loss emphasises the need for national protection of Australia’s rare and unique wildlife.

theconversation.com

Whose terms of reference do we privilege in science? Dr Coen Hird discusses the contested space of contemporary science and Indigenous teachings/understandings. Diving into theory, not just methods, @uq-cbcs.bsky.social’s packed seminar today at UQ St Lucia. What’s your knowledge lens?