Thread by @jones_ann

A week in the Karajarri Indigenous Protected Area with the Karajarri Rangers.
A [very long] thread.

DAY ONE: A hot start to the trip to the Karajarri IPA in the Great Sandy Desert, WA. I’ve been invited along on the trip to make a radio documentary on the work that’s going on.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea who've I forgotten?

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY ONE: The Karajarri Rangers are on country to do some scientific surveys of the wildlife. Their country goes from the ocean right back inland – see how they’re symbol is a dugong and an emu to represent their home?

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY ONE: First job is to dig 800 metres of trap lines and 80 holes. It's over 40 degrees.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY ONE: Kamahl Bangu followed in his Grandfather’s footsteps to become a ranger. He said that being a ranger is a dream come true.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY ONE: He digs lines and holes, and sets up camera traps at the chosen sites.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY ONE: A completed trap line – little animals run along, encounter the fence and run along the fence then fall into the buckets.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY ONE: before they’ve even finished digging there’s a lizard in the trap! Promising start, or just a silly dragon?

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY ONE: First pair of footwear bites the dust. Kamahl fixes the issue with the following (in order of failure): marking tape, more marking tape, swearing, finally found some gaffer.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY ONE: Head back to camp as the sun goes down.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY TWO: Wildebeast migrating across the Serengeti? Or native bees on a camping table on Karajarri Country, WA? Apparently, these little insects make yummy bush honey. #wildoz

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY TWO: Traps have to be checked consistently for animal welfare – so the critters don’t get too cold, or hot, or get eaten by another animal or attacked by ants while they cannot escape. (Featuring Prof Sarah Legge and Ranger Marissa Munroe)

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY TWO: Second pair of shoes bite the dust. This time boots. The glues don’t seem to be able to take the change from humid Broome to dry-as-lizard-belly, hot-as-lizard-back Great Sandy Desert. More gaffer tape is deployed.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY TWO: It’s still hot.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY TWO: I love sand dunes – they tell you the story of all the animals that have been out and about overnight. #Wildoz

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY TWO: And, of course, some of the (ferocious) animals fall into the traps set by the Rangers / Scientists.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY TWO: The flies have found us. All of us, and every single bush fly in Australia.
It’s been over 43 degrees so far today, I think.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea DAY TWO: Very close inspection of a mouse foot to look at the pattern of pads – the Rangers and scientists need to make sure they get the species right, and it can be hard to tell. This is Nigel Jackett with a delicate mouse and a loupe.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea And Professor Sarah Legge looking at the tiny snoot of a boopable blind snake. (This lovely photo by @le_rako)

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool DAY THREE: Before sunrise I get up to record the dawn chorus and find the desert, as far as the eye can see, shrouded in mist. Everything left uncovered is wet. I can hear water dripping off spinifex.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool As the sun rises it burns the moisture off before my eyes. The top layer of sand is wet and sticks to the bottoms of your boots.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool DAY THREE: The mist burns off completely in minutes and animals continue to be pulled out of the traps – mostly reptiles.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool DAY THREE: Still hot.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool DAY THREE: Here be dragons.*

*Not actually a dragon – it’s a Pygmy Desert Monitor.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool DAY THREE: I am the envy of all who forgot to bring fly nets. #fashionsinthefield

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool DAY THREE: The many faces of Ranger Coordinator Ewan Noakes, who is apparently known as Bidyadanga's own Hugh Jackman (but with a greyhound of a rollie hanging out the corner of his mouth).

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool DAY THREE: There’s lots of data entry that needs to happen on these trips and the job gets shared around. (Karajarri Rangers Marissa Munroe, Vanessa Kitty and Jacqueline Shovellor).

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool DAY THREE: The rhythm of camp life is established. Trap check, data entry, complain about flies, snack and repeat.
(That's a Leopard Ctenotus!)

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool DAY FOUR: It’s been mostly clear, clear skies with the sun beating everyone to a pulp. But these punch holes in this cloud show there are planes about… somewhere out there... I think. (I only heard one all week)! @SciNate would that be right?

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FOUR:
PRO TIP: Use tongs to check if there’s anything that’ll bite in the trap – snakes, centipedes, spiders… almost everything really.
[Here the Ngurrara Rangers are checking under the tiny animal shelter from the trap - It's a bit of a takeaway container]

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FOUR: CENTIPEDE.

Sorry. I wasn't getting any closer to that monster.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FOUR: Don’t get comfortable with any creature.
And don't let a member of the media lull you into a nice photo opportunity.
First victim: Professor Sarah Legge.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FOUR:
Second Victim: Ranger Marissa Munroe.

#bittenbyscience

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FOUR: On the topic of Karajarii Ranger Marissa Munroe, she is ridiculously photogenic, despite it being over 45 degrees for three days in a row by this stage.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate Ah! MY SPELLING. It's Karajarri. Here's more info from their website if you want to take a detour from this thread: ktla.org.au/karajarri-rang…

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FOUR: Time in the 4wd with the aircon on is precious, though the tracks are... slightly... rough.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FIVE: ANOTHER DAY DAWNS.
It’s hot – climbing over 45 most days now.
Not many trees for shade either.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FIVE: So. Many. Sliders. They're little skink-y dudes with useless little legs.
The sliders glide like mercury over the surface of a sand dune.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FIVE: The Sliders leave a little squiggle as they go.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FIVE: And they disappear into the sand within seconds when they want to.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FIVE: The wind picks up in the day and we end up with broken tents, broken awnings and lots of swearing and ingenuity. There isn't much footage, because it became very uncomfortable for a while there.
(Also, look at this epic camp kitchen / science base set up!)

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY FIVE: Cool respite of the evening, crickets start to call. Bliss.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY SIX: Jamin Bent from the Ngurrara Rangers manages to look like a model even after 6 days camping in the desert.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY SIX: The Ngurrara Rangers were along to help and also learn about the scientific process that the Karajarri Rangers are putting into place. This sort of monitoring will help the Rangers make management decisions on the land. (We talk a lot more about this in the Radio doco).

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY SIX: BLIND SNAKES 😍

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY SIX: I think I've got my days mixed up. But there were creatures in the traps even though it seemed drier than usual.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate DAY SIX: Creatures I never would have ever seen if it wasn't for the Karajarri Ranger's scientific survey.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate There are two women I want to tell you about before I finish this epic thread.

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool @SciNate Jacqueline Shoveller - Jacko - is a Senior Karajarri Ranger, and she's totally got a thing for the plants on her country.

As she was walking around, she was touching, looking, assessing and remembering.

Jacko is all about bush food and medicine and her enthusiasm for it was absolutely infectious.
She very generously tells some of her stories in the podcast.

And, this is Professor Sarah Legge. She has incredible focus and strength. Even as the wind was blowing the camp away, and it was well over 45 degrees, and we had to sit on the legs of the canopy to stop it from flying, she worked through it on her laptop.

Together, the rangers and the scientists are measuring the magic of Karajarri country.

I tried to capture a little bit of that magic too - in this episode of the #podcast Off Track. #listen abc.net.au/radionational/…

@TSR_Hub @EnviroKimberley @KLC1978 @10DesertsOz @CountryNeedsPpl @IndigLandSea @le_rako @UQ_News @ANUFennerSchool Found another pic of the #troopiesinthemist

I think I got the days a bit mixed up in the end, but at least you made it to the end of this epic adventure too.
And of this /thread.

AND! Here’s a short film from @TSR_Hub made by @le_rako on the trip all about two way science and fire ecology! 🔥 🧪 🌳 ☀️ 🔥