Bonzer Words!: Please Don't Pat The Snakes
Elaine Lutton and her husband Don have things in their garden which could cause a world-wide shudder....
Elaine writes for Bonzer! magazine. Please visit www.bonzer.org.au
Don and I are quite accustomed to our wildlife but visitors can get quite a shock. Not everyone is happy to know that we have snakes in the yard, some venomous, some not. Look but do not touch we tell our grandsons. In particular they adore our many frogs, especially the green tree frogs. One unfortunate—Freddie—was brought in to observe the process of biscuit making before I sternly insisted on his removal and further hand washing.
Recently during a period of high winds we had a Titan Stick Insect, all 33cm. of it, blown down from the tops of the eucalypts in our yard. It was mottled grey brown with a chequered purplish pattern on the hind wings. The thorax had short conical prickles with purple tips. Amazing. In similar conditions we sometimes see the Goliath Stick Insect, much fatter but a little shorter, basically green with yellow rings around the abdomen. The hind wings have a flash of red when unfolded and the hind legs have prominent curved spines. If handled they can give an impressive threat display showing two false eyes at the base of the legs.
Spiders are abundant, some species surprisingly beautiful. Not so the large huntsmen, as big as my hand, that like to share my shower when I am at my most vulnerable. Ugh!
The leaf litter around our trees is alive with tiny skinks whilst at night the geckos make themselves comfortable both inside and outside our home. Things that go bump in the night can usually be put down to the possums on the roof.
During the day the bearded dragons sun themselves looking very aristocratic and laid back. (see the photo by my neighbour Franco Viscosnik) This year, to our great delight, a lace monitor has returned after an absence of several years. These big goannas can move and climb surprisingly quickly before finding a comfortable resting spot high up in a tree in order to soak in the sun.
Don and I count ourselves very fortunate to live amongst so much interesting native wildlife, and in particular that we can share our discoveries with our neighbours Franco and Majda and their digital camera.
© Elaine Lutton
