HAPPY BILBY EASTER!

The bilby (specifically the Greater Bilby - Macrotis lagotis) is an iconic Australian desert-dwelling marsupial known for its long, rabbit-like ears and silky blue-grey fur. It is an "ecosystem engineer" that plays a vital role in soil health by digging extensive burrow systems up to 3 metres long and 2 metres deep.

In Australia, the bilby is widely promoted as a native alternative to the Easter Bunny to raise awareness and funds for its protection. Since bilbies are nocturnal and rare, the best way to see them is at specialized nocturnal houses or sanctuaries.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

Happy Easter!

E for ECOSYSTEM

The Darebin Parklands around Darebin Creek support a wide diversity of bird, mammal, reptile, fish, amphibian and insect life in a rich background environment of mainly native flora. The ecosystem is stable and thriving, but highly responsive to change (for example, human activity and pollution), which can have catastrophic effects on the ecology of the communities of the ecosystem. See here for more information.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme,

and also part of the Nature Notes meme.