Sign in

Robin Sinclair

@robinssci.bsky.social
2.5K followers 736 following 259 posts

Field Ecologist. Bird nerd. Living in Garramilla/Darwin on Larrakia Country. He/they.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Rohan Fisher @rohanfisher.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
There are so many better-qualified Territorians. The NT is full of absolutely brilliant people. Most of them are not very happy with the pick of a bigot. Jobs for mates politics is not just an NT problem. Nice to see so many out this morning making that point. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
abc.net.au
Man arrested in chaotic protest against NT Administrator
A protester has been arrested amid chaotic scenes outside of NT Parliament, where David Connolly has been sworn in as the new administrator.
021
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Harry Saddler @harrysaddler.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
This is to be an ongoing thread of wildflowers I see in 2026. IDs to the best of my ability are in the alt text. Feel free to correct me! 1st of January, Kinglake National Park, Victoria:
Blue pincushion, Brunonia australis. A spherical cluster of sky-blue star-shaped flowers on a long green stem.Common fringe-lily,Thysanotus tuberosus. A bright purple flower with long, conspicuous fringes on three petals, such that they look like ostrich-feather fans.Either a Kunzea sp. or a Leptospermum sp., I don’t yet know how to tell the difference from just the flowers. A long narrow branch covered in white flowers each with five rounded petals.Pale vanilla lily, Arthropodium milleflorum. A long, narrow stem with multiple flower buds and one very small open flower which is dropping and has whitish-purplish flowers.
516019
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Sandy Horne @sandyhorne.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Bar-tailed godwits at Bald Hill Beach. These are my favourite shorebirds - with their ridiculous beaks 😆 They hold the world record for non-stop long-distance flight with one recorded taking 11 days to fly 13,500km from Alaska to Tasmania. And they do that trip twice each year!
312722
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
One of three Tawny Frogmouths I encountered on a short walk down the Darwin esplanade last night. They were rather chill, allowing me to get this photo with my phone. #WildOz #UrbanBirds
934221303
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
A Long-footed Frog (Cyclorana longipes), one of many, many frogs we encountered at Bullo River Station last week after some of the first big rains if the season. #WildOz
17110993
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Michael Dahlstrom @michaeldahlstrom.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Over five years after cameras were set up within a sprawling Western Australian landscape, an elusive “chuditch” has been filmed for the first time. au.news.yahoo.com/camera-captu...
au.news.yahoo.com
Camera captures rare Aussie predator believed extinct across 70km landscape
A $5 million project has helped change the region, allowing for the animal's return.
13210
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Rohan Fisher @rohanfisher.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Talked to ABC country hour today about the big fire season in the NT through October. The chat became short but neat story about the last few weeks of action. The hottest October on record, nowhere near the biggest fire year but still pretty big. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
abc.net.au
Eight million hectares burnt during record hot October in NT
Last month nearly 8 million hectares were burnt in the Northern Territory, an area bigger than the entire state of Tasmania.
11210
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
A rather gregarious Rainbow Pitta (Pitta iris) looking resplendent among the leaf litter at Binybara/Lee Point in Darwin. #WildOz
A rainbow pitta standing upright on a patch of forest floor. It has moss green wings with a neon blue patch at the shoulder, a small cap of red on its head and a velvet black head and front.
0328
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
A northern rosella (Platycercus venustus) spotted during bird surveys at AWC's Wongalara Wildlife Sanctuary on Rembarrnga and Ngalakan Country. #WildOz
A northern rosella perches on a bare branch with a grey sky in the background. It is looking at the camera with a glint in its eye. It has blue wings, with yellow and black feathers on its front giving a scalloped appearance, red on its rump and a black and white head.
116629
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
One of several buff-sided robins (Poecilodryas cerviniventris) which live around the homestead at AWC's Pungalina-Seven Emu Sanctuary. These insectivorous birds are generally found in densely vegetated habitat by streams and rivers across much of northern Australia. #WildOz
A buff-sided Robin perched on a twig. It is a black, white and grey bird with a buff patch under its wings. It is holding its wings down and its tail is cocked.
1314
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
Ghost bats (Macroderma gigas) are Australia's only bat species that feeds on large vertebrates. On a recent fieldwork trip to AWC's Pungalina-Seven Emu Sanctuary, we visited one of their feeding caves where we found remains of owlet nightjars and rainbow bee-eaters caught by bats 😮. #WildOz
A pile of colourful feathers plucked from a rainbow bee-eater and discarded by a ghost bat.The two detached wings of an owlet nightjar sitting on a cave floor.
1569
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Sandy Horne @sandyhorne.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
A jacky winter at Hattah-Kulkyne National Park.
0746
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
A highlight of a recent fieldwork trip to AWC's Pungalina-Seven Emu Sanctuary was seeing my first Gouldian Finches. We only got a brief look at a group of 6 on sanctuary (thrilling nonetheless) but then on the way back to Darwin we had ~130 of them visit our campsite in Limmen National Park. #WildOz
Six Gouldian Finches, five sat on a lawn with a sixth coming in to land, it's wings outstretched behind it. There is one dull grey-green juvenile bird and five colourful adults. The adults have a yellow belly, purple chests, green back and bright blue on their tail and ringing their faces, which are either red or black.
261188140
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Aussie Moths @wa-moths.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Another #spider for the end of #Arachtober 🕷️ Meet the incredibly handsome Banksia Peacock spider (Maratus mungaich). He’ll use those amazing colours on his abdomen to try and impress the lady spiders #ausinverts #wildoz #arachnids #inaturalist #nature
Picture of a small spider with a dazzlingly colourful abdomen in greens and reds
010415
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Kristi Ellingsen @kristiellingsen.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Sorry spider haters, but this was just the most beautiful beast & I knew (nearly everyone) would need to see it 😉. It sat frozen, up on its toes, on the edge of Leeman (WA) salt lake while I took pics. Unfortunately it was too big (body length 1.4cm) for my lens. #spider #Lycosidae #Tetralycosa
Most of a wolf spider, taken from directly above.  The last segments of a few legs have been cut off by the frame.  It is standing on holy salty sand, so the background looks like a solid slab of black specked beige.  The spider is a mainly soft grey body with four black eyes showing.  The abdomen is marked with a grey line and black rimmed blobs all over it.  This made it incredibly hard to see if you weren't paying close attention.  The legs are a more pinky white with diffuse black barring.  If it was big enough people would be wearing the "pelt" as luxury coats.  It's gorgeous.The same spider taken from a low angle, looking at the face slightly angled.  This shows the female palps and the entire set of 8 black eyes.  It also showed how the spider was right up on its "toes" ready for a fast get-away (or maybe the blinding white salt was hot to stand on). There is a bit of a shadow from the intense sunlight.   Spider description is on the other photo.
36620134
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
"Please may I have some hash brown?" A little friarbird interrupting my breakfast down at East Point in Darwin a little while ago.
A little friarbird perched atop a picnic table with a tree, some mulch and the ocean in the background. The friarbird is pale grey, with darker grey fings and tail feathers. It's face is masked with bare, black skin and it has a slightly downcurved, pointy black beak.
491928139
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Do people still use this app? Anyway, here's a pheasant coucal in the botanic gardens in Darwin. A truly stupendous bird. #WildOz
A large bird sites in a chain link fence. The bird has a dark head, large somewhat menacing bill, speckled dark brown wings and a long dark tail feathers with light brown barring.
721988115
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
This morning I caught up with one of the Woylies we recently released outside the feral-predator free area at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary. It seems to be doing well two weeks post-release. 📍Badimia Country #WildOz ⚠️ Animal handled for monitoring purposes with required training and permits
1406
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS @euanritchie.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
Honoured and humbled to join such a stellar group of people! From Environment Centre N.T. "A powerful gathering of changemakers shaping the future of Country and climate in the North.” Tickets 👉 environmentcentrent.company.site/Australias-G...
27819
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
It's always a good day when you see a numbat ☺️ 📍Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, Badimia Country
1909
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Rob Davis @pezoporus.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
Hovea chorizermifolia is always one of the first wildflowers to start on our block and heralds the start of flower season.
1193
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
Yesterday I caught up with Arasari the Chuditch, who is doing well 8 months post-release at Mt Gibson. He came from the Taronga breeding program and was released as part of our reintroduction of quolls to the sanctuary. ⚠️ Handled for monitoring purposes with the appropriate training and permits ⚠️
1332
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
Last week we conducted the first intentional releases of Woylies (Brush-tailed Bettongs) OUTSIDE our feral-predator free area at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary. I'm incredibly proud to have been a part of this project which has been years in the making. au.news.yahoo.com/aussie-resea...
au.news.yahoo.com
Aussie researchers excited as rare native creatures released outside high-security outback fence
In a cautious sign of optimism, the elusive mammals will once again be released into the Aussie wild.
2363
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 19/03/2025
🐝Why do 5 #Melbourne trams have a bee logo? Because back in 2008 during a patronage surge, the government leased 5 surplus trams from Mulhouse in France. They were shipped over and put into service in their original yellow livery, for which they were nicknamed “Bumblebees”.
Melbourne tram with a bee logo
24811
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
With (in)appropriate animal handling in the news this week, I prepared these graphics to explain why and how me and my colleagues handle wildlife. 🧵 (1/5)
A note on animal handling.
1196
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Nothing better than a box of quolls! Spent yesterday at one of the sanctuaries that make up the Tasmanian Quoll Conservation Program, helping conserve both eastern & spotted-tailed quolls in the wild @utas.edu.au @tasland.bsky.social
A group of quolls denning together in a nest box at a wildlife sanctuary
1237883
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
A tiny, bouncy Bilby friend 💚 Caught this morning as part of a monitoring survey at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary on Badimia Country. #WildOz
37616
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Early morning trapping surveys have their perks 😊
Acacia shrubland with a sandy track running through it, off towards a gorgeous orange sunrise.
1404
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
I'm going to restart my thread of posts using Badimia language from over on the other site. The words will primarily come from the Badimaya Dictionary published a few years ago.
A copy of the Badimaya Dictionary with the subtitle "An Aboriginal language of Western Australia". The cover depicts a pencil drawing of a red dirt and rocky landscape with a large blue-green snake moving through it.
3293
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
The Badimia word for chicken is "dyugi" which is derived from the Australian-English "chook". (The 'dy' gets pronounced somewhat like the 'j' in 'jump')
080
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
A Dhudhun-dhudhun (Badimia for gecko) outside my front door. It's a Bynoe's Gecko (Heteronotia binoei), one of the most widespread gecko species on the continent. #WildOz
A gecko on a rammed earch brick wall. The gecko has rough skin, with orange on the tip of its tail and on the top of its head and transverse, dotted striped down its back of cream and brown on black. It's underside is pale.
1172
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending an introductory workshop for the Badimia Guwaga Language Project which aims to revitalise the critically endangered Badimia language. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm in the community for keeping the language alive.
A projector screen with a slide reading "Badimia Guwaga Language Workshop, Mount Magnet, 26 Feb - 2 March 2025"
150
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
I'm a sucker for a good rocky outcrop. 📍Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, Badimia Country
A small cliff of red orange stone with blue skies and eucalyptus woodland in the background.The view from the top of a rocky outcrop, looking out over green eucalyptus forest and orange brown rocks.A view between rocks and a small mallee eucalypt.
0314
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
I'm the subject of this month's "People of AWC" article. Click through to learn a little about me, my work and my background in conservation. www.australianwildlife.org/meet-the-peo...
australianwildlife.org
Meet the people of AWC: Field Ecologist Robin Sinclair
Get to know Robin Sinclair, Australian Wildlife Conservancy's Field Ecologist based at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in WA.
2284
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Cold peas for hot weather.
Two red-brown hens peck at frozen peas in a terracotta dish.
0301
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Moulting: new skin, new you. Yellow-spotted monitor (Varanus panoptes) at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary on Badimia Country.
A large yellow-spotted monitor (Varanus panoptes), partly obscured by a branch is in the process of moulting, so some parts of its skin are fresh looking with a strong contrast between its yellow spots and the black background, whereas the old skin is faded, red and dusty looking.
0403
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS @euanritchie.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Cool, now the ABC is getting in on the act of whipping up hysteria & spreading misinformation. We can’t make it any clearer. *Wilkerr (dingoes) were kept under permit & contained at all times on private land.* There are no wild dingoes roaming the Little Desert. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
abc.net.au
Sheep producers worry after discovery of nearby dingo breeding site
Farmers are concerned after a bushfire revealed a dingo breeding site has been operating in Victoria's Little Desert National Park, but a conservationist says it poses no threat to livestock.
711747
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Rob Davis @pezoporus.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Another view of this beauty the Chuditch, captured in a live capture cage trap on our property. This is why I don’t use lethal traps like the Goodnature trap which doesn’t discriminate against native wildlife.
0356
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Rob Davis @pezoporus.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Read more about our work here theconversation.com/lethal-secon...
theconversation.com
Lethal second-generation rat poisons are killing endangered quolls and Tasmanian devils
Second generation rat poisons are so potent that they’re banned for home use in Europe and North America. But here, you can pick them up at Bunnings or Coles.
12610
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Rob Davis @pezoporus.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
OMG everyone!! You won’t believe what I just caught! After 9 years on our property, the holy grail animal that I thought we had no chance of seeing just entered my cage trap that I use for rats. Meet the Chuditch (Western Quoll). Released safe and unharmed this morning. I am still in shock.
1924240
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Wait for the ears 😊 Releasing a Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) back into the wild after we caught it as part of a monitoring survey earlier this week. 📍Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, Badimia Country #WildOz
418428
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Gimlet Gum textures. Eucalyptus salubris on Badimia Country.
The bronze, rippled and shiny bark of a Gimlet Gum.
1334
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Bec Shaw @brocklesnitch.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
God I love COCKATOOS. Raucous ass birds
191433
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
This Woylie was very curious about what we were doing while out on a trapping survey last night. 📍Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, Badimia Country #WildOz
0224
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Tasmanian Land Conservancy @tasland.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Did you know that #quolls go #grey too? Eastern quolls have gorgeous fluffy tails, & in the dark morph of the species, these can go grey as the quoll ages. This photo is of a 4-yr-old dark morph female quoll with a magnificent grey tail, recently trapped at our Silver Plains Reserve.
Photo by Dr Dave Hamilton
0115
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Had a little friend helping me set traps this afternoon 🐲 📍Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, Badimia Country #wildoz
A small grey-brown dragon with red-brown patterning on its back sits among sparse, dry grass on red dirt, with a log in the foreground.
0331
Reposted by Robin Sinclair
Melissa @artistaffame.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Hey folks the anti poverty network Sa is trying to do crucial work for the upcoming election but they are a grassroots org that can't do this with out donations. If you can please help apn-sa.org/donate/
apn-sa.org
Donate
We know many of you are struggling to keep a roof over your head and put food on the table, but for those in more comfortable and stable situations we would deeply appreciate your support. You can …
11813
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Ol' mate is an absolute menace at the chook house
9987
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Thinking about the fact that today felt like a cool day in my part of the world at just 28 degrees and yet a 28 degree day would be the hottest on record in the place I grew up. It's funny how our frames of reference can change.
0150
Robin Sinclair @robinssci.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Saw a cool spider today. Think it my be a Tailed Forest Spider (Argiope protensa). #wildoz
A silver-white spider with black and red-brown accents hangs in a web, it's eight legs held out like a saltire cross. It has a long, pointy abdomen.
2274