Field naturalist, writer and science communicator
Tanya Loos lives in central Victoria and is passionate about wildlife and nature! Whether it be via writing, radio or giving presentations Tanya loves drawing from ecological science to educate and inspire people to care about wildlife and wildlife habitat…
Daylesford Nature Diary
Six Seasons in the foothill forests
Praise for Daylesford Nature Diary
“The remarkable Tanya Loos has identified key indicator species for seasonal changes and described them in delightful prose and engaging photographs. Who can resist the appeal of the puggle, an early spring baby echidna indicator?”
Alan Reid, OAM, environmental educator and author of Banksias & Bilbies.
“Attractively produced and well-illustrated… the six seasons and their features are well-described. [The stories] are short and easy to read, covering all sorts of things an observant naturalist might come across: bats, wattles, ghost fungi, mosses, greenhoods, swifts, rosellas, echidnas, wood ducks and many more.”
Roger Thomas, Nature Notes, Ballarat Courier.
“There is much to recommend in this charming and well-written book. The author takes an innovative approach and lays the chapters out according to the seasons of the local Indigenous peoples. The resulting accounts contextualise the wildlife in both space and time that harks back to such seminal natural history classics as eighteenth century naturalist Gilbert White’s The Natural History of Selborne.”
Review in Australian Birdlife magazine. December 2013.
Latest news…
Monthly blog posts describing natural events in the Wombat Forest, ecological explorations, my recent published writings, book reviews and more…
Snow Gums in the Macedon Ranges: a love story
The first time I really ‘met’ a Snow Gum was not in classic Snow Gum habitat; on top of a mountain in the high country. This Snow Gum was by the Campaspe River, on a private property in Ashbourne, west of Woodend. The landholders had done a capital job of restoring...
Australian King-parrots increasing locally
When people occasionally ask me 'what is my favourite bird?' I am stumped! However, I could say that the parrot family is chock full of favourites! The diminutive but super intelligent Budgerigar. The gentle and endearing Gang-gang Cockatoo. The spirited thug-life...
Local kites hat trick
Our local Square-tailed Kites have done it again - their third successive year of two healthy young kites! Mum and Dad kites must be congratulated for their excellent parenting. The nest is made of lots of thin branches, and set in a forked messmate with four...
A Guide to the Land Snails of Australia
This fabulous little publication could also be called A Guide to the Land Snails, Slugs and Semi-slugs of Australia. And yes – semi-slugs are new to me too! Land snails have a shell that enables the whole animal to tuck itself inside and seal the entrance as a...
Bassian Thrush, Bird Pins and Bird Week
It is National Bird Week and I have already completed one bird count for the Aussie Bird Count. I am aiming for at least one a day! Counting birds is the most wonderful mindfulness practice. When I record the birds I see and hear for twenty minutes my mind is calm and...
Love is in the air for Gang gangs
Love is in the air for our local Gang-gang Cockatoos! Pairs start searching for their breeding hollows in August through to September. The scarlet red of the male’s wispy crest and their stocky grey silhouettes distinguish these loveable cockies from other bird...
Striated Pardalotes in early spring
At this time of year, people are thrilled to see the first signs of early spring – jonquils and the first silver wattles in flower. But for me – it’s the sound of chip chip, chip chip – the arrival of the Striated Pardalotes that give me that spring thrill. Pardalotes...
These La Nińa years have allowed for abundant plant growth and much of our wildlife is thriving. This is a welcome reprieve after the long sad years of the Millenium Drought – and the weird mini droughts we have experienced after that. The adorable creature pictured...
A Phascogale on my street!
I was coming home from work one night, driving slowly along our dirt road when I was thrilled to spot one of the rarer inhabitants of the Wombat Forest and surrounds – the Brush-tailed Phascogale. These small mammals superficially resemble rats – but rats they most...