The habitat of the Bassian Thrush includes leaf littered and canopied gullies and dense forests. It forages for food on the ground eating small invertebrates and nests in tree stumps and tree forks. Primarily found in Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland, there are three sub-species of thrush, Zoothera lunulata cuneate (Queensland), Zoothera lunulata halmaturina (South Australian and Western Bassian Thrushes) and Zoothera lunulata lunulata/Zoothera lunulata macrorhyncha (South East Australia, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania). Because this bird is a ground foraging species, the main threat to the Bassian Thrush is the ground clearing of its habitat, and unfortunately, the South Australian Zoothera lunulata halmaturina sub-species is considered vulnerable because of the bush fires that have eliminated much of its habitat, especially on Kangaroo Island. While the overall structure of this particular representation of a Bassian Thrush is relatively accurate, some of the smaller details are lacking. The eyes within this particular specimen are not accurate. Instead of solid black eyes, this specimen has golden/yellow eyes with black pupils. Another inaccuracy is some inappropriate intrusions coming from the beak (most noticeable in the left and right close up images). From the photographs, it is unclear if this is a representative/presentation choice or a condition problem caused overtime. Unfortunately, several aging problems have also occurred over time, with the bird’s feathers fading (Bassian Thrushes have distinct dark brown and black and white scalloped plumage) and the beak which was probably once dark grey has faded to the under colour, a yellowy cream. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The Bassian Thrush has white and black scalloped plumage on its underbelly with caramel, soft brown and black tipped scalloped plumage on its back. This soft brown continues onto the bird’s head and neck. The thrush has a white rim around the glass black eyes. When seen in flight, there is also a noticeable wide band across the underside of the wings which is not visible on this specimen due to its particular stance.Swing tag appears to read: ‘46a [the a is superscripted] / Mountain Thrush. / See Catalogue, Page 16. / The number in the top centre of the wooden perch reads '63'taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, bassian thrush, zoothera lunulata, white's thrush, ground thrush, scaly thrush

The spotted quail thrust is a heavily patterned bird native to Australia. It expresses many calls, including a long, very high-pitched "seeeeeep” and a long sequence of doubled whistles, but the main call in inaudible to humans. Due to their heavy camoflague pattern, they are often very difficult to observe. They are often found on the forest floor. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century. The spotted quail thrush is characterised by yellow and brown tones with black spots on the flanks. The females (10056) have a yellow ochre-coloured throat patch. This particular quail has lost its tail feathers. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg.Label: 43a. / Spotted Ground Thrush / See Catalogue, page 15. /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, spotted quail thrust, quail

The Bassian Thrush is a secretive bird, often difficult to see, as it is an unobtrusive species that forages among dense vegetation. When disturbed, it sometimes crouches on the ground and freezes, relying on its scalloped plumage to conceal its presence. The Bassian Thrush feeds on the ground, scratching under the leaf-litter for small invertebrates. This specimen has been mounted in an accurate and yet stylised fashion. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The plumage of this Bassian Thrush specimen is a mottled brown to olive-brown colour, heavily scalloped with black crescent-shaped bars on the back, rump and head. The paler underparts all have brown-black scalloping. It has a white eye-ring which surrounds glass eyes which have been included by the taxidermist to replace the originals. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg.Swing Tag: 44a / mountain Thrush / See Catalogue Page 15 taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, bird, australian birds, bassian thrush, thrush, zoothera lunulata

Commissioned by Nillumbik Shire Council - 1997 The selection panel in the commissioning process to this 'extraordinary acquisition' was Rhonda Noble, Director of La Trobe University Museum of Art, Jeph Neale, Eltham Roundabout Advisory Group, Chris Marks, NSC Curator of Collections, Geoff Glynn, NSC Manager of Infrastructure Development.'Nest' highlights the indigenous flora and fauna of the Shire. The stiff, coarse grass used to create the nest is indigenous to the area and the eggs are like those of the spotted quail thrush, a ground-nesting bird of the Shire. The circular flow or placement of the eggs recalls the revolution of the seasons and nesting cycles. There is a tall light pole above the eggs, shining down at night. The effect is of a giant incubator. Enrichment and nurturing of the larger environment can be associated with this sculpture. This work resembles a large bird's nest, with three egg-like forms of fibreglass covered in a pebble render, set on sand. The nest is positioned within the paved boundary of the roundabout. The nest shape has been created out of stiff, coarse indigenous grass, periodically trimmed so the view is not obstructed. The eggs are a brown-speckled, creamy yellow colour. The three eggs are arranged in a ring, with the narrow end of each pointing to the large end of the next, in a circle that mimics the flow of traffic. N/Apublic art, nest, eggs, eltham, ekphrasis2017, mosaic, pebbles, roundabout, spotted quail thrush

This photograph depicts fox behaviour specialist Camille Veselsky demonstrating the use of a fox bait trap at an event conducted as part of an awareness campaign highlighting damage done to farm and domestic animals and native wildlife in April 2004. Camille Veselsky is a specialist in fox behaviour who worked for the Hume Rural lands Protection Board on pest animal control for 27 years. This date is suggested by the photograph's position in the 2004-2005 Wooragee Landcare Group Coordinator's Report folder. A note accompanying the item suggests an alternative date of 24th June 2004, however. This event raised awareness about the impacts of foxes in rural areas and provided practical training in techniques to control their populations. Flyers contained in the parent folder suggest that baiting may have been agreed as a method of fox control as the event depicted was followed by a two week baiting campaign a fortnight later. Pictured in this photograph, left to right: unknown, unknown, Quentin Mansfield, Graeme Missen, unknown, Helmut Wiemann, presenter Camille Veselsky, Ursula Wiemann, unknowns. A note accompanying the items suggests the photograph may have been taken by Karen Bowley or Maree Missen. In the folder, the photograph is accompanied by a printed label stating: 'Sensible precautions must be taken when handling FOXOFF.' Regional areas like Wooragee are susceptible to fox attacks due to the availability of food such as rubbish, scraps, native wildlife and livestock. Foxes can have a huge impact on native wildlife and domestic life as they are known to chew through irrigation systems, dig-up and defecate in gardens, raid rubbish bins and harass other domestic animals. Ground-dwelling native species are particularly susceptible to predation by foxes, which when combined with loss of habitat can endanger these species. Affected species include Speckled Warblers, Plovers, Diamond Firetails, Spotted Quail-Thrushes, Turquoise Parrots, Dunnarts, Bandicoots, Phascogales, skinks, geckos and legless lizards. This photograph is significant as an example of awareness raising and threat control programs undertaken by Wooragee Landcare Group in the 2000s in Indigo Shire. Landscape coloured photograph printed on gloss paper. Reverse: WAN NA 0ANA2N0 NNN+ 3 8743 / [PRINTED] 24 / [HANDWRITTEN] (No. 1 1) / 257 [PRINTED}wooragee landcare, wooragee, north-east victoria, indigo shire, landcare movement, 2004, fox control, pest control, native animal protection, farming, farm life, foxes, vermin, baiting, traps, speckled warbler, plovers, diamond firetails, spotted quail-thrush, turquoise parrot, dunnarts, bandicoots, phascogales, skinks, geckos, legless lizard, chickens, ducks, guinea-pigs, camille veselsky, quentin mansfield, graeme missen, helmut wiemann, ursula wiemann, karen bowley, maree missen

This photograph depicts fox behaviour specialist Camille Veselsky demonstrating the use of a fox bait trap at an event conducted as part of an awareness campaign highlighting damage done to farm and domestic animals and native wildlife in April 2004. Camille Veselsky is a specialist in fox behaviour who worked for the Hume Rural lands Protection Board on pest animal control for 27 years. This date is suggested by the photograph's position in the 2004-2005 Wooragee Landcare Group Coordinator's Report folder. A note accompanying the item suggests an alternative date of February 2004, however. This event raised awareness about the impacts of foxes in rural areas and provided practical training in techniques to control their populations. Flyers contained in the parent folder suggest that baiting may have been agreed as a method of fox control as the event depicted was followed by a two week baiting campaign a fortnight later. Pictured in the photograph are Helmut Wiemann, Ursula Wiemann, Camille Veselsky and two other people (unknown). A note accompanying the items suggests the photograph may have been entered by Karen Bowley or Maree Missen. In the folder, an printed label accompanying the photograph states: 'A marker to identify the bait station will not deter the fox.' Regional areas like Wooragee are susceptible to fox attacks due to the availability of food such as rubbish, scraps, native wildlife and livestock. Foxes can have a huge impact on native wildlife and domestic life as they are known to chew through irrigation systems, dig-up and defecate in gardens, raid rubbish bins and harass other domestic animals. Ground-dwelling native species are particularly susceptible to predation by foxes, which when combined with loss of habitat can endanger these species. Affected species include Speckled Warblers, Plovers, Diamond Firetails, Spotted Quail-Thrushes, Turquoise Parrots, Dunnarts, Bandicoots, Phascogales, skinks, geckos and legless lizards. This photograph is significant as an example of awareness raising and threat control programs undertaken by Wooragee Landcare Group in the 2000s in Indigo Shire.Landscape coloured photograph printed on gloss paper. Reverse: 26 / [HANDWRITTEN] WAN NA 0ANA2N0 0 8743 / [PRINTED] (No. 14) / 260 / wooragee, wooragee landcare, indigo shire, north-east victoria, conservation, pest control, fox, foxes, vermin, baiting, trapping, camille veselsky, hume rural lands protection board, 2004, speckled warbler, plovers, diamond firetails, turquoise parrots, dunnarts, bandicoots, phascogales, skinks, geckos, legless lizards, chickens, ducks, guinea-pigs

This photograph depicts fox behaviour specialist Camille Veselsky demonstrating the use of a fox bait trap at an event conducted as part of an awareness campaign highlighting damage done to farm and domestic animals and native wildlife in April 2004. Camille Veselsky is a specialist in fox behaviour who worked for the Hume Rural lands Protection Board on pest animal control for 27 years. This date is suggested by the photograph's position in the 2004-2005 Wooragee Landcare Group Coordinator's Report folder. A note accompanying the item suggests an alternative date of February 2004, however. This event raised awareness about the impacts of foxes in rural areas and provided practical training in techniques to control their populations. Flyers contained in the parent folder suggest that baiting may have been agreed as a method of fox control as the event depicted was followed by a two week baiting campaign a fortnight later. Pictured in the photograph, left to right: unknown, Quentin Mansfield; four unknown people; Mary Prowse; two unknown people; Helmut Wiemann; unknown person. In the folder, the photograph is accompanied by a printed label stating: 'Train foxes to take free feeds before using the 1080. Small traces of fish oil can help attract foxes to the bait station.' Regional areas like Wooragee are susceptible to fox attacks due to the availability of food such as rubbish, scraps, native wildlife and livestock. Foxes can have a huge impact on native wildlife and domestic life as they are known to chew through irrigation systems, dig-up and defecate in gardens, raid rubbish bins and harass other domestic animals. Ground-dwelling native species are particularly susceptible to predation by foxes, which when combined with loss of habitat can endanger these species. Affected species include Speckled Warblers, Plovers, Diamond Firetails, Spotted Quail-Thrushes, Turquoise Parrots, Dunnarts, Bandicoots, Phascogales, skinks, geckos and legless lizards. This photograph is significant as an example of awareness raising and threat control programs undertaken by Wooragee Landcare Group in the 2000s in Indigo Shire.Landscape coloured photograph printed on gloss paper. Reverse: 25 / 2 [HANDWRITTEN] WAN NA 0ANA2N0 NNN+ 1 8743 / [PRINTED] (No.12) / 258wooragee, wooragee landcare group, indigo shire, north-east victoria, fox, foxes, pest control, vermin, conservation, baiting, trapping, farming, wildlife, speckled warblers, plovers, diamond firetails, spotted quail-thrush, turquoise parrot, dunnarts, bandicoots, phascogales, skinks, geckos, legless lizards, camille veselsky

This photograph depicts people attending the 'Spotlight on Fox' event watching a demonstration. The event was conducted as part of an awareness campaign highlighting damage done to farm and domestic animals and native wildlife in April 2004. This date is suggested by the photograph's position in the 2004-2005 Wooragee Landcare Group Coordinator's Report folder. A note accompanying the item suggests an alternative date of February 2004, however. This event raised awareness about the impacts of foxes in rural areas and provided practical training in techniques to control their populations. Flyers contained in the parent folder suggest that baiting may have been agreed as a method of fox control as the event depicted was followed by a two week baiting campaign a fortnight later. Pictured in this photograph, left to right: unknown; Sue Berwick ; Jerry Alexander; rest unidentified. A note accompanying the items suggests the photograph may have been taken by Karen Bowley or Maree Missen. Regional areas like Wooragee are susceptible to fox attacks due to the availability of food such as rubbish, scraps, native wildlife and livestock. Foxes can have a huge impact on native wildlife and domestic life as they are known to chew through irrigation systems, dig-up and defecate in gardens, raid rubbish bins and harass other domestic animals. Ground-dwelling native species are particularly susceptible to predation by foxes, which when combined with loss of habitat can endanger these species. Affected species include Speckled Warblers, Plovers, Diamond Firetails, Spotted Quail-Thrushes, Turquoise Parrots, Dunnarts, Bandicoots, Phascogales, skinks, geckos and legless lizards. This photograph is significant as an example of awareness raising and threat control programs undertaken by Wooragee Landcare Group in the 2000s in Indigo Shire.Landscape coloured photograph printed on gloss paperReverse: WAN NA 0ANA2N0 NNN 0 8743 / [PRINTED] (No. 13) / 259wooragee, wooragee landcare, indigo shire, north-east victoria, foxes, fox, pest control, vermin, conservation, baiting, trapping, events, 2004, wildlife, speckled warbler, plovers, diamond firetails, spotted quail-thrush, turquoise parrots, dunnarts, bandicoots, phascogales, skinks, geckos, legless lizards, farming, chickens, ducks, guinea-pigs