Guy Ballard
@guyballard.bsky.social
Principal Research Scientist, DPIRD.
Part-time, Uni of New England, NSW.
Dingoes, foxes, cats and quolls.
Rock wallabies when time permits.
Comments are mine.
Part-time, Uni of New England, NSW.
Dingoes, foxes, cats and quolls.
Rock wallabies when time permits.
Comments are mine.
Out for a walk? Carry a bag and collect some rubbish. Doesn’t matter if it’s at home or on holiday.
December 23, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Out for a walk? Carry a bag and collect some rubbish. Doesn’t matter if it’s at home or on holiday.
Parasite of the day (be nice)
December 16, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Parasite of the day (be nice)
Port Macquarie Creek
(Home of many quolls!)
Oxley Wild Rivers NP
(Home of many quolls!)
Oxley Wild Rivers NP
December 16, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Port Macquarie Creek
(Home of many quolls!)
Oxley Wild Rivers NP
(Home of many quolls!)
Oxley Wild Rivers NP
Middle Creek.
Oxley Wild Rivers NP.
Oxley Wild Rivers NP.
December 16, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Middle Creek.
Oxley Wild Rivers NP.
Oxley Wild Rivers NP.
Mountain katydid.
Saw several while I was servicing cameras today.
Saw several while I was servicing cameras today.
December 15, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Mountain katydid.
Saw several while I was servicing cameras today.
Saw several while I was servicing cameras today.
A robber-fly takes out a Chrysomelid beetle. Biological pest control in action!
December 8, 2025 at 8:37 AM
A robber-fly takes out a Chrysomelid beetle. Biological pest control in action!
Eastern bearded dragon,
Nambucca River, NSW, Australia.
Nambucca River, NSW, Australia.
December 6, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Eastern bearded dragon,
Nambucca River, NSW, Australia.
Nambucca River, NSW, Australia.
A praying mantis ootheca on a native paper daisy was my ‘small find’ on the back paddock walk this morning. Christmas beetles are also enjoying several Eucalyptus spp. new growth but far fewer than last year (so far).
November 30, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A praying mantis ootheca on a native paper daisy was my ‘small find’ on the back paddock walk this morning. Christmas beetles are also enjoying several Eucalyptus spp. new growth but far fewer than last year (so far).
Reposted by Guy Ballard
A study of introductions of large herbivorous mammals outside their native range suggests they do more harm than good to local biodiversity. Only 1 in 5 impacts is positive. Positive effects on certain native species often come at a cost to other natives. #bioinvasions www.unifr.ch/news/en/3344...
Saving a species but at the expense of others?
The way to hell is paved with good intentions. In the hope of saving certain endangered species and ecosystems, some conservation projects propose the introduction of large plant-feeding mammals int...
www.unifr.ch
November 30, 2025 at 2:05 AM
A study of introductions of large herbivorous mammals outside their native range suggests they do more harm than good to local biodiversity. Only 1 in 5 impacts is positive. Positive effects on certain native species often come at a cost to other natives. #bioinvasions www.unifr.ch/news/en/3344...
Reposted by Guy Ballard
Thanks Guy!! As @benflips.bsky.social says "it's not rocket science, it's plumbing" #wildoz #esa2025
November 29, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Thanks Guy!! As @benflips.bsky.social says "it's not rocket science, it's plumbing" #wildoz #esa2025
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Spotted-tailed quoll
Blue-ringed octopus
Australian bustard
Mountain katydid
Stimpson’s python
#biodiversity
Spotted-tailed quoll
Blue-ringed octopus
Australian bustard
Mountain katydid
Stimpson’s python
#biodiversity
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Black Wallaroo
Blue Mockingbird
Green Anaconda
Grey Falcon
White Bellbird
Black Wallaroo
Blue Mockingbird
Green Anaconda
Grey Falcon
White Bellbird
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Swinhoe's pheasant
American ermine
Lesser frigatebird
Eurasian nightjar
Greater roadrunner
Swinhoe's pheasant
American ermine
Lesser frigatebird
Eurasian nightjar
Greater roadrunner
November 29, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Spotted-tailed quoll
Blue-ringed octopus
Australian bustard
Mountain katydid
Stimpson’s python
#biodiversity
Spotted-tailed quoll
Blue-ringed octopus
Australian bustard
Mountain katydid
Stimpson’s python
#biodiversity
Blessed are those willing to act in the face of environmental threats. Saint @judydunlop.bsky.social inspired all at her #ESA2025 talk on stopping cane toads in their north western tracks.
All power to the WA toad ‘stoppers’.
All power to the WA toad ‘stoppers’.
November 29, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Blessed are those willing to act in the face of environmental threats. Saint @judydunlop.bsky.social inspired all at her #ESA2025 talk on stopping cane toads in their north western tracks.
All power to the WA toad ‘stoppers’.
All power to the WA toad ‘stoppers’.
Incredibly galling to hear $400M to be wasted on shipping ppl to Nauru when we are decades under-funded for meaningful #biosecurity and #environmental action in Australia. 😭
September 2, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Incredibly galling to hear $400M to be wasted on shipping ppl to Nauru when we are decades under-funded for meaningful #biosecurity and #environmental action in Australia. 😭
Sound principle, now fund the necessary action Minister Watt.
‘we absolutely remain committed to the principle of not just protecting and reducing environmental damage, but restoring our environment.’
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘we absolutely remain committed to the principle of not just protecting and reducing environmental damage, but restoring our environment.’
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Murray Watt backs ‘no-go’ zones where development is banned – but not for Tasmania’s Robbins Island
Environment minister says scientific evidence did not convince government that remote island qualified
www.theguardian.com
August 30, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Sound principle, now fund the necessary action Minister Watt.
‘we absolutely remain committed to the principle of not just protecting and reducing environmental damage, but restoring our environment.’
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘we absolutely remain committed to the principle of not just protecting and reducing environmental damage, but restoring our environment.’
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
An interesting read. 🧪
Names can matter but the ongoing debate about #dingoes specific identity has temporarily obscured another more important issue: managing negative impacts. History suggests a ‘new’ name wont protect #dingoes from Australians who identify them as #pests
Names can matter but the ongoing debate about #dingoes specific identity has temporarily obscured another more important issue: managing negative impacts. History suggests a ‘new’ name wont protect #dingoes from Australians who identify them as #pests
New research shows that based on genetic, behavioural, ecological and archaeological evidence, dingoes are distinct from domestic dogs, including South-East Asian village dogs, which look superficially similar.
Read more on @theconversation.com
theconversation.com/...
@
Read more on @theconversation.com
theconversation.com/...
@
August 22, 2025 at 3:08 AM
🧪 Wonderful to be in the field with some students this week.
We are trapping #possums for a genetic study as well as seeking recaptures from our marked population.
The view into the Sara River catchment isn’t bad either…
We are trapping #possums for a genetic study as well as seeking recaptures from our marked population.
The view into the Sara River catchment isn’t bad either…
March 25, 2025 at 6:29 AM
🧪 Wonderful to be in the field with some students this week.
We are trapping #possums for a genetic study as well as seeking recaptures from our marked population.
The view into the Sara River catchment isn’t bad either…
We are trapping #possums for a genetic study as well as seeking recaptures from our marked population.
The view into the Sara River catchment isn’t bad either…
Apparently some people think that getting rid of specialist admin. staff and making scientists (who get paid more per hour than the former admin. staff) to do less science and more admin (poorly) is ‘efficiency’. It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so ridiculous. Really, who would do that? #science
February 26, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Apparently some people think that getting rid of specialist admin. staff and making scientists (who get paid more per hour than the former admin. staff) to do less science and more admin (poorly) is ‘efficiency’. It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so ridiculous. Really, who would do that? #science
🧪 Sat next to a legend at dinner.
50yrs integrating #science into Australian #agriculture
Their observations?
1) We need food, fibre AND nature too.
2) More investment is required in the public service, not less.
3) Government worries too much re inputs rather than the quality of outputs.
50yrs integrating #science into Australian #agriculture
Their observations?
1) We need food, fibre AND nature too.
2) More investment is required in the public service, not less.
3) Government worries too much re inputs rather than the quality of outputs.
February 20, 2025 at 10:28 AM
🧪 Sat next to a legend at dinner.
50yrs integrating #science into Australian #agriculture
Their observations?
1) We need food, fibre AND nature too.
2) More investment is required in the public service, not less.
3) Government worries too much re inputs rather than the quality of outputs.
50yrs integrating #science into Australian #agriculture
Their observations?
1) We need food, fibre AND nature too.
2) More investment is required in the public service, not less.
3) Government worries too much re inputs rather than the quality of outputs.
Research samples!!! 🧪
7 #dingo heads and 7 #feralcats from a great
trapper who supports our research by providing samples from programs he conducts for public and private land managers.
These will be used by multiple researchers to inform future predator policy and management.
7 #dingo heads and 7 #feralcats from a great
trapper who supports our research by providing samples from programs he conducts for public and private land managers.
These will be used by multiple researchers to inform future predator policy and management.
February 20, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Research samples!!! 🧪
7 #dingo heads and 7 #feralcats from a great
trapper who supports our research by providing samples from programs he conducts for public and private land managers.
These will be used by multiple researchers to inform future predator policy and management.
7 #dingo heads and 7 #feralcats from a great
trapper who supports our research by providing samples from programs he conducts for public and private land managers.
These will be used by multiple researchers to inform future predator policy and management.
#wildlife managers.
Ask yourself:
1) Are you qualified to make a decision?
2) Do you have the necessary data?
3) Do you have ‘authority’?
Obtain all 3 by working with others and be great at what you do.
Ask yourself:
1) Are you qualified to make a decision?
2) Do you have the necessary data?
3) Do you have ‘authority’?
Obtain all 3 by working with others and be great at what you do.
February 13, 2025 at 4:27 AM
#wildlife managers.
Ask yourself:
1) Are you qualified to make a decision?
2) Do you have the necessary data?
3) Do you have ‘authority’?
Obtain all 3 by working with others and be great at what you do.
Ask yourself:
1) Are you qualified to make a decision?
2) Do you have the necessary data?
3) Do you have ‘authority’?
Obtain all 3 by working with others and be great at what you do.
Without consistent funding, an end to short term contracts for our best young and mid-career researchers and support to implement best practice, we will absolutely continue to suffer economic and ecological loss from #invasive species.
Invasive species threaten so many of the landscapes & native species we love.
I’ve been calling on govt to set up a fund that ensures we have consistent funding and research into new tech like gene drive.
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
I’ve been calling on govt to set up a fund that ensures we have consistent funding and research into new tech like gene drive.
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Why Australia’s 200m wild rabbit population could soon explode
Scientists have battled the damaging feral pest for decades with world-leading efforts, but that is set to change.
www.smh.com.au
February 2, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Without consistent funding, an end to short term contracts for our best young and mid-career researchers and support to implement best practice, we will absolutely continue to suffer economic and ecological loss from #invasive species.