Mary Gardner is a writer, biologist and photographer, contributing articles about local ecology for The Echo since 2007. Since 2012, she is also a PhD student of Southern Cross University. Her research topic is the historical marine ecology of the subtropics, focusing on Byron Shire. Her special interest is the history of marine animals and people in this place over the past three hundred years. She’s always interested to hear from readers who wish to share their sea stories about the region, people and animals. For more of her work, visit her website Tangle of Life – www.tangleoflife.org.
Tangle of Life
Time to change or expect a seven metre sea rise
Each of us is an individual world maintained within a larger collective world. So are all the other living things.
Tangle of Life
There is no life without water: time to save
Yes, the recent rain is wonderful, but acting on water use restrictions must become our usual way of life, at least until the drought is over.
Byron Echo
Creating spaces for nature
With the closing of the Byron sewage treatment plant, people minimised their industrial presence. In these conditions, nature’s healing processes took over.
Byron Echo
Another take on ticks: ’tis the season
Without my friend noticing, a creature smaller than a little fingernail was perched on a stem of grass and leapt to the safety of his sock.
Byron Echo
What to do NOW after climate change march?
Children, teens and all their supporters, what do you do after the excitement of the recent climate change marches? There’s no quick fix.
Tangle of Life
The small fry in a world of baleen giants
Like others that day at the Cape Byron lighthouse, David Bryant saw this small whale ride a wave. Skilled photographer that he is, he had his camera to the ready and took this photo that has flashed its way through media around the world.
Tangle of Life
Protocols, process, and system failures
In the lagoon, the pace of winter life during the long dry seems pretty settled. The growth of small estuarine prawns slows down. Bream now five years old are grown up, itching for saltwater and their winter spawn.
Tangle of Life
Will the ‘Ozzie otter’ vanish along with the other 1,000,000 threatened species?
The Australian otter is not otter an at all and while there were once plenty, loss of habitat through development and roads means their numbers are falling.
Tangle of Life
A vision for the future of Byron’s wetlands
Could the future of West Byron lands lead the regeneration of seafood supply in the Belongil catchment and the sub-tropic region from the Richmond to the Brunswick?
Articles & Columns
Are there more sharks in our waters?
Are there more sharks or have we just become accustomed to vanishing species in our midst?
Tangle of Life
Long lost relative or ‘exotic’ plant?
The Heliconia started their spectacular annual display of red and gold in late November. What is so compelling about them?
Tangle of Life
Coastal squeeze and preparing for a future of climate change
Development in floodplains and on shores means walls, roads, residences, and every kind of construction are built. As the sea levels rise, the low-water mark marches landward to meet these barriers. The space between is shrinking or disappearing.
Articles & Columns
Should we feel free to pee in the sea?
As the holiday season gets underway, this toilet block, as does every other near the beach, becomes one of the busiest places in Byron Shire.
Articles & Columns
Bird’s eye view of our parklands
Although many municipal plans aim to cool off hot towns, improve waterways and protect human health, they can also support wildlife. Plans in Byron Shire can become exercises in empathy.
Tangle of Life
Trees or biotechnological genetic rescue?
We peered through the branches amazed to see this colourful bird, resting one wing awkwardly. By the next day it would be dead.
Byron Echo
Death of a platypus leaves unanswered questions
We found it dead on the sand near the mouth of the Tallow’ the woman said. The corpse stunk a little but I hardly noticed. I was so astonished. What was this platypus doing here? Who knew there were any around this side of Byron Bay? How did it live? As importantly, how did it die?
Articles & Columns
The trouble with lichen
What lichens truly are is still startling. One apparently global species turns out to be made of one species of fungi with a different species of algae depending which hemisphere it finds itself.
Tangle of Life
Will species synchronicity lead to ecological collapse?
Parrots are often called the primates of the bird world. They are intelligent, playful and determined, grasping and changing their world using their feet and beaks like hands holding scissors.
Tangle of Life
Batting for bats: their vital role in forestry
Flying foxes live life large across the landscape. They are the chief pollinators and seed carriers for many species of forest trees.
Tangle of Life
Join the BioBlitz and discover aquatic mysteries
On the 12th of May take a few minutes and help track down the elusive mysterious highly prized wild shellfish reefs and beds somewhere near you.
Tangle of Life
Equinox signs from the bridge: How nature tells the future
I pause on the bridge over the Tallow. My senses are full of the changes with the recent equinox. The signs are all around.
Tangle of Life
It’s not over till the big trucks fill
It’s not a done deal. The swamplands that define Byron Bay are crippled but still alive. The NSW Joint Regional Planning Panel is still debating how mega-development of West Byron might harm the Cumbebin Nature Reserve and the Belongil waterway.
Tangle of Life
Ancient anger a potent symbol for modern times
This replica nawi, unlike the bark canoe at the Maritime Museum, is oversized and made of steel. It is moored at a cove at Barangaroo, the inner city place named after a Cammeraygal woman.
Tangle of Life
Explore the waterways and let curiosity lead
Where to go during the holidays? Try following waterways and discovering waterplaces. Start with a ramble down some path or an hour along a shore: curiosity will take over. Where did this water come from? What is it doing now? Where might it go? What does it mean?
Tangle of Life
It’s time to plan the urban forest: Let’s grow trees
In our town, from December to January, each Royal Poinciana Delonix regia blooms. The magnificent red flowers cascade over the soft green leaves.
Local News
It’s legal to grow and distribute – but only by the anointed
Aslan Shand - 2
Byron based medicinal cannabis producer is sending cannabis to Germany in a breakthrough $92m deal yet the humble plant remains illegal for locals and continues to put people behind bars.
Byron Echo
Rail trail debate
Geoff Meers, Suffolk Park
It was good to read David Lisle’s comprehensive and reasoned discussion of the history of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail corridor....
Byron Echo
No respect
Chibo Mertineit, Lillian Rock
Once again it’s that time of the year where we are meant to celebrate Australia day on 26 January. The day...
Byron Echo
A window of trust
Baden Offord, Ocean Shores
Wholeheartedly agree with Dave Rastovich’s spot-on letter regarding the value and benefit of The Echo, that it is a ‘trusted window’ (Letters,...
