Our home planet, Earth, is more than 4.5 billion years old. While life is known to have existed on planet Earth for more than 3.5 billion years, we humans have only been around for 250,000 years. In the life of Earth, this is but the blink of an eye.

It's well documented that people with a connection to Nature - or to something they like - are far more active in conserving it, writes BirdLife Tasmania's Karen Dick. The Bruny Island Bird Festival occurs every two years and is a critical event to help develop that connection. It's also a time to inspire the next generation.

Whispers, a poem by Peter Pullinger reflects on memories of kids being wonderstruck by nature.

This study found that giving forty-spotted pardalotes support to 'self-fumigate' their nests increased their reproductive success more than tenfold

We pay our respects to Tasmanian conservation giant, Distinguished Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick, who passed away last month aged 78. Kuno's Dan Broun spoke with Jamie last year and we publish this interview to help remember him and honour his life and legacy.

Bruny Island is a special habitat for so many birds, including Tasmania's 12 endemic species and the amazing little penguin, says Dr Eric Woehler. They nest in a range of habitats, including under garden sheds and overturned boats - and so far, they've adapted to climate change.

"We hope that this can create an impact, not just on the island but for the whole of the Philippines as well. So thank you so much for your willingness to embrace this work, together with us." Here, Raz Salvarita, Kuno Coordinator for the Philippines and Southeast Asia, explains the plight of Panay Island and his hopes for the future.

Cloudy Bay is a coastal landscape of extraordinary ecological significance, hosting shorebirds, migratory whales, Rikali (water rats) and exquisite and varied marine animals.

In this series we'll introduce you to some key people involved in building the Bruny Island field guide. Here, specialist bird and ecology guide with Inala Nature Tours Cat Davidson talks about the power of personal connection to place - and falling in love with Nature.

BirdLife Australia is one of the peak bodies for birds and bird conservation across Australia. Their overarching goal is to halt the extinction crisis and recover threatened birds across Australia.

Bruny Island is a really special place. It's got an incredible diversity of habitats. It's relatively undeveloped, relatively undamaged. So on Bruny Island you can see things like threatened species of birds, still breeding on this island, which is really a wonderful thing.

The melodious calls of Bell Birds and delightful fantails enrich the experience of seeing the remnant beech forest of Kowai Bush and the Mears Track near Christchurch, NZ. Here Helen Cushing tells the story of this special place

Joshua Tree National Park was once described by early explorers as a “profitless locality” and that it “shall be forever unvisited”.
A bit of time, visitation by those with a more discerning eye and the efforts of a determined woman resulted in the protection of a treasured place.

Bruny Island is an island, off an island, off an island, surrounded by islands. Image: Nick Monk

The dusky dolphin is one of the smaller dolphin species with a maximum weight of about 85 kilograms and a length, of just over two metres. The dusky dolphin is a social species, known for its agility and coordinated acrobatic abilities.

The aurora australis lights the skies of Southwest Tasmania. The next Dark Sky Sanctuary? Image: Dan Broun

Bruny Island has an intricate, complex, beautiful and varied coastline, ranging from sheltered inlets, shallow bays, mudflats, lagoons, and grand sea-cliffs, through to long sandy ocean facing beaches.

The fairy tern is a similar size to a hooded plover - so tiny, it would sit comfortably in the palm of your hand. They lay just two eggs, onto the beach sand. See these remarkable images from Tasmanian-based bird ecologist Dr Eric Woehler.

The triangle-shaped island of Panay is the sixth-largest of the Philippines archipelago, and has an amazing array of landscapes and biodiversity hotspots, including the Central Panay Mountain Range. As the fourth-most populous island of the Philippines, it is also facing conservation challenges.

The Atlantic Forest is one of the most biodiverse forests in the world including almost 1000 bird species. Here are a few of these birds from photographer Marcio Conrado.

Bruny Island is a haven for rare and unique birds and animals, and is one of the best bird-watching spots in Australia.

Takayna / Tarkine is a hugely diverse wild landscape with an extraordinary history. Largely unprotected this region has huge potential for national park and world heritage status.

Pelagic birds are birds that spend a large part of their life on the open ocean. These include the majestic Albatross, petrels and terns. This gallery of Pelagic birds by Marcio Conrado was taken off the Tasman Peninsula

Southwest National Park in Tasmania is a vast, mostly trackless wilderness containing ancient forests, the wildest rivers, a glaciated and mountainous landscape and a spectacular coastline with rich aboriginal history.

Bruny Island is a haven for rare and unique birds and animals, and is one of the best bird-watching spots in Australia.

We all need a good visual dose of the wonder of Nature sometimes, and we can't always get outside from behind the desk, to breathe it in. Here, we bring it to you, with these beautiful close-ups of our unique woodland bird species, photographed by Tasmanian bird ecologist Dr Eric Woehler (OAM). Take a moment and enjoy.

Pelagic birds are birds that spend a large part of their life on the open ocean. These include the majestic Albatross, petrels and terns. This gallery of Pelagic birds by Marcio Conrado was taken off the Tasman Peninsula

The triangle-shaped island of Panay is the sixth-largest of the Philippines archipelago, and has an amazing array of landscapes and biodiversity hotspots, including the Central Panay Mountain Range. As the fourth-most populous island of the Philippines, it is also facing conservation challenges.

Joshua Tree National Park was once described by early explorers as a “profitless locality” and that it “shall be forever unvisited”.
A bit of time, visitation by those with a more discerning eye and the efforts of a determined woman resulted in the protection of a treasured place.

Southwest National Park in Tasmania is a vast, mostly trackless wilderness containing ancient forests, the wildest rivers, a glaciated and mountainous landscape and a spectacular coastline with rich aboriginal history.

Dozens of species of native animals frequent the remnant moist gullies and bushland of the Mosman peninsula, from the Eastern Water Dragon to Peron's Tree Frog and the endangered Powerful Owl

Bruny Island has an intricate, complex, beautiful and varied coastline, ranging from sheltered inlets, shallow bays, mudflats, lagoons, and grand sea-cliffs, through to long sandy ocean facing beaches.

Bruny Island is an island, off an island, off an island, surrounded by islands. Image: Nick Monk

Imagery from the life of Duco, a Brazilian environmentalist, nature and bird-guide who found redemption in nature

The dusky dolphin is one of the smaller dolphin species with a maximum weight of about 85 kilograms and a length, of just over two metres. The dusky dolphin is a social species, known for its agility and coordinated acrobatic abilities.

The aurora australis lights the skies of Southwest Tasmania. The next Dark Sky Sanctuary? Image: Dan Broun