Bob Graham
About Bob
Bob Graham is a professional geographer and convenor of the Bruny Island Environment Network
Background
Bob Graham is convenor of the Bruny Island Environment Network (BIEN) and has worked in and enjoyed many different areas of Australia from tropical North Queensland to SW Tasmania. Growing up in North West Tasmania he thought that birds were either, sparrows, seagulls or crows. That changed in the '70s after a trip to the Coorong with dedicated 'Birdo' friends. Since then birds have become an integral part of both his every day and professional life. After purchasing Karingal (a bush block with dilapidated farmhouse) on Bruny in 1977, Bob says that "getting to know the birds, their habits and their ever changing behaviour from season to season and year to year in and around the 'block' has been one of the most rewarding exepriences of my life".As a professional geographer and planner, the relationship of birds to where they live, how they survive and how they cope with environmental change has been an ongoing fascination for Bob. Working for over 40 years in diverse environments such as Lord Howe Island, North Queensland, SE Queensland, Cape York Peninsula, the Darwin Region, throughout Tasmania and on several national projects has allowed Bob to enjoy many different birding experiences. At the same an interest in birds and their relationships with the natural world have made Bob aware of the tenuous hold that many species have in a world which places more value on developing land for creating economic wealth rather than wise stewardship that respects and values birds and their habitats.
Articles by Bob
The fascinating beaches of Bruny
The real fascination with this place, Bruny, is, it’s an island, with this incredibly varied coastal environment. With wild ocean facing beaches, to stable Channel facing beaches, shell beaches, rocky beaches and everything in between.
Why are beaches curved?
It seems like such a simple question, “why does a beach have a curve on it?”. Yet even small beaches have a curve. This is because the energy of a beach is concentrated in the middle.
Bruny - two islands joined by a Tombolo?
There is a theory that Bruny Island used to actually be two separate islands that became joined over time by a 'tombolo' - a narrow sandy isthmus that builds with sand deposits over time
Bruny Island launch: Bob Graham on the hidden world behind the photos
In this series we'll introduce you to some key people involved in building the Bruny Island field guide. Here, geologist and convenor of the Bruny Island Environment Network Bob Graham talks about the hidden world you don't see through the tourist photos.
The relationship between birds and trees on Bruny
There is a dynamic relationship that builds up with a particular species of trees, and particular species of birds, and their need to feed, to breed and to survive.
Birds playing in wind at the neck
You quite often see birds, particularly the Pacific Gulls and the New Zealand Kelp Gulls using the wind running over the sand dune at the neck to play, circle and swoop back and forth for hours.
Blue Gums and Swifties
The Blue Gum – Eucalyptus Globulus – is a very important species of tree for the survival of the Swift Parrot, a critically endangered species that frequents Bruny Island.
Earth's history in Adventure Bay's rocks
At different parts of Adventure Bay you can find Sandstone that pre-dates life on Earth, to mudstone rich in fossils, to Dolerite cliffs that were once, millions of years ago, flows of molten lava.
Whales and dolphins of Bruny Island
Dolphins are common around Bruny Island. Whales including Southern Wrights, Humpbacks, and occasionally Blue Whales and Orcas seasonally migrate through here.
Ecology of the Neck
The neck is just such an incredibly diverse place. From the productive marine environment of Simpson's bay with rich shallow marine fauna, to the many species of birds, the recovering native vegetation and mammals such as Quolls, this is a very special place.
Contrasting beaches at the Neck
There are two incredibly different coastal environments to the west and the east of the neck, as explained here by geographer and naturalist, Bob Graham
A colony of Swans moves into Bruny Island
Local naturalist Bob Graham observations on a colony of Swans that moved into Adventure Bay and then thrived over the past 25 years.