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
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.
Why is the sand finest at the top of a beach?
When a waves come in, there is an enormous amount of energy, but it loses that energy as it sweeps up the beach, dropping heavier particles first and then dropping the finer particles of sand.
Simpsons Bay Beach
Simpson's Bay beach is a long thin beach on the D'Entrecasteaux Channel side of the neck
Marine and coastal life at Coal Point
At a number of spots along the coastline near Adventure Bay, such as at Coal point, are fascinating rock pools and coastal and marine life.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.