Australia

‘Terrorising us’: bluebottles wash up on Australian beaches in ‘gobsmacking numbers’

There’s still much to learn about these ‘strange alien creatures’, but climate change likely to create ideal breeding conditions, expert says


Armadas of alien-like sea creatures have been washing up on Australian beaches thanks to the warm weather but experts warn people should look but not touch.

Jellyfish expert Dr Lisa-ann Gershwin said bluebottles had been washing up on beaches across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania in “gobsmacking numbers” over the last few months thanks to the warmer weather.

“They’re having a really fun time this year and they’re definitely terrorising us this year,” Gershwin said. “They’re really strange alien creatures. There’s no two ways about it.

“It doesn’t have any equal to people, or animals, or corals, or things we understand intuitively. It’s just their own brand of weirdness in such a cool way.”

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If someone finds a bluebottle washed up on the beach, Gershwin encouraged people to look but warned they should not touch, poke or stomp on the animals as even in death they can sting.

“These things bloody hurt,” she said.
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I can personally attest to that last bit. The beach where my family regularly spent our Christmas/New Year break was riddled with the buggers, and I was stung many times. It's not pleasant, and I stopped going to that beach as soon as I was old enough to be left home alone.
 
arthwollipot said:
‘Terrorising us’: bluebottles wash up on Australian beaches in ‘gobsmacking numbers’

I can personally attest to that last bit. The beach where my family regularly spent our Christmas/New Year break was riddled with the buggers, and I was stung many times. It's not pleasant, and I stopped going to that beach as soon as I was old enough to be left home alone.
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The really scary buggers are the Irukandji stingers. They are moving south and they kill, and you die in great pain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irukandji_jellyfish

When I was a surf lifesaver on bluebottle days, we used to rub sand on the parts stung (which actually removed the stings sticking to the body) and put laundry blue on (which did nothing other than generate a placebo effect).
 
lionking said:
The really scary buggers are the Irukandji stingers. They are moving south and they kill, and you die in great pain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irukandji_jellyfish

When I was a surf lifesaver on bluebottle days, we used to rub sand on the parts stung (which actually removed the stings sticking to the body) and put laundry blue on (which did nothing other than generate a placebo effect).
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The current recommendation is vinegar. We used a commercial preparation trademarked Stingose. It... kind of worked. It was better than nothing.
 
I listened to most of the 100 yesterday, and listening to the rest on Spotify now. A good playlist.
 
Shipwreck found in US confirmed as Captain Cook's Endeavour after 22-year search, museum says

Maritime experts are convinced they have confirmed the final resting place of Captain James Cook's ship, Endeavour, after 22 years of searching.

The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) announced a wreck in Newport Harbour, off Rhode Island in the United States, had been confirmed as the ship.

The Endeavour, which was scuttled in the harbour as part of the American War of Independence in 1788, has a prominent place in Australian history.

In 1770 it became the first European vessel to reach the east coast.
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But wait!

Meanwhile, we may not have found the Endeavour after all.

Kevin Sumption, the chief executive of the Australian National Maritime Museum, announced today the shipwreck of Cook’s vessel had been positively identified.

But the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project has rejected the ANMM’s report, calling it a “breach of contract” with RIMAP, the lead organisation for the study in Newport harbour.

It says there has been “no indisputable data” to prove the site is the Endeavour, though the study is “consistent with what might be expected”:

There are many unanswered questions that could overturn such an identification ... RIMAP’s conclusions will be driven by proper scientific process and not Australian emotions or politics.
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source
 
Official Saints Facebook group is reporting the passing of Chris Bailey of the Saints. Cofounded the Aussie punk band that was all about the music and not the safety pins and hair that beat the Sex Pistols to putting out a record.

Stranded with intros by various artists.


Know Your Product - just yesterday I was looking at a hand written list by Curt Cobain of his favourite records and saw this one.


Ghost Ships
 
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‘Itchy, yucky, unpleasant’: wet weather brings leech invasion to NSW suburbs

Residents tell of close encounters with the blood-sucking creatures which are spreading because of high rain and humidity


Relentless rainfall has sparked a leech invasion in New South Wales, with no reprieve in sight for already damp dwellings.

The blood-sucking creatures have been attracted into suburban areas, where higher than normal rainfall and humidity are providing suitable conditions to feed.

Linda Campbell has been batting off leeches in her Winmalee home in the Blue Mountains for months.

“I’ve lived in this house for seven years, [and] I have never found leeches inside before now,” she said.

“I don’t have a dog. My two cats aren’t allowed outside, so they haven’t hitched a ride on a pet.”

Campbell reckons she has found more than half a dozen leeches on her property since December – bopping up on her body, on the settee, secreted in rugs and on walls.

The worst encounter was when Campbell was sitting on the couch at night, barefoot. She was just about to go to bed when she noticed a leech had been sucking blood out of her foot.
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'Straya!
 
Note that the forum software is going to mangle the URL. You'll need to fix it by inserting the letters S, H, I and T in the appropriate locations, conveniently indicated by asterisks.

'Australia's S***test Big Things' shortlist a joke to some, but not everyone's laughing

Australia is famous for its "big things", and the 230-or-so novelty landmarks can certainly divide opinion.

Back to ruffle some feathers, the satirists from **** Towns of Australia have put it to a vote and compiled a shortlist of what people believe are the most unusual or underwhelming "big things".

Some people reckon the "****test" poll is a bit of fun that helps draw attention to their towns; others take exception to being spoken about in such unflattering terms.
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'Straya!

Cold conditions drive venomous red-bellied black snake to seek warmth of car engine bay

In the engine bay of Alan Bates' Mercedes is a 204 horsepower engine considered to be the peak of German engineering — and a highly venomous red-bellied black snake.

Mr Bates discovered the beady-eyed boarder after lifting the bonnet on Wednesday to check for a different kind of unwanted visitor.

"The other car had some rodent droppings under the bonnet, so I thought I'd better check this one as well," Mr Bates said.

"There he was just sitting on top of the engine."

Both as surprised as each other by the intrusion on their mid-morning activity, Mr Bates and the snake retreated in kind.

The mostly black engine bay of the car, already crowded with serpentine hoses, then provided the perfect hiding place for the snake.

Even when a professional snake handler was called in to remove it, the "elusive" creature continued to thwart Mr Bates' attempts to get done what he needed to.

"We were supposed to use this car to pick up our other car from servicing but unfortunately we couldn't," he said.

"The snake was holding all the cards at that moment."
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Find out the exciting conclusion at the link.
 
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