ABC Wants You to Decide This Science Week Media release from ABC Radio National As part of National Science Week 2025, ABC Radio National is calling on audiences to vote for Australia’s Most Underrated Native Animal. These aren’t the usual cuddly crowd-pleasers, but the ugly, the annoying, and the lesser-known creatures that are often overlooked,…
Did you ‘call it’? Or do the results ruffle your feathers? The magpie’s warbling has won over the nation, taking out number one in ABC’s search for Australia’s Favourite animal sound. The call of the magpie was a clear winner, attracting over a staggering 36% of the votes in the final round. “The magpie’s warble…
Banjo frog hops into the top 10. Cicada holds tight. Is your favourite still singing? Or did it ‘croak’? Vote now for your favourite from the remaining animal calls. Over 90,000 voters have made their voices heard in the search for Australia’s Favourite Animal Sound. Birds perch high in the top 10, with voters expressing…
Koo-koo-kaa-kaa, crawk, howl… nationwide project to proclaim Australia’s favourite call of the wild. Media contacts: Laura Boland, laura@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0408 166 426; or Tanya Ha, tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863. Participate at: www.abc.net.au/sounds from 31 July. Do you love the summer night sounds of cicadas? Or the outback howl of dingoes? Are you intrigued by…
Snow gum and ghost gum close behind National poll ranks Australia’s 33 favourite native trees Over 265,000 votes cast throughout August Media contacts: Laura Boland, laura@scienceinpublic.com.au, 0408 166 426; or Jane Watkins, jane@scienceinpublic.com.au, 0425 803 204 More about the winners at: www.abc.net.au/trees Australians have chosen the river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) as their favourite native…
Flame tree, Moreton Bay fig and ghost gum remain among top 10 Take a stand and vote for your favourite in the final round Ten trees are left in the search to find Australia’s favourite tree Winning tree to be crowned on Friday Images available for media use See the Top 10 list and the…
Karri, tea tree, river red gum… nationwide project to crown Australia’s most loved species. The poll opens on Monday 1 August. The list will be cut to the top 20 on Friday 12 August, then 10 finalists on Friday 19 August, and the winner will be announced on Friday August 26. Images available for media…
Images available for media use. Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) — a long-lived wattle with cream ball-shaped flowers. Native to eastern states and SA, it’s now also found in WA, often as a feature or shade tree. Blackwood is used for furniture and guitars; and by Indigenous people for food, medicine and weapons. Boab (Adansonia gregorii) — found in…
12,000 Powerful, Barking, Boobook, Barn, and Masked owl calls found so far Download sample audio here. Images available here. Video available here. Meet the owls here. More about the Australian Acoustic Observatory: acousticobservatory.org. Background information Scientists available for interviews Media release below Media contacts: Ben Keirnan, ben@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0408 184 858; or Tanya Ha, tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863. Is…
Powerful owl (Ninox strenua) Barking owl (Ninox connivens) Southern boobook (Ninox boobook) Eastern barn owl (Tyto alba delicatula) Masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae)