A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

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Stephen Whiteside
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A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Mon Jan 08, 2018 8:43 pm

A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

All round the world there is shouting and brawling,
Governments rising and governments falling,
Expenses are building, and someone must pay…
And a stingray is dying at Waratah Bay.

Up by the summits, the eagles are winging,
Deep in the forests, the whipbirds are singing,
Wombats, through burrows, are making their way…
While a stingray is dying at Waratah Bay.

A stingray is lost on the Waratah shore.
It came with the tide. It will wander no more.
Its colours are fading and turning to grey.
Yes, a stingray is dying at Waratah Bay.

© Stephen Whiteside 06.01.2018
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Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
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Shelley Hansen
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Re: A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

Post by Shelley Hansen » Tue Jan 09, 2018 8:26 pm

Such magnificent animals, almost iridescent. Potentially dangerous too, of course. Still, sad to see its demise. Your poem is very apt, Stephen.

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
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http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:14 am

Thanks, Shelley.
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
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Neville Briggs
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Re: A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

Post by Neville Briggs » Wed Jan 10, 2018 7:31 am

The natural order of things takes
and gives
The seagulls and crabs will get a feed.
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:05 am

Yes, a Pacific gull was already having a go at it. It flew away when we turned up.
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
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mummsie
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Re: A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

Post by mummsie » Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:38 pm

The cycle of life-natures way of taking and giving back to the earth. Meawhile...the world stumbles on.

A thought provoking piece Stephen.
Sue
the door is always open, the kettles always on, my shoulders here to cry on, i'll not judge who's right or wrong.

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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Thu Jan 11, 2018 5:50 pm

Yes, that's pretty much it.

Thanks, Sue.
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
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David Campbell
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Re: A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

Post by David Campbell » Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:51 am

Great photos, Stephen, and a fitting poem. We stayed at Yanakie for several days just few weeks ago...it's a fascinating part of the world.

Speaking of the cycle of life, it's hooded plover season down on our part of the coast and a couple of chicks have hatched on our local beach. Trouble is, they're out in the open and easy prey for foxes, about which little can be done, although an equal menace is dogs. So patrols are mounted to warn people walking their dogs to keep them on a leash and well away from the nesting area. Most co-operate, but some turn nasty, showing no regard for the tiny chicks and abusing the people trying to protect them. Their dogs, apparently, have right of way...a reminder that we are part of the cycle of life.

David

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

Post by Shelley Hansen » Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:08 pm

Hi David

It never ceases to amaze me how the hooded plover chicks survive! We've had a nesting pair here for years, and each season we count the chicks (little balls of fluff running around on spindly legs) and then wait with bated breath to see if they survive the foxes, cats and dogs.

This year they raised two to maturity. They are quite used to us and always bring their new chicks to our back patio with a flurry of (kak-kak-kakking) to show them off (or so we think!) We love them.

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
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"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: A Stingray is Dying at Waratah Bay

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:39 pm

Thanks, David. I think the little terns are in the same category as the plovers, from the stories that you and Shelley tell.

Maggie and I took our kayak to McLoughlins Beach last Sunday. It is a beautiful part of the Gippsland coastline, about 70 km east of Foster. We paddled to a large island of sand, seeing a lot of little terns on the way. They are very beautiful, with their forked tails and little black heads, and were diving dramatically into the water all around us.

There was a sign on the island saying 1080 had been laid to kill the foxes. Dogs were understandably banned from the area. I think the terns are one of the beneficiaries of this programme. From memory, they lay their eggs on the sand, and are very vulnerable. I remember seeing a wire fence surrounding a tern nesting area on the beach at Mallacoota many years ago.

I have posted a report on our McLoughins Beach adventure on my blog, here:
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au/kaya ... ins-beach/
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
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