Dr David Hamilton
@drdevildave.bsky.social
Conservation Equollogist | Lutruwita, Tasmania | Tasmanian devil advocate & accidental quoll scientist, posting mainly science & quoll puns
A dangerous(ly adorable) predator approaches…
September 12, 2025 at 7:13 AM
A dangerous(ly adorable) predator approaches…
As part of eastern quoll translocation work, we use supplementary feeding stations that are meant to exclude Tasmanian devils.
The devils disagree…
The devils disagree…
August 10, 2025 at 6:52 AM
As part of eastern quoll translocation work, we use supplementary feeding stations that are meant to exclude Tasmanian devils.
The devils disagree…
The devils disagree…
Quoll beans!!
These tiny eastern quolls are only around 5 weeks old, & just starting to get their spots
These tiny eastern quolls are only around 5 weeks old, & just starting to get their spots
August 4, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Quoll beans!!
These tiny eastern quolls are only around 5 weeks old, & just starting to get their spots
These tiny eastern quolls are only around 5 weeks old, & just starting to get their spots
Please enjoy this antechinus sproinging* away
* technical term
* technical term
July 6, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Please enjoy this antechinus sproinging* away
* technical term
* technical term
Another interesting side finding was the first (that we know of) genetic confirmation of multiple paternity in eastern quolls, with multiple litters found to have been fathered by more than one male quoll!
June 18, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Another interesting side finding was the first (that we know of) genetic confirmation of multiple paternity in eastern quolls, with multiple litters found to have been fathered by more than one male quoll!
However, genetic analysis of the next generation found no evidence that any of them had a captive-bred parent!
While we may have missed some juveniles in our sampling, this (at the least) indicates that the captive-bred quolls had lower breeding success than their wild counterparts
While we may have missed some juveniles in our sampling, this (at the least) indicates that the captive-bred quolls had lower breeding success than their wild counterparts
June 18, 2025 at 12:29 AM
However, genetic analysis of the next generation found no evidence that any of them had a captive-bred parent!
While we may have missed some juveniles in our sampling, this (at the least) indicates that the captive-bred quolls had lower breeding success than their wild counterparts
While we may have missed some juveniles in our sampling, this (at the least) indicates that the captive-bred quolls had lower breeding success than their wild counterparts
We also wanted to examine the genetic effects of the supplementation, so sampled the next generation of quolls post-release.
This was a key part of an Honour's project by Jessica Morrison, who's the lead author on the study
This was a key part of an Honour's project by Jessica Morrison, who's the lead author on the study
June 18, 2025 at 12:29 AM
We also wanted to examine the genetic effects of the supplementation, so sampled the next generation of quolls post-release.
This was a key part of an Honour's project by Jessica Morrison, who's the lead author on the study
This was a key part of an Honour's project by Jessica Morrison, who's the lead author on the study
A population supplementation of eastern quolls occurred @tasland.bsky.social's Silver Plains property, to boost a flagging population of this threatened species. Results were encouraging, w/ high survival & low dispersal of captive-bred quolls.
Read about it here - www.publish.csiro.au/AM/AM22011
Read about it here - www.publish.csiro.au/AM/AM22011
June 18, 2025 at 12:29 AM
A population supplementation of eastern quolls occurred @tasland.bsky.social's Silver Plains property, to boost a flagging population of this threatened species. Results were encouraging, w/ high survival & low dispersal of captive-bred quolls.
Read about it here - www.publish.csiro.au/AM/AM22011
Read about it here - www.publish.csiro.au/AM/AM22011
📣 New quoll science, looking at the genetic outcomes of a translocation of eastern quolls in Tasmania! 🧪🧬
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🧵Thread below ⬇️
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🧵Thread below ⬇️
June 18, 2025 at 12:29 AM
📣 New quoll science, looking at the genetic outcomes of a translocation of eastern quolls in Tasmania! 🧪🧬
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🧵Thread below ⬇️
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🧵Thread below ⬇️
Dasyurid feet of various sizes! 👣
Tasmanian devil
Spotted-tailed quoll
Swamp antechinus
Tasmanian devil
Spotted-tailed quoll
Swamp antechinus
May 25, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Dasyurid feet of various sizes! 👣
Tasmanian devil
Spotted-tailed quoll
Swamp antechinus
Tasmanian devil
Spotted-tailed quoll
Swamp antechinus
#WhereWhereWedgie 🦅 surveys near Hamilton today -
- 6 (!!) x wedge-tailed eagles
- 1 x white-bellied sea-eagle
- 1 x brown falcon
- 200 cockatoos!!
An excellent day for science!
@catmyoung.bsky.social @clawkins.bsky.social
#citizenscience 🌿🪶🧪 #Tasmania #conservationscience
- 6 (!!) x wedge-tailed eagles
- 1 x white-bellied sea-eagle
- 1 x brown falcon
- 200 cockatoos!!
An excellent day for science!
@catmyoung.bsky.social @clawkins.bsky.social
#citizenscience 🌿🪶🧪 #Tasmania #conservationscience
May 25, 2025 at 2:47 AM
#WhereWhereWedgie 🦅 surveys near Hamilton today -
- 6 (!!) x wedge-tailed eagles
- 1 x white-bellied sea-eagle
- 1 x brown falcon
- 200 cockatoos!!
An excellent day for science!
@catmyoung.bsky.social @clawkins.bsky.social
#citizenscience 🌿🪶🧪 #Tasmania #conservationscience
- 6 (!!) x wedge-tailed eagles
- 1 x white-bellied sea-eagle
- 1 x brown falcon
- 200 cockatoos!!
An excellent day for science!
@catmyoung.bsky.social @clawkins.bsky.social
#citizenscience 🌿🪶🧪 #Tasmania #conservationscience
That awkward moment when you catch a devil pooping on camera…
In all seriousness, Tasmanian devils make latrines, where lots of individuals will poo in the same area. Then any devil wandering along can have a sniff, & know who’s around 💩
@tasland.bsky.social
In all seriousness, Tasmanian devils make latrines, where lots of individuals will poo in the same area. Then any devil wandering along can have a sniff, & know who’s around 💩
@tasland.bsky.social
May 19, 2025 at 2:31 AM
That awkward moment when you catch a devil pooping on camera…
In all seriousness, Tasmanian devils make latrines, where lots of individuals will poo in the same area. Then any devil wandering along can have a sniff, & know who’s around 💩
@tasland.bsky.social
In all seriousness, Tasmanian devils make latrines, where lots of individuals will poo in the same area. Then any devil wandering along can have a sniff, & know who’s around 💩
@tasland.bsky.social
May 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Has anyone asked the echidnas their views on this election? 🎤
May 2, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Has anyone asked the echidnas their views on this election? 🎤
There’s antechinus, & there’s ANTECHINUS!!
Antechinus are small (usually…) relatives of the Tasmanian devil. This chonk of a male was caught at Inala Jurassic Garden, for quick samples to help out with vaccine research for Devil Facial Tumour @wildimmunity.bsky.social
Pic- @catmyoung.bsky.social
Antechinus are small (usually…) relatives of the Tasmanian devil. This chonk of a male was caught at Inala Jurassic Garden, for quick samples to help out with vaccine research for Devil Facial Tumour @wildimmunity.bsky.social
Pic- @catmyoung.bsky.social
April 28, 2025 at 10:36 PM
There’s antechinus, & there’s ANTECHINUS!!
Antechinus are small (usually…) relatives of the Tasmanian devil. This chonk of a male was caught at Inala Jurassic Garden, for quick samples to help out with vaccine research for Devil Facial Tumour @wildimmunity.bsky.social
Pic- @catmyoung.bsky.social
Antechinus are small (usually…) relatives of the Tasmanian devil. This chonk of a male was caught at Inala Jurassic Garden, for quick samples to help out with vaccine research for Devil Facial Tumour @wildimmunity.bsky.social
Pic- @catmyoung.bsky.social
A ptunarra brown butterfly from March surveys at @tasland.bsky.social’s Vale of Belvoir
These endangered endemic butterflies rely on native Poa grasslands & only fly for a few weeks in March
These endangered endemic butterflies rely on native Poa grasslands & only fly for a few weeks in March
April 11, 2025 at 11:44 PM
A ptunarra brown butterfly from March surveys at @tasland.bsky.social’s Vale of Belvoir
These endangered endemic butterflies rely on native Poa grasslands & only fly for a few weeks in March
These endangered endemic butterflies rely on native Poa grasslands & only fly for a few weeks in March
The science term is turbo floofs!
April 11, 2025 at 10:40 AM
The science term is turbo floofs!
Stumbled across a flock of migrating swift parrots at @tasland.bsky.social’s Five Rivers Reserve in the Central Highlands of Tasmania
These critically endangered parrots breed in Tassie over summer, then head north for winter - a very sensible approach!
These critically endangered parrots breed in Tassie over summer, then head north for winter - a very sensible approach!
April 2, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Stumbled across a flock of migrating swift parrots at @tasland.bsky.social’s Five Rivers Reserve in the Central Highlands of Tasmania
These critically endangered parrots breed in Tassie over summer, then head north for winter - a very sensible approach!
These critically endangered parrots breed in Tassie over summer, then head north for winter - a very sensible approach!
Happy Tasmanian Devil Average Birthday! 🥳
Tasmanian devils breed annually during late Feb/Mar, & have a very short gestation (~21 days). This means the average birth date for devils is 1st April
So wish any devils you know a Happy Birthday! &, on average, you’ll be right on the money 🥳
Tasmanian devils breed annually during late Feb/Mar, & have a very short gestation (~21 days). This means the average birth date for devils is 1st April
So wish any devils you know a Happy Birthday! &, on average, you’ll be right on the money 🥳
April 1, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Happy Tasmanian Devil Average Birthday! 🥳
Tasmanian devils breed annually during late Feb/Mar, & have a very short gestation (~21 days). This means the average birth date for devils is 1st April
So wish any devils you know a Happy Birthday! &, on average, you’ll be right on the money 🥳
Tasmanian devils breed annually during late Feb/Mar, & have a very short gestation (~21 days). This means the average birth date for devils is 1st April
So wish any devils you know a Happy Birthday! &, on average, you’ll be right on the money 🥳
Quoll feet are the best feet! 👣
These are the hind feet of a spotted-tailed quoll - those striated pads provide extra grip when they’re climbing
These are the hind feet of a spotted-tailed quoll - those striated pads provide extra grip when they’re climbing
March 11, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Quoll feet are the best feet! 👣
These are the hind feet of a spotted-tailed quoll - those striated pads provide extra grip when they’re climbing
These are the hind feet of a spotted-tailed quoll - those striated pads provide extra grip when they’re climbing
Quick as a quoll!
⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ 💨💨💨
⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ 💨💨💨
March 6, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Quick as a quoll!
⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ 💨💨💨
⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ 💨💨💨
Nothing better than a box of quolls!
Spent yesterday at one of the sanctuaries that make up the Tasmanian Quoll Conservation Program, helping conserve both eastern & spotted-tailed quolls in the wild
@utas.edu.au @tasland.bsky.social
Spent yesterday at one of the sanctuaries that make up the Tasmanian Quoll Conservation Program, helping conserve both eastern & spotted-tailed quolls in the wild
@utas.edu.au @tasland.bsky.social
March 3, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Nothing better than a box of quolls!
Spent yesterday at one of the sanctuaries that make up the Tasmanian Quoll Conservation Program, helping conserve both eastern & spotted-tailed quolls in the wild
@utas.edu.au @tasland.bsky.social
Spent yesterday at one of the sanctuaries that make up the Tasmanian Quoll Conservation Program, helping conserve both eastern & spotted-tailed quolls in the wild
@utas.edu.au @tasland.bsky.social
A quollity piece of news for your Monday morning!
www.utas.edu.au/about/news-a...
Slow-mo eastern quoll for tax
www.utas.edu.au/about/news-a...
Slow-mo eastern quoll for tax
March 2, 2025 at 10:30 PM
A quollity piece of news for your Monday morning!
www.utas.edu.au/about/news-a...
Slow-mo eastern quoll for tax
www.utas.edu.au/about/news-a...
Slow-mo eastern quoll for tax
DYK that quolls can go grey too?
This is the tail of a 4 year old eastern quoll - 4 is a good innings for this species, & her tail looks magnificent!
This is the tail of a 4 year old eastern quoll - 4 is a good innings for this species, & her tail looks magnificent!
February 20, 2025 at 9:46 PM
DYK that quolls can go grey too?
This is the tail of a 4 year old eastern quoll - 4 is a good innings for this species, & her tail looks magnificent!
This is the tail of a 4 year old eastern quoll - 4 is a good innings for this species, & her tail looks magnificent!
Nothing better than coming across a big ol’ Tasmanian devil poo! 💩
February 5, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Nothing better than coming across a big ol’ Tasmanian devil poo! 💩