Falcon attacking a galah at dusk, using a stag as a launch point. The Galah survived. The Cape, August 2020. Photo David Hartney By Catherine Watson
A FRIEND first alerted me to David Hartney and his newsletter. “There’s a chap here who’s a birder and photographer,” Jenny wrote. “I think you should have a look at what he’s doing.”
She emailed me several editions of Cape Chatter, which David has been compiling since he arrived to live at The Cape just over a year ago.
Cape Chatter is full of brilliant photos and descriptions of the wildlife – particularly the birds – around the eco village. In the most recent edition, number 18, David comments that he’s just recorded his 99th bird species in less than 12 months
A FRIEND first alerted me to David Hartney and his newsletter. “There’s a chap here who’s a birder and photographer,” Jenny wrote. “I think you should have a look at what he’s doing.”
She emailed me several editions of Cape Chatter, which David has been compiling since he arrived to live at The Cape just over a year ago.
Cape Chatter is full of brilliant photos and descriptions of the wildlife – particularly the birds – around the eco village. In the most recent edition, number 18, David comments that he’s just recorded his 99th bird species in less than 12 months
The unusual aspect of the newsletter is that it’s focused on a small area so it is incredibly detailed. The second point is that it is also helping to build a community – of humans as well as birds and animals. All are working out where they fit in the scheme of things and forming new connections, including between the humans and the animals.
David says he now has “a small army” of residents who are not only learning what is around them in nature but becoming his “eyes and ears” for observations.
David says he now has “a small army” of residents who are not only learning what is around them in nature but becoming his “eyes and ears” for observations.
| I asked David to tell me a bit about himself and Cape Chatter: I began Chatter to make use of my interest in nature photography in retirement but primarily to photo-document the reconstruction of the natural habitat at The Cape which is very extensive for a housing development. I was also keen to record nature observations to see how the inter-relationship between the people, homes and the natural world evolves. Hopefully in a positive way. To date, there are many positives for the residents, the animals and the natural world. I moved to The Cape 12 months ago into a newly built home. I had previously lived for 20 years on 20 acres of woodland in Woodend, central Victoria, where my interest in photography and observing the nature around us started. I am self-taught in photography apart from a couple of basic courses and my writing skills I guess come from my education and working career. (23 years in the Army and 15 years in private industry). Chatter has been very warmly welcomed by the residents and future residents. I’ve also had very strong encouragement from Brendan Condon (the developer) who is extremely passionate about this project, not just from a housing estate perspective, but also the ecological restoration work that is underway and for the health and well-being benefits to residents and visitors to The Cape. The Chatter goes out to a Facebook private Cape residents’ group and also to a subscriber email list. David is currently developing and finalising a web-based blog. Outsiders are welcome to subscribe – email David at [email protected]. |  Cape resident, August 2020. Photo: David Hartney |