Thursday, April 1, 2010

Easter Bilbies

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Easter Bilbies


In writing a note to Tom
about chocolate Grasshoppers
(ask Tom)
I wondered if you know 
what a Bilby is...






A while back
a children's book
author called Rose Marie Dusting
had the bright idea
of supporting Bilby conservation
by promoting the sale of Easter Bilbies


A Bilby is a desert dwelling marsupial
a little like a bandicoot
He is about 29-55cm long
lives in a burrow
and never needs to drink water
gaining all his moisture from his food


The name Bilby
is borrowed from
the Yuwaalaraay aboriginal language
of Northern New South Wales,
and means long nosed rat

 The fecundity of the introduced rabbit
made them a major environmental pest
in Australia

The move to popularize the native Bilby
and promote his conservation 
by selling Easter Bilbies
didn't really catch on...







http://members.optusnet.com.au/bilbies/images/bilbies_not_bunnies.jpg




Bilbies are cute
but Bunnies are better...



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33 comments:

  1. Iiiiiiiihihihi,how cute!! I love Yuwaalaraay Bilbies,especialy ones from your world! :O)
    Bye.....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Aleks

    How do you think it might be eating one?

    not quite as cuddly as bunnies...

    What treats do you have at Easter?



    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hmmm ... I just read an article about Easter traditions around the world. Read about bilbies which are (to my American eye) kind of scary looking.

    Bilbies, bunnies ... to me the important thing is that they are made of chocolate!!

    Thought about you yesterday as I walked through the cherry trees. A hazy moon, indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  4. A very interesting anecdote with a great pneumonic learning cue: bilbie, Bible bunnies. First I ever heard of them.

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  5. At first I thought it was one of those photo-shopped pics...strange animals but no. Look at those ears!

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  6. cute! but the chocolate bunnies have bigger ears...so bunnies it is!

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  7. OH SO SWEET! I like it much better then the bunnies!
    Time for change I would say, but is human kind ready for it?
    *lol*

    Happy Easter from Sweden!

    Michaela

    ReplyDelete
  8. Is this an April Fool's Day Joke you are pulling on us, Delwyn? I need to go Google Bilbies!

    Have a Happy Easter, Delwyn!!!
    ♥...Wanda

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lucinda B Rabbit loves you, Delwyn since you think "Bunnies are better..." She had a long look at this Bilbies creature. She isn't sure they can pass muster.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Awww, Bilbies are terribly cute!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So would they become a pest like rats in New York City, or do the reproduce in less amounts? It is kind of cute, but I don't do rats.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What the hell is the world coming to. How the hell are Easter Eggs going to get delivered if the Easter Bunny doesn't ? tell me that. What next? The Tooth Fairy replaced with a Paris Hilton? Santa replaced by a bloody Parrot? - leave the sacred traditons alone for goodness sake!

    Rituals
    Traditions,soft prayers
    Like slow waves breaking
    Upon the holy memories of our hearts

    Aldonus

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like the bunny better but chocolate is chocolate!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Bilbies are cute; but maybe having a name that means "long nosed rat" is part of the problem.

    Just a thought.

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  15. hmm...i like the bilbies in photos but for easter i'd like a bunny!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Reya

    the cherry trees looked wonderful around the lake...

    yes the bilbie is a little unpalatable...in appearance any way... I'll let you know how he tastes on Sunday!

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Paul

    I hadn't thought of the alliteration until I reached the last line

    Happy easter to you

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Ellen

    all the better to hear you with my dear....


    they are stupendous ears...


    all the more chocolate for me to eat my dear...


    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Tom

    In the real I think the Bilbie may win hands down...but in Cadbury world maybe the bunny has the head start...

    happy days

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello Michaela

    I'm not sure that we will convince the rest of the world to change their bunnies to Bilbies.

    I did buy one for Easter to get the feel of a Bilbie chocolate treat...and I must say he looks a little frightening on my pantry shelf...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi wanda

    so what is your conclusion?


    what do you choose...
    can yo be convinced?


    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Barb

    you can tell Lucinda that she can rest comfortably, reassured that I for one am not switching allegiance...

    well I tell a fib...I did buy one Bilbie...just for experimental scientific purposes mind you...

    I was going to photograph him but he looked so dejected I thought better of it...

    Happy easter - with Bunnies

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Barb

    you can tell Lucinda that she can rest comfortably, reassured that I for one am not switching allegiance...

    well I tell a fib...I did buy one Bilbie...just for experimental scientific purposes mind you...

    I was going to photograph him but he looked so dejected I thought better of it...

    Happy easter - with Bunnies

    ReplyDelete
  24. Barb

    its ok
    I know you got the message

    my comments box is playing up tonight...

    coming up with errors and gobblydegook

    that's when it will open...

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Jann

    cute in the desert I think not the dessert..

    happy days

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Larry

    they are desert dwellers so I don't think that we will be overrun by them in the near future...

    oh Larry, they aren't really rats...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  27. Aldonus my old friend




    breathe deeply

    look at the sky

    relax...

    the world has not changed

    your bunnies are safe...


    paris is not planning a takeover of the toothfairy


    the parrot (are we talking of Long John Silver's companion here?) is not contemplating a Christmas coup


    breathe...

    all is well

    this too will pass...


    breathe...

    the easter bunny will still visit...


    Mr Cadbury is still in production...


    enjoy your easter dear friend


    happy days

    ReplyDelete
  28. Aldonus my old friend




    breathe deeply

    look at the sky

    relax...

    the world has not changed

    your bunnies are safe...


    paris is not planning a takeover of the toothfairy


    the parrot (are we talking of Long John Silver's companion here?) is not contemplating a Christmas coup


    breathe...

    all is well

    this too will pass...


    breathe...

    the easter bunny will still visit...


    Mr Cadbury is still in production...


    enjoy your easter dear friend


    happy days

    ReplyDelete
  29. Dang

    the comment publication has gone crazy

    help Alden

    the world is coming crashing down afterall...

    h

    e

    l

    p


    .
    .
    .
    .
    .

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Alexis

    that is very profound..

    chocolate is chocolate

    I love it

    thank you

    forget the Bilbie...its Easter afterall


    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  31. Lori

    where are you

    I know you are up there somewhere...Comments are giving me a run for my money tonight...


    there you are...

    yes I have to agree

    Bunnies are sweeter...in more ways than one...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Barry

    now that could be the issue


    we don't like to nibble of a ratty long nosed critter...


    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  33. awwwww! but he's such a sweetie!

    ReplyDelete

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