Raakajilm is a 490-hectare conservation property in the Mallee of northwest Victoria, Australia.

Recent blog posts:

Featured
What is the Mallee Looper?
What is the Mallee Looper?

The Mallee Looper caterpillars are eating their way through thousands of hectares of Mallee Eucalypts. Learn about Loopers and what you can do.

The Swainsona Files
The Swainsona Files

The Swainson-peas are beautiful plants, difficult to propagate and mostly threatened in Victoria. In the Mallee we have several species, including: Small-leaf Swainson-pea (Swainsona microphylla); Silky Swainson-pea (Swainsona sericea); Dwarf Swainson Pea (Swainsona phacoides); and Hairy Darling-pea (Swainsona greyana).

Swainson-pea Field Day
Swainson-pea Field Day

Thursday 4 September - FULLY BOOKED

Please join us and staff from the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria to survey the rare Silky Swainson-pea, Swainsona sericea.

Raakajilm wetland
Raakajilm wetland

We are excited to announce … there’s a wetland on Raakajilm!

This beautiful one hectare area will be seasonally wet, with a smaller permanent pool forming a drought refuge for wildlife. A wetland like this offers many opportunities to establish insurance populations of rare plants and a completely different bird-watching experience.

Support us

Our seasonal nature diary - blog posts from October in previous years…

What is happening in July ...
October
October

The Caper White butterflies have arrived, bees are swarming, a weekend for Malleefowl, a Giant Scavenging Water Beetle and Swallowtail butterflies.

October socials
October socials

The lizards are out - a very yellow Central Bearded Dragon and a fierce Stumpytail. It’s Gazania hunting season. The White-browed Wood Swallows have arrived, and an attack of the Army Ants!

Rainbow Bee-eaters and phenology
Rainbow Bee-eaters and phenology

Bee-eaters are colorful birds that migrate to the southern states in Spring and Summer. How consistent is their early October arrival date?

Grand flowers in the Mallee
Grand flowers in the Mallee

This is Austral Bugle (Ajuga australis). Plants from Raakajlim will contribute to understanding the taxonomy of this species. But it looks like the Mallee plants are the grandest of them all!

Orange Immortelles en masse
Orange Immortelles en masse

The Orange Immortelle produces a stunning wildflower carpet.

Gazanias, the pretty (awful) weed
Gazanias, the pretty (awful) weed

Gazania are evil weeds with wind-dispersed seeds. We found a plant on Raakajlim which was 2km away from the nearest infestation.

Peter’s Blind Snake
Peter’s Blind Snake

A burrowing snake, rarely seen above ground. Completely harmless and cute.

About us
Blog posts: Read them all in chronological order!
Galleries of photographs

Our blog posts are about birds, other creatures, plants and our projects.