MV blogs our theropods

Check out http://museumvictoria.com.au/about/mv-blog/may-2012/southern-carnivorous-dinosaur-diversity/

New paper on our amazing theropods

Dr Roger Benson from University of Cambridge (who worked with us in the Otways in March 2011) has published a paper in PLoS ONE looking at a number of theropod bones and teeth from Flat Rocks and the Otways.  He has determined that they come from a huge range of taxa.  Read all about it on Science Alert, Monash Uni, NY Daily News, Phys.Org or Sci-News.

Or for the full article on PLoS ONE.

San Remo dino bone a ceratosaur

Dr Erich Fitzgerald from Museum Victoria has been working on an ankle bone that Mike found at San Remo in 2006.  He has now published the paper in the journal Naturwissenschaften and has revealed that it is a ceratosaur.
Check out the press converage:
Sydney Morning Herald
Herald Sun
The Age
Telegraph (UK)
AFP
Daily Mail (UK)
Gulf Times (Qatar)
PHYS.ORG

And for those of you how want to tackle the full article check out http://www.springerlink.com/content/n6564767577306m3/?MUD=MP

For fans of DD gadgets

John reports that he has modified our DD Boulder Relocating Apparatus:
1) vertical angles increased to reduce lift height & stress on arms
2) pivot point on single tine flipped to increase opening width and reduce lift height
3) bottom tine length reduced to move grab point forward for safer carriage
4) single tine height higher than the opposing double such that it pushes rock into the double tines for safer easier carriage 

Prospecting The Arch

Pip gets up close and personal with a small green copperhead snake while prospecting with Mike at The Arch on Friday.
Odd that snakes are seen at the bottom of these cliffs so often.

Dredging Test



John trials Paul's dredge design

Cold wet work

Sand is moved

Constant adjustments

Gerry, Lesley, Mike, Pip and Harrion watch

Looks easy

The loneliness of a dredger

A path under the beach

Gerry & John make adjustments

Back to the white dredge

The view from the top of the cliff

Carrying the pump up the steps

Smiles in the car park

Mike's surprise birthday party





Guess what the present is!



Mike's 53rd Birthday wa celebrated on Phillip Island with a surprise party and sparkling mutton bird!