Alass' photos

The native noisy miner is causing more damage than the invasive, introduced species of myna bird, new research has shown. The research paper, to be published next year, assessed the impact of the native species on other native birds. It found the noisy miner was taking over the declining woodlands from smaller birds, causing steep declines. The birds have become such a big problem they have been nominated as a threat under the national environment protection act. One researcher recommended a trial cull of the aggressive animal. Dr Martine Maron from the University of Queensland said scores of different species were being impacted. "We're quite worried about the flow-on effects of that for ecosystems, because without those small woodland birds, then there's the risk that tree and woodland health could decline," Dr Maron said.

In the background is the old Royal Adelaide Hospital

Every year my husband likes to make these traditional German cookies. They cost him a good deal of effort, but he enjoys every minute of the tussle with sticky mixture, unwieldy globs of dough and runny icing. They always turn out to be huge, whatever the recipe says. And they are always delicious! Merry Xmas everyone.