Australian Geographic

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Drag in the outback 💃

PLUS, Magpies swoop to victory

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May 26, 2026 3:00am EDT

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Eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) – Wollumbin-Mount Warning National Park, NSW
Image credit: Annette Ruzicka/Australian Geographic

In this newsletter: The festival that’s helped forge a place in the outback for regional and rural LGBTQ+ communities; the magpie swoops to victory as the most commonly sighted bird throughout Australia’s cities and suburbs; a review of everything known to science about Australasia’s crocodiles; and more.

Candice Marshall
Digital Features Editor

CULTURE

Sequins and spinifex

Each March, drag performers from across the country travel to Alice Springs, in the ochre heart of Central Australia, where desert horizons stretch beyond imagination and the MacDonnell Ranges glow at dusk. For one weekend a year, this remote town is transformed by the fabAlice festival, a vibrant four-day celebration of drag, cabaret, inclusion and creativity – with sequins and glitter to spare.

WILDLIFE

Magpie takes top spot in 2025 Aussie Bird Count

More than 64,000 Australians took part in the 2025 Aussie Bird Count last October, the country’s largest citizen science event. More than 5 million birds were counted from 621 species, providing BirdLife Australia with invaluable data about avian biodiversity across the nation. And now, the results are in…

STORE

The Classic Australian Cookbook

Rediscover the dishes that helped define Australia in The Classic Australian Cookbook – 2nd Edition. Packed with 75 beloved recipes, from BBQ prawns to the iconic pavlova, this refreshed collection celebrates the flavours, stories and traditions behind our most memorable meals. Featuring favourites from The Australian Women’s Weekly archives, it’s the perfect companion for everyday dinners, family gatherings and anyone who loves a taste of nostalgia.

SHOP NOW

SCIENCE

What 129,000 years of evidence reveals about Australasia’s crocodiles

A recent review of evidence from the past 129,000 years reveals a dramatic story of extinctions, human encounters, and survival against the odds.

CULTURE

Light pollution threatens First Nations ancient knowledge system of astronomy

Indigenous Australians were the world’s first astronomers. But their knowledge is now at risk as, in many of our towns and cities, the stars are increasingly hidden behind a haze of artificial light.

AUSSIE TOWNS

A complete guide to Irvinebank, QLD

“This thoughtfully preserved tin-mining town on the Atherton Tablelands is a delight to explore,” writes travel expert Bruce Elder.

SPECIES HIGHLIGHT

Common lionfish

Don’t be fooled by the exotic and angelic appearance of the common lionfish (Pterois volitans), whose genus name 'Pterois' translates to 'feathered' or 'winged'. The common lionfish gives a delicate and whimsical impression as it floats gently through the ocean, but hidden beneath those dainty wings are a collection of venomous spines.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Unprecedented access

To mark World Parrot Day this Sunday (31 May) take a trip down memory lane – and into Tasmania’s orange-bellied parrot captive breeding facility – in this feature story published in September 2022.

Filmmaker Matthew Newton gained unprecedented access to the facility to document the work of a group of dedicated staff and volunteers, rostered on around the clock, breeding and caring for the critically endangered birds.

AG SOCIETY

World-first conservation breakthrough for palm cockatoos

The Australian Geographic Society’s $20,000 Award for Nature granted to People for Wildlife in October last year has contributed to a landmark conservation breakthrough for one of Australia’s most threatened and culturally significant birds, the palm cockatoo.

In March, the project achieved a world-first: a palm cockatoo chick successfully hatched and fledged from an artificial hollow installed in northern Cape York. This result represents a major step forward in applied conservation for a species with exceptionally low breeding success and a strong dependence on large, centuries-old tree hollows.

AG SOCIETY

Keep the honey possum thriving in the wild

The honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus) is the beneficiary species of our bimonthly fundraising campaign through May and June.

One of Australia’s most extraordinary mammals, every part of the honey possum's biology is shaped by flowers, tying it intimately to the unique landscapes of its south-west WA home. But much of its habitat has already been cleared, and increasing threats from fire, invasive species and fragmentation are placing growing pressure on the ecosystems it relies on. When flowering plants disappear, so too does the honey possum’s food source, and its chance of survival. But there is hope. Bush Heritage Australia is restoring vital habitat corridors, reconnecting landscapes and bringing life back to degraded areas. Within just a few years, honey possums are returning to these restored sites, proof that recovery is possible when we act early. Read more.

This work is painstaking and long-term, and it depends on support. By donating today, you can help protect the honey possum while it is still common, before it becomes another species in crisis. Your contribution will support habitat restoration, conservation science and on-ground action.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

DONATE NOW

Australian Geographic acknowledges the First Nations people of Australia as traditional custodians, and pays its respect to Elders past and present, and their stories and journeys.

MAGAZINE | SHOP | ADVENTURE | TRAVEL

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Australian Geographic 52-54 Turner Street Redfern, New South Wales 2016

Drag in the outback 💃

PLUS, Magpies swoop to victory

What 129,000 years of evidence reveals about Australasia’s crocodiles

Light pollution threatens First Nations ancient knowledge system of astronomy

Recent emails from Australian Geographic