Birds
Species Profile: Australian Bustard
The Australian Bustard is a unique bird that lives a nomadic life; they are omnivorous and eat insects, small vertebrates and plant material. They seek areas that are abundant with food after periods of rain, and they can also go for long periods without drinking in times of drought.
Breeding time for this amazing bird is aligned closely with rain – specifically the amount that falls, how long it lasts and the intensity of the fall. Unlike our other large plains bird, the emu, only the female incubates and cares for the young. Males reach breeding age at around five to six years and the females at two to three years.
They lay only one or two eggs in a scraped-out bit of ground, and the incubation period lasts for between 23 and 24 days. Males and females are easy to distinguish. The males have a black crown, white eyebrows and a white neck that is finely vermiculated. They have a black chest band and can reach a height of 100cm, and they also have a spectacular breeding display. The females have a narrow brown crown with their neck and breast coloured off-white to beige. They also have a thin breast band that is less visible than the males'. They reach a height of 70cm. They are a mostly silent species, but do have a harsh barking sound that they emit when alarmed.
Australian Bustards were killed by the thousands after the1860s but finally became protected in 1935. Unfortunately, habitat destruction and predation from foxes have reduced their range to northern monsoonal Australia, where heavy rains prevent human access during breeding season. The population recovery has been slow, and at present a rehabilitation program operates only in Victoria.
Species Profile: Black Swan
Cygnus atratus
Australia is one of the driest continents in the world, with only a tiny proportion of the country providing suitable habitat for water birds; one of the largest and the most noble of these species is the Australian Black Swan. There are seven species of swan in the world today; five are white and the remaining two are the Black-necked Swan of South America and our own Australian Black Swan. There is an ancient belief that swans only sing when they are dying; according to this legend it is only then the mute swan becomes vocal and the legendary “swan song” becomes evident. This of course is a fairy tale, and the Black Swan makes a number of different vocal sounds.
Native to Australia, the Black Swan is most often seen on extensive shallow stretches of permanent water, including brackish and salt water; it prefers shallow water where it can reach the bottom of the water source to feed. The Black Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and grasses.
The flight formation of Black Swans as they take to the skies is spectacular, in part due to their size but also due to the sight from the ground as they fly in a V formation with their necks outstretched.
The Australian Black Swan was first discovered on the west coast of Australia, on what is now known as the Swan River, by the Dutch in the year 1697. They eventually took three live swans back home with them.
After breeding, which takes place from February to September, Black Swans get together in enormous flocks - sometimes in many thousands - to gather to moult. They nest in a heap of vegetable matter on the water and the Cygnets are grey-brown in colour. The males are much larger than the females, whose bills and irises are much lighter than the males. They both have a high-pitched bugle noise which they emit even in flight.
You can help this beautiful bird by confining your domestic pets, not feeding the swans and encouraging others to do the same. Swans are a placid bird and easily tempted by bread - this puts them in danger from people and their dogs that do not have the interests of these wonderful birds at heart. Admire them from a distance and encourage their natural behavior.
Species Profile: Brahminy KiteHaliastur (Milvus) Indus
The Brahminy Kite is widespread across most tropical parts of the world wherever the ocean meets the land. In Australia their distribution covers the northern coasts and they can be seen souring on the air currents around bays, estuaries, mudflats, islands and shallow sandy coastlines, particularly those with spits. The adults are particularly spectacular with their beautiful white and brown plumage, short tail and very broad black-tipped wings while in flight. They are not strong birds and do not have the ability to grasp or lift heavy prey. They are not as well adapted to the strong coastal winds and spend more time perched watching their environment than in flight. Their main diet is fish, especially those that are left stranded when the tide recedes. They will also eat frogs, crabs, snakes, insects and small birds on the wing. They have in some areas become used to living off human food and will also feed on carrion.
Brahminy Kites build a high stick nest on horizontal limbs next to or overhanging water and will construct a fresh one each year or rebuild the remains of last year's. In the top northern ends-building in late winter, which allows their young to hatch in time for the bounty of food spring brings.
The females are slightly larger than the males and during their first year of life they strongly resemble the Whistling Kite; they then develop their adult plumage in their second year.
Habitat loss, fishing debris and rubbish all threaten this wonderful bird. You can help by lobbying councils and government to protect habitat, keeping rubbish contained, and keeping our beaches and parks free from fishing debris.
Species Profile: Bush Stone Curlew
Esacus magnirostris
The Bush Stone Curlew is one of Australia's truly beautiful birds, with the most amazing big eyes that instantly captivate you. They live in open woodlands, on the edges of dense forests and along inland water courses.
The Bush Stone Curlew is still abundant in parts of the tropical north, but is fast approaching extinction in pastoral areas in the south where it was once one of our most common birds. It is a placid bird but very wary; when it feels threatened, instead of fleeing like most other birds it will crouch close to the ground and become extremely still; it will do this even if approached, making it easy prey for feral dogs, cats and foxes - and also humans.
The curlew is mainly nocturnal and usually emerges at dusk to feed; it will also fly in groups to feeding areas some distance away to forage for insects, spiders and fruits.
They breed between August and January and nest in scrapes on the ground. The male and female are indistinguishable, but the juveniles are often paler than the adults. The Bush Stone Curlew is endemic to Australia and their spooky call at night has frightened many a camper; many stories about this bird are told in Aboriginal culture.
These birds are truly amazing little Australians and you can help them by protecting their habitat, keeping domestic animals locked up at night and reporting sightings of feral cats and foxes to your local authorities.
Species Profile: Tawny Frogmouth
Podargus strigoides
The Tawny Frogmouth is found throughout Australia and despite the fact that it looks like an owl and has similar habits, such as being nocturnal, it is not an owl nor is it related to owls - but people often refer to them as the 'Tawny Frogmouth Owl'. It prefers habitat with large old trees and wooded areas but has settled quite happily into urban life as streetlights, vehicle headlights and house lights supply an abundant amount of food.
Baby Tawny Frogmouths look like balls of cotton wool with large eyes and very big mouths. Adults look very aggressive when they open their beaks wide and snap them closed with a resounding clap, but over all they are a placid bird that has the amazing ability to look like a dead branch in the trees, if you look carefully into the tree tops you may see a family of them perched side by side looking like a patch of dead wood. They build very poor nests of a couple of twigs perched on a branch, and to this the youngsters cling once hatched.
They eat a variety of foods including reptiles, birds, mammals and insects. Like owls they are silent fliers and you cannot hear them moving through the air. They have similar hunting practices to the kookaburra - watch, wait and pounce. It is hard to tell the difference between the male and female Tawny Frogmouth but generally the males are grey and the females brown. They have a very haunting call that can be quite spooky when you hear it at night.
Tawny Frogmouths are one of our very impressive nocturnal birds and you can help protect them by keeping your domestic animals inside at night and taking care on the roads in wooded areas.
