Pied Heron, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Pied Heron, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Pied Herons are found in coastal and sub-coastal northern Australia. Their range also extends to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Occasionally they can be found further south. So far I have yet to add this species to my list of birds seen. The individual shown in these photos is on exhibit in the walk through aviary at the Adelaide Zoo.
Pied Herons can be found in wetlands, lakes, lagoons, estuaries, mudflats and sewage farms. It is easily confused with the White-necked Heron but is much smaller, and has dark feathers covering the head which is white in the White-necked Heron.
Pied Heron, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
White-eyed Duck, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Hardhead (White-eyed Duck), Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
The White-eyed Duck is also known as the Hardhead. I’m not sure why. If any reader can enlighten me, please do so via the comments.
White-eyed Ducks are found throughout Australia where suitable habitat exists. Their preferred habitats include permanent wetlands, lakes, reservoirs, dams and sewage ponds. They easily move around the country in response to either drought or abundant rain.
I’ve only managed to see this species in the wild state on a handful of occasions. The photo above was taken of a captive bird in one of the enclosures at the Adelaide Zoo.
Bush Stone-curlew, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Bush Stone-curlew, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
I find the Bush Stone-curlew to be a fascinating bird. It seems so ungainly on its long legs, yet to see it run one has to conclude that it is very graceful in its movements.
While it tends to be a bird of the grasslands and open woodlands of rural western , northern, eastern and south eastern Australia, it has adapted to a more artificial lifestyle in urban areas, especially in Queensland.
Another intriguing aspect of this bird’s behaviour is its haunting call. The eerie ‘weee-ooo’ call carries far into the night – it usually calls at night – and is a well known sound of the Australian bush. To hear a recording of the call click here.
Sadly, I have yet to add this species to my list of birds seen in their natural environment.
The photos on this post were taken at the Adelaide Zoo.
Bush Stone-curlew, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Bush Stone-curlew, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Little Pied Cormorant, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Little Pied Cormorant, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Little Pied Cormorants are common throughout much of Australia, wherever there is suitable habitat. Their preferred habitats include coastal areas, islands, estuaries, rivers, lakes, farm dams, sewage ponds – in fact, almost anywhere there is water. We’ve even had one visit our swimming pool!
I can also remember being fascinated as a child by the occasional visit of a cormorant to our garden tank which was open at the top. My father installed this tank to store water for watering the vegetables because the mains water pressure on our farm was unreliable. Dad had also put a few small fish in the tank to eat any mosquito wrigglers, so I guess a visit was well worthwhile for a little snack. My father had a different opinion!
The birds shown in these photos were in a walk through aviary at the Adelaide Zoo. Below is one of the captive birds shown at a nest.
Little Pied Cormorant on nest, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Tawny Frogmouth, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
2 Comments »14th May, 2010; Category: Aviaries, Nocturnal birds, Owls Frogmouths and Nightjars, Zoos
Tawny frogmouth, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
On my recent visit to the Adelaide Zoo I managed to get some good photos of some of the animals and birds on display.
This photo of a Tawny Frogmouth is not one of them.
I was really struggling to get a good shot because of a number of factors:
- I was shooting through some rather thick wire. There were several large black cockatoos in the same aviary and they will easily chew through thin netting.
- The light was dodgy and the flash reflected off the wire.
- The keeper was in the aviary replacing some of the decorative tree branches, and so the frogmouth was uneasy.
- Frogmouths are naturally well camouflaged. Can you pick it out against the tree stump on which it is sitting?
If you click on the photo you can enlarge the image, and that might help. (Hint – the bird is right in the very centre of the photo.)
Update: I’ve recently posted a new article on this species, including a better photo here.