Buff-banded Rail
Buff-banded Rail, walk-through aviary at Adelaide Zoo
The Buff-banded Rail is normally a reasonably shy bird, preferring to skulk around in dense vegetation on the margins of rivers, lakes, dams, wetlands and swamps. On a few occasions, however, I have managed good views and excellent photos of this species where they are very accustomed to people being around. The bird in the photo above was a captive bird, taken while visiting one of the walk-through aviaries at Adelaide Zoo.
On another occasion I was surprised and delighted to see one wandering around my feet in a picnic ground in the Lower Glenelg River National Park in far south western Victoria. That was before I had a good digital camera, so no photos of that one. More recently I managed several excellent photos of this species while visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. The photo below shows one shot of this bird which casually strolled along the path in front of us. This section of the gardens is visited by thousands of people daily, so it was not at all concerned by my camera and its flash. It had been eating some melting chocolate that had fallen from someone’s ice-cream. I hope this was not a regular part of its diet!
Further reading:
Buff-banded Rail, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Hooded Plover
4 Comments »10th February, 2011; Category: Adelaide Zoo, Bird Behaviour, Nests, Plovers Dotterels and Lapwings, Seabirds, Zoos
Hooded Plover
The Hooded Plover is found along the southern coast of Australia, from Tasmania, though Victoria, South Australia and southern Western Australia. Its preferred habitat is sandy beaches where there is plenty of seaweed and there are nearby rocky outcrops, reefs and sand dunes. In some parts it can be found at salt lakes some distance inland in SA and WA. It lays its 2 or 3 eggs in a shallow scrape in the beach sand during the months of September to January.
The Hooded Plover is an endangered species. On the Fleurieu Peninsula near where I live there are fewer than 75 left, according the warning sign near the beach at Victor Harbor (see below). On a visit to Victor Harbor some years ago I was walking along this beach watching over about 60 primary school children on an end of year school camp. Trying to keep so many little feet away from the nest with two eggs took a major effort, but the birds patrolling the beach nearby were not too disturbed. Why they chose one of the busiest beaches in South Australia to lay their eggs is a mystery to me! I hope they survived.
The bird in the photo above was not taken at the beach. It was of a bird in an aviary at Adelaide Zoo where the keepers have cleverly recreated a small sandy beach to imitate its natural habitat.
Hooded Plover warning sign on beach at Victor Harbor, South Australia
Diamond Doves
No Comments »8th February, 2011; Category: Adelaide Zoo, Aviaries, Garden birds, Pigeons and Doves, Zoos
Diamond Dove, Adelaide Zoo
The Diamond Dove is one of our smaller doves here in Australia. This beautiful little bird is very popular as an aviary bird as is quite easy to keep in captivity, I believe.
Diamond Doves are found over a large part of the Australian mainland except for southern Western Australia and coastal South Australia and Victoria. It is a bird of the drier parts of the country except it is absent from the very driest desert areas.
This photo was taken through the wire of one of the aviaries at Adelaide Zoo. Sadly, I have not seen this bird in its natural environment, only in aviaries. I must get out birding more often, though to see this species I might have to travel a little as it is not present around where I live. It has been sighted on a few occasions just north of Adelaide.
While I miss not having the Diamond Dove around here, my disappointment is partly compensated by having Peaceful Doves occasionally in our garden.
Good birding.
Related article:
Peaceful Dove, Cleland Wildlife Park
Lyrebirds, Adelaide Zoo
Superb Lyrebird, Adelaide Zoo
I have only seen the Superb Lyrebird in its natural environment on a handful of occasions. On each occasion they were fleeting views not conducive to good photos. That is one of the reasons I enjoy visiting places like the Adelaide Zoo. They not only have a wide range of Australian birds on display in their collection, they also have two large, well maintained walk-through aviaries. In this way I am able to get close-up photos of birds I normally would struggle to shoot.
The Lyrebirds in Adelaide Zoo are quite used to hundreds of people strolling through their home every day. They just go about finding their food in the leaf litter of the aviary, quite oblivious of one’s presence only a metre or two away. I’m always pleased to get good views of the Lyrebirds whenever I visit this zoo. You see – there are no Lyrebirds in the wild here in South Australia. I have to travel by car for at least 8 – 10 hours to find one in the mountains near Melbourne, or 14 – 15 hours travel to near Sydney. Adelaide Zoo is a mere 55 minutes away from my home.
On the other hand, seeing a captive bird in an aviary doesn’t quite have the thrill of seeing one in its normal environment.
Superb Lyrebird, Adelaide Zoo
4000 comments and counting
King Parrot
A major milestone occurred on this site yesterday: The 4000th comment appeared.
I had been anticipating it for several days but missed it when I had a day sleeping off the medication for a massive allergic reaction, but that’s another story. (I’m better today. Thanks for asking.)
Thanks to everyone who has made this site so successful over the last five and a bit years, especially those who are my regular readers and those who take the time to stop a while and comment, or ask a question. Some of you are great at helping each other with your birding questions; your suggestions are most welcome and appreciated.
The last five years have seen just the beginning of this site. Stay tuned for more photos, more interesting facts about birds, more of my adventures while out birding and some new developments later in the year. Stay tuned folks – and thank you.
By the way – why not leave a comment on this post – just up there – to the right of the title of this post. Click on that and leave a comment.
Good birding.
Further reading:
Red-collared Lorikeet, Adelaide Zoo