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Figbird, Adelaide Zoo

No Comments »4th February, 2011; Category: Adelaide Zoo, Aviaries, Photos, Zoos

Figbird (female), Adelaide Zoo

The Adelaide Zoo has a very strong collection of Australian birds, including some that are rare and endangered. It also includes a number of species I have yet to see in their natural environment. Observing these birds in the zoo’s aviaries is a good way to become familiar with these birds before heading out to see them. The two walk-through aviaries are also a great opportunity to hone my photographic skills. Being able to get close to the birds is a great advantage.

One species in the collection which I have yet to add to my Australian list is the Figbird. There are two races: the Green Figbird (shown here) and the Yellow Figbird. It is a bird of the rainforests and woodlands in northern and eastern Australia where it is common. It also occurs in PNG and Indonesia. Its preferred food is fruit, hence the name.

The top photo is a close-up of a female who later sat on her nest – shown in the photo below. The third photo is a very poor, out of focus shot of the male. I only include it to show the difference in plumage colours between the male and the female. Next time I walk through that aviary I will try to get a photo which is in focus.

Further reading:

Figbird (female) on nest, Adelaide Zoo

Poor photo of a male Figbird, Adelaide Zoo

Call for ban on duck shooting

5 Comments »2nd February, 2011; Category: Birds in the News, General

I try not to be too controversial or political on this site. My main purpose in writing this blog is to showcase the beauty and wonder of Australian birds, often through my photographs. This site is also filling an educational role in helping people to understand more about this country’s avifauna.

On special occasions I do make some controversial statements, like when I speak out about the damage domestic cats do to the Australian wildlife, including birds, mammals and reptiles.

Duck shooting

Another topic that can get me annoyed and angry is the matter of duck shooting. Here in Australia each state has its own regulations and laws concerning recreational shooting. I believe it is much tighter here than in other countries, including the United States where many of my readers reside. Shooters are far more actively into lobbying for their “rights” in other countries, but it concerns me that strong lobby groups are gaining momentum here in Australia. And they seem to have a growing political clout with the decision makers.

Conservation and birding groups have been trying to get recreational shooting – especially duck shooting – banned for some years. A newly elected government in the state of Victoria has been pressured into extending the hunting season, and increased the number of ducks that can be shot. I find it abhorrent that people take pleasure in killing wildlife in the name of “sport” or “fun”. We have severe penalties for harming almost all of our native species of birds and animals; why should ducks be any different?

You can read a passionate and informed article on the Birds Australia website here. It includes the email address of the premier of Victoria if you wish to complain.


Further reading:

Pacific Black Duck, Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Flamingos, Adelaide Zoo

No Comments »1st February, 2011; Category: Adelaide Zoo, Non-Australian birds, Zoos

Chilean Flamingo, Adelaide Zoo

The Adelaide Zoo has only two flamingos in its good collection of birds. The one shown in the photo above is the Chilean Flamingo.The other one is the Greater Flamingo, shown below.

The Chilean Flamingo is found in many parts of South America, while the Greater Flamingo is found in parts of Africa, Asia and Europe.

Further reading:

Greater Flamingo, Adelaide Zoo

Australian Magpies on a hot day

No Comments »31st January, 2011; Category: Bird baths, Bird Behaviour, Garden birds, Magpies and Currawongs

Australian Magpies sitting in the bird bath on a hot day (43C or 109F)

As I write this article the temperature has just topped 43C (109F) under our back veranda. I haven’t seen or heard many birds all morning which is understandable. As we were having lunch we watched three of our resident Australian Magpies sitting in the bird baths. They came to sit in the water and occasionally have a sip of water.

Before lunch I filled a bucket of fresh rainwater to top up three of the bird baths we have in our garden. The magpies shown in these photos moved only about a metre away while I tipped in the water. They obviously were too hot to move further away. As soon as I left they were back in the water again and have stayed there for the last few hours. Can’t say I blame them. It’s mighty hot out there.

During lunch the only other birds to come for a drink were a solitary Crested Pigeon and one Australian Magpie Lark. I’m not sure where all the other birds are holed up against the oppressive conditions. Usually there is a steady procession of honeyeaters (at least 5 species), thornbills (2 species), pardalotes (2 species), sparrows, parrots (3 species) and doves.

For a complete list of species that have visited our bird baths, click here.

Australian Magpie sitting in the bird bath on a hot day (43C or 109F)

Australian Magpie sitting in the bird bath on a hot day (43C or 109F)

Bush Stone-curlew

5 Comments »31st January, 2011; Category: Adelaide Zoo, Birds, Zoos

Bush Stone-curlew, Adelaide Zoo

The Bush Stone-curlew is a species I have yet to see in its natural environment. They are not all that common here in South Australia, so I was pleased to see and photograph this bird recently in the Pelican enclosure at Adelaide Zoo. The white thing pointing at it in the top left hand corner of the photo is actually the beak of a pelican.

Bush Stone-curlews are found in the western half of Western Australia, across northern Australia and in eastern and south eastern Australia. In some parts of their former range they are now uncommon to rare in areas settled for farming or urban sprawl except in Brisbane suburbs where they seem to thrive.

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