Trevor's Birding

Australian Bustard

No Comments »6th May, 2010; Category: Aviaries, Zoos

Australian Bustard, Adelaide Zoo

On my visit to Adelaide Zoo last week I took the time to visit the various aviaries and attempted to take photos of the many birds they have in their collection. This zoo has a particularly strong representation of Australian birds and it is quite a challenge to photograph them, particularly through the wire mesh.

On several previous visits I had been disappointed not to get a good shot of the Australian Bustard, one of our larger birds. This is one species I have yet to see in the wild. A few years ago a friend phoned me saying he had one in the paddock near their house, but by the time I drove there – some ten minutes away – it had flown. It is certainly not common in our district.

Australian Bustards – also called the Plains Turkey or Wild Turkey – is a large bird of inland areas of Australia. It is widespread by not common in the eastern and southern parts of its range. In general it is found singly or in small groups, but when conditions are right – such as during a locust plague – they can form loose flocks of many dozens. Its favoured habitat includes grasslands, spinifex, open scrublands, sandhills and open pastoral lands.

I must head north one day soon so I can add this magnificent bird to my list of birds seen in the wild.

Australian Bustard, Adelaide Zoo

What is that bird in that tree?

2 Comments »4th May, 2010; Category: Animals, Zoos

Red Panda, Adelaide Zoo

Last week on my visit to the Adelaide Zoo I was especially keen to see the Great Panda exhibit. I was not disappointed and I had excellent views of the animals, and also managed some great photos.

Next to their much publicized cousins, the Red Pandas also had a wonderful new enclosure. Now I know a lot of fuss has been made of the Great Pandas in the zoo, but I think that the Red Pandas are far nicer. Much smaller grant you, but very attractive.

I was amused that the keepers had placed some bamboo high in a tree planted in their enclosure and one of the Red Pandas had climbed up to have a snack, only to fall asleep while doing so. They are just as cute asleep too.

Sorry if you came here today expecting something about birds – more about birds in coming days. I promise.

Red Panda, Adelaide Zoo

Southern Boobook owl

2 Comments »3rd May, 2010; Category: Aviaries, Garden birds, Nocturnal birds, Owls Frogmouths and Nightjars, Zoos

Barking owl, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

I was working late at my computer tonight when I heard a sound outside. I raced out, torch in hand. Sure enough – I heard a Southern Boobook owl calling. I tried to follow the sound but after walking across our five acre block of land it was still no closer.

I expect it was at least a kilometre away because the night was very still and sounds travels a long way on evenings like this. Still, it is a significant recording. On checking my bird database on my computer it is over 22 years since I last recorded this species here at home. That’s exciting.

The Southern Boobook is found over a large part of Australia and is our smallest owl. It is also called a Mopoke because of its call. It feeds on small mammals such as mice, insects, bats and moths. It is almost entirely nocturnal but is sometimes seen out hunting on dull, cloudy days.

As yet I do not have a photo of this species taken in the wild. Instead I have a photo of a Powerful Owl taken through the wire of an aviary at the Adelaide Zoo.

You can read more about this owl on the Birds in Backyards site here.

You can read more about my encounters with owls, frogmouths and nightjars here.

That’s not a bird!

2 Comments »2nd May, 2010; Category: Animals, Parrots and Lorikeets, Zoos

Long-nosed Potoroo, Adelaide Zoo

On my visit to the Adelaide Zoo last week I spent some time in a walk through aviary. I wanted to get some more photos of the birds in their collection so I could share them here.

After several minutes in the enclosure my attention was drawn to the wooden walkway I was on. A small furry creature had jumped up on the walkway and came to investigate my shoes. It was a Long-nosed Potoroo, a small Australian mammal the size of a rabbit. He sniffed quite deliberately all around my shoes before hopping off to get a rub and a scratch from some children who had just entered the aviary.

This species of potoroo is found in Tasmania and in small numbers on the mainland, mainly coastal NSW and Victoria. It is not entirely nocturnal (unlike many of our mammals) and lives on fungi, insects, seeds, fruit, and vegetation.

Now to appease the birders who come to this site, here are two photos of birds I took only a minute or so before the potoroo came into my life.

Female Eclectus Parrot, Adelaide Zoo

Male Eclectus Parrot, Adelaide Zoo

Galahs lose their home

5 Comments »30th April, 2010; Category: Animals, Bird Behaviour, Nests, Parrots and Lorikeets

Galahs at nesting hollow

A few months ago I wrote about a pair of Galahs investigating a hollow in a large tree in our garden. Every day or so they would come and do a little more in the hollow. I even saw them lining the nest with fresh gum leaves. But it didn’t happen. Their happy homemaking never resulted in the happy – noisy – squawk of little ones.

In the meantime I noticed that they would come every few days, sit at the entrance and screech loudly into the hollow. This behaviour puzzled me. I wondered if some other creature – an owl perhaps – had taken up residence.

A few nights ago I found out what had happened – and I have photographic evidence of who had taken over their cosy love nest. The photos below tell the story.

Brush-tailed Possum