Author Archive
Posted on November 4, 2010 - by admin
Cockatoos
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua Galerita)
Probably Australia’s most well-known cockatoo, the Sulphur-crested is also highly prized worldwide as a pet and aviary species. Individual birds may often build up an impressive, even colorful repertoire of words and sentences.
These cockatoos are also known for their longevity. It is not uncommon for the family pet Sulphur-crested Cockatoo to be handed down to a family member, having outlived its owner. In open country wild birds may congregate in their hundreds. Although ‘an impressive sight’, it is also one that’s often dreaded by grain farmers, as many crop has been partially destroyed by these strong-billed parrots. Compensating for this crop destruction, however, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos will assist farmers by feeding upon the seeds of many nuisance weeds. A variety of nuts, roots and berries are also consumed.
Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum)
Once familiar winter residents of some of Australia’s colder southern suburbs, Gang-gangs now prefer to remain amidst the mountainous regions of their distribution. They are still sighted around the suburbs at certain times of year, feeding from various fruiting trees and shrubs.
Early settlers could approach within touching distance of these cockatoos as they intently gleaned nuts and berries from their favored food trees. Only males bear the red plumage on the head, while the female is entirely grey. Their colors are quite unique amongst Australian Cockatoos, most of which are either predominantly white or black.
Hollows high up in old eucalypts provide sites for nesting, which takes place between October and January.
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calytorhynchus banksii)
The most widely distributed of the cockatoos, this impressive bird, with its brilliant markings, is a feature of northern Australia where flocks of up to 200 may congregate.
Highly nomadic throughout drier inland pastoral regions, seeds of native trees and introduced pastures constitute their primary diet.
The plumage of the male is completely black apart from the tail feathers which bear a vibrant red band. Females are speckled with yellow across their head and shoulders, and possess an orange-red, variegated tail band.
Always entering the hollow tail first, they will nest in any tree that has a hollow of suitable size. The inside hollow is chewed to produce a layer of wood dust onto which a single egg is laid.
Pink Cockatoo (Cacatua leadbeateri)
Another name of this species is ‘Major Mitchell’ after Sir Thomas Mitchell, an early explorer who marveled at the huge flocks he encountered on his journey through the N.S.W. interior in 1835.
The subtle tonings of this beautiful bird render it a popular aviary species, hence making it a prime target for the illegal bird trade. Curiously, they do not learn to talk and often do not develop a rapport with humans.
During the breeding season, incubation of the egg is carried out by both parents – the male day and the female during the night.
These larger members of the parrot family require old trees with hollows of suitable size for breeding and shelter. For the continued survival of these distinctive birds, stands of old growth forests must be retained and preserved.
Posted on November 3, 2010 - by admin
Parrots of the Interior
Budgerigar (Melopsittacus Undulatus)
Budgerigars are popular worldwide as domestic cage birds. Many people fail to realize that the ‘budgie’ as it is affectionately known, is an inhabitant of Australia’s arid interior. Its natural color in the wild is green, however, domestic colors vary from blue and yellow and even albino. (more…)
Posted on November 2, 2010 - by admin
Parrots of the Forests
Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus Roratus)
The male and the female of these striking rainforest birds are as distinct from each other as they are from all other species of parrot – males are predominantly green with an orange bill, whilst females are blue and red with a black bill. This marked difference in appearance, known as sexual dimorphism, initially led to confusion that each bird was a member of the a different species. (more…)
Posted on October 22, 2010 - by admin
About Parrots
Psittaciformes (pronounced sit-assi-forms), better known as parrots, could be described as one of Australia’s most well-known groups of birds.
Parrots are divided into three distinct sub-groups:
Lorikeets
Cockatoos
‘Typical’ Parrots (more…)
Posted on October 21, 2010 - by admin
Home in a Hollow
Providing artificial shelter and nesting sites to help Australia’s native wildlife.
The clearing of habitat is the main threat to many species of native wildlife trying to survive in their environment. By providing suitable nest boxes. You can offer a variety of native wildlife shelter from predators, while at the same time create a breeding or nesting site for them. (more…)
Posted on July 29, 2010 - by admin
A Crocodile Called Casey
It was about two years ago when Steve – funny there is another bloke of that name who mucks around with crocodiless too – ran a fishing camp on an island in the Adelaide River, a known crocodile breeding ground.
Steve Timmons was pretty new to the area, he knew there were plenty of crocodiles in the river and that they were dangerous, but he didn’t know much about them. And he wasn’t prepared for his first meeting with Casey.
We’ll let Steve continue the crocodile story
Posted on July 28, 2010 - by admin
The Alabama Red-bellied Turtle
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Red-bellied Turtle: The Red Profile
by John E. Marshall
Alabama is home to one of the richest and most diverse herpetofauna in the United States, especially in regards to turtle species. Not counting sea turtles, at least 22 species of chelonians reside in the Heart of Dixie.
Three species – the black-nobbed “sawback” or map turtle (Graptemys nigrinoda), the flattened musk turtle (Sternotherus depressus) and the Alabama red-bellied turtle (Pseudemys alabamensis) – are endemic to the state. (more…)
Posted on July 27, 2010 - by admin
The Wonderful World of Water Dragons
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Water Dragons
by Michael Spears
In the fall of 1995, I was browsing at a local pet store that had a rather large selection of reptiles (for small town in Mississippi, that is). There were iguanas, bearded dragons, various common geckos, savannah monitors and large constrictors, but one lizard seemed to beg for my attention. It literally came to the front of the enclosure as if to say, “Please buy me.” It was an interesting lizard, with a roosterlike crest, half inch spines running from the top of the head to almost the end of the stub tail, big eyes and puffy jowls. This was the first time I’d ever seen the magnificent Asian water dragon (Physignathus cocincinus). (more…)
Posted on July 26, 2010 - by admin
Try Some Tree Frogs
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By Gerold, Cindy and Walter Merker
Tree frogs can offer entertainment and enjoyment – and, of course, challenge.
From the dry Gran Chaco region of South America to the icy waters of Alaska, frogs and toads have been found in nearly every environment. With nearly 4,000 species – more than 10 times the number of salamander and newt species – anurans are by far the most successful group of the amphibians. (more…)
Posted on July 25, 2010 - by admin
Carpet Pythons in Captivity and Nature
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Carpet Pythons – these Australian beauties weave a spell over all who see them.
Carpet Pythons In The Wild
by Charles Acheson
Australian carpet pythons are unquestionably popular pythons among the general public, and most Australians have at some stage seen one of them in the wild. Usually, these people can recollect seeing one while on holiday – often, unfortunately, as roadkill. Throughout much of Australia, people in the countryside report seeing carpet pythons on ceiling beams in old sheds, in chicken roosts or even draped over their balconies. (more…)
