Brown Goshawk The Brown Goshawk is a robust predator of vertebrates, such as young rabbits and birds. Their prey is usually less than 500g but occasionally up to 1kg. They also take arthropods and carrion. They breed as solitary pairs in spring and early summer. The nest is a platform of sticks; the clutch size is usually three eggs with an average of 1.6 to 1.7 surviving to fledging. The species is partly migratory in the south, moving to northern areas of Australia in the winter months. Continue reading
Magpie Goose Magpie Geese thrive in northern Australia, but were once widespread in eastern Australia as well. A breeding colony was recorded in Bool’s Lagoon but by 1911 had vanished under pressure from hunting and the establishment of pastoral leases. Shortly after proclamation of Bool Lagoon as a reserve in 1968, a breeding population was successfully re-established, not without several difficulties and setbacks. Currently they are doing well. Magpie Geese are an unusual species with many characteristics thought to be primitive, so much so that it is placed in its own… Continue reading
Greater Crested Tern The Greater Crested Tern is Australia’s second largest large tern, resident in South Australia. It feeds mainly on fish but will take squid, crabs, and other aquatic prey. Breeding is from September to December, in large colonies on offshore islands along the entire South Australian coastline. Look for them performing a stately pas de deux (illustrated) as part of their courtship ritual. Continue reading
Apostlebird Apostlebirds are found in garrulous groups of from 3-20 birds. Many of these are about twelve in number, hence the common name. They are ground feeders living mainly on seeds and insects, but will also take leaves, shoots, small mammals and the eggs of birds. They are co-operative breeders with one breeding pair, the rest of the group being helpers. Breeding occurs in the spring and summer (from August to February). They build a mud nest similar but smaller, than that of White-winged Choughs, being a mud bowl reinforced with… Continue reading
White-browed Babbler Babblers associate in small groups of 6-13 individuals. Generally, their sentries will find you before you see them and your presence will be announced by their distinctive whistling calls. They are sedentary defending a territory of several hectares year-round. Babblers are ground foragers living largely on insects and other invertebrates found in leaf litter but will take seeds, fruits and eggs or nestlings of small birds. Breeding occurs mainly in late winter and early spring (Jul-Nov). Babblers are co-operative breeders, usually with one brooding pair, and several helpers. Photo above:… Continue reading
Superb Fairywren The Superb Fairywren is one our most familiar and loved birds, ubiquitous on calendars, diaries and tea towels. They prefer habitats consisting of clear open areas where they can feed, interspersed with dense low vegetation where they can hide if danger threatens. They can be found in parks and gardens with thick shrubs or undergrowth, but such areas are becoming less common and smaller and sadly, Superb Fairy-wrens are no longer as common in our gardens as they used to be. Superb Fairywrens are generally found in small parties… Continue reading
Little Raven The Little Raven is one of five species of the genus Corvus found in South Australia and the Little Raven is the corvid most commonly found in the Adelaide area. All ravens and crows are referred to as called ‘corvids’ as they all belong to the genus ‘Corvus’. The others species in South Australia are Little Crow, Australian Raven, Torresian Crow and Forest Raven. The calls of corvids are perhaps the best method for identifying them in the field. They all have different calls, although recognising them obviously requires a… Continue reading
White-plumed Honeyeater White-plumed Honeyeaters give clear melodious “chick-o-wee” calls with numerous variants, and are particularly noticeable early in the morning. Sharp penetrating “pee-pee-pee”, alarm calls are given in response to predators. White-plumed honeyeaters feed on nectar, arthropods, lerp and manna. They forage at all levels of eucalypts but mainly in tree crowns. Breeding occurs mainly in the spring months (late August to November). The nests are small cups of woven grass, placed several metres above the ground in the crown of a eucalypt. They are often parasitized by Pallid (Cuculus pallidus),… Continue reading
Rainbow Lorikeet We are fortunate to have one of the most colourful parrots in the world, the Rainbow Lorikeet, living in our suburbs. The largest of the lorikeets, it’s violet-blue head, lime green nape, orange breast and green back, combined with a coral-red beak, are distinctive. Rainbow Lorikeets give a loud, strident contact call repeatedly in flight. Flocks, in particular, can be very noisy flying overhead, and when settling in to roost. Rainbow Lorikeets feed mainly on nectar and pollen from trees and shrubs but also take fruits, seeds and insects. In… Continue reading