Birds

Bush Stone Curlew

The Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) is a large, ground-dwelling bird of extraordinary grace and beauty. It is endemic to Australia and nearby islands. It was formerly known as the Bush Thick-knee.

Threats to the bush stone-curlew include:

• predation by foxes and cats
• trampling of eggs by cattle
• clearance of woodland habitat for agricultural and residential development
• modification and destruction of ground habitat through removal of litter and fallen timber, introduction of exotic pasture grasses, grazing and frequent fires disturbance in the vicinity of nest sites.

Numbers have declined greatly over the last century. The bush stone-curlew is now endangered in NSW and were once widely distributed in Victoria. Sadly, they have suffered a significant decline, and it is estimated there are fewer than 300 breeding pairs left on the Northern Victorian Plains where it is now listed as critically endangered. One of the main problems affecting this ground-dwelling bird is that their chances of breeding successfully are very low. Curlew eggs and young are particularly vulnerable to predation by foxes and cats.

A stone-curlew working group bred and released a total of 85 young bush stone-curlews over 8 releases at two locations in southern NSW from 2008 to 2017. The group conducted the first successful release of bush stone-curlews in Australia and has been the driving force behind the establishment of numerous other similar programs across southeastern Australia. Many of the birds from these early releases have survived and been found breeding in the wild where predator control has been implemented and suitable habitat exists.

There is a managed captive breeding programme, which our birds from part of, and there are plans to release some of the offspring into suitably managed natural areas. While they are generally reliable breeders, it can take some pairs a few years to settle and breed successfully.

Orange-bellied Parrot

A small migratory parrot that crosses the sea on its migration, Orange-bellied Parrots breed in south-west Tasmania in the summer and migrate to the coast of south-east mainland Australia for the winter. The migration route includes the west coast of Tasmania and King Island. They spend much of their day either on or close to the ground and often while a group is feeding, they will take it in turns as a sentinel to sit on a high perch to check for dangers such as hawks.

In summer, soon after arriving back in the melaleuca area in southern Tasmania, pairs begin to form and seek out nest sites. They nest in tree-hollows in trunks and holes in dead branches with pairs known to return to the same nest site for many years. When a female accepts a nest site, she will spend up to a week in the nest preparing it for her brood. During this time, while she incubates and when the chicks are small, the male feeds the female on the nest. When chicks are about ten days old, both parents forage and return to the nest to regurgitate food for the young.

A captive breeding program, which was initiated with birds recruited from a small wild population, has focussed on understanding the birds’ behaviour and dietary needs to boost the production of offspring. The preparation of birds for release into the wild has included teaching the birds to feed on the favoured wild plants utilised by the wild birds and fitness training for life in the wild.

Decline in extent and quality of coastal salt marsh habitat, because of development, agriculture and interference with water systems has impacted the species’ mainland wintering habitat. As they forage on the ground, they are likely to be predated by foxes and feral cats on the mainland. Lack of natural burns at the breeding site has impacted native food resources there. Infectious disease outbreaks are also a threat to their population.

Due to the efforts of a range of optimistic and dedicated conservationists the wild population has risen to over 80 birds returning to nest in December 2023. Annual releases have occurred for many years with birds released both at the breeding grounds in Tasmania and along the Victorian coastline. During the mainland release birds are fitted with a radio transmitter and their movements and survival tracked by dedicated volunteers. To assist the valuable breeding females, they have also been assisted in their migration by flying them back to their breeding grounds by aeroplane. Conservation staff have also provided many artificial nest boxes in their breeding grounds which the birds are using well.

A significant captive breeding program that includes a variety of partners and zoos now manage a captive population of over 500 birds.

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

Of the Latin genus Calyptorhynchus which in Greek means hidden beak, with the beak often well tucked into surrounding feathers. There are five subspecies occurring in eight discrete populations. The South-eastern sub-species occurring on the SA/VIC border area is the focus of a Birdlife Australia conservation recovery programme involving private landowners with habitat restoration and artificial nest boxes. Favoured seeds are those of eucalypts, casuarinas, acacias and banksias.

Blue and Gold Macaw

Blue-and-gold macaws form close-knit groups in the wild. They are gregarious and will spend time together with others in their flock, playing, bathing, and hunting for edible fruit in the forest. Macaws tend to enjoy being with their flock mates but during the breeding season, they do partner off to raise their young. Macaws have zygodactylous feet, 2 toes that point forward and 2 that point backward, ideal for climbing and perching. Blue-and-gold macaws eat mainly nuts, seeds, and fruits. Their strong beaks are used to crush seeds and break open nut shells. Sometimes they consume clay from riverbanks to help them digest toxins from unripe seeds they have eaten. These birds communicate with each other by loud screaming and squawking calls to communicate a warning about predators, for attracting mates and to protect their territory. Body language is important e.g., if clicking and grinding the beak while raising the wings and with dilated pupils it is aggressive behaviour, it’s a warning sign to keep clear. Breeding pairs remain bonded for life and will return to the same tree hollow year after year to breed.

Brolga

The Brolga is found across tropical northern Australia, southwards through north-east and east central areas, as well as central New South Wales to western Victoria. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats, often associated with wetlands but can occur in dry country too. They are omnivorous, feeding on both vegetable and animal matter. It is thought that brolgas mate for life, and pair bonds are strengthened during elaborate courtship displays, which involve much dancing, leaping, wing-flapping and loud trumpeting. An isolated territory is established and is vigorously defended by both partners.

Black-headed Caique

Pronounced the same as the cake we like to eat, the word “”caique”” comes from the indigenous Tupi language from Brazil, meaning “”aquatic bird.”” These birds enjoy bathing and they play, bounce and roll in wet leaves and rain while calling with excitement. This excitement is contagious for the flock and is why some call them clown parrots. Overconfident for their size, noisy flock members join to call frantically and chase away predators. Caique’s nest in a tree hollow which the pair will spend a few weeks preparing by chewing up the soft wood in the cavity that creates a soft bed of sawdust for the eggs and later the chicks. This sawdust also helps absorb the moisture from the chicks droppings.

Diamond Firetail

They occur from southeast Queensland, west of the dividing range to South Australia. Not uncommon in the Grampians region and have been recorded in our zoo grounds. They occur in open woodland and amongst scattered thickets where they feed on grass seeds on the ground. The Diamond Firetail builds a nest with green grass blades and stems and lines it with fine grasses and feathers. Both partners incubate the eggs and care for the young. The chicks are extremely vocal and can be heard from some distance. Diamond Firetails have been adversely affected by clearing for agriculture and urban development. Their conservation status is listed as vulnerable. The zoos population is thriving with a number of young raised every season.