Many thanks for the visits, faves and comments. Cheers
Galah - the one with the pink eye is the female
Scientific Name:Eolophus roseicapillus
Description: The Galah can be easily identified by its rose-pink head, neck and underparts, with paler pink crown, and grey back, wings and undertail. Birds from the west of Australia have comparatively paler plumage. Galahs have a bouncing acrobatic flight, but spend much of the day sheltering from heat in the foliage of trees and shrubs. Huge noisy flocks of birds congregate and roost together at night.
Similar species: The Galah is generally unmistakable, but in flight may resemble aGang-gang Cockatoo in shape.
Distribution: The Galah is one of the most abundant and familiar of the Australian parrots, occurring over most of Australia, including some offshore islands.
Habitat: The Galah is found in large flocks in a variety of timbered habitats, usually near water.
Feeding: Galahs form huge, noisy flocks which feed on seeds, mostly from the ground. Seeds of grasses and cultivated crops are eaten, making these birds agricultural pests in some areas. Birds may travel large distances in search of favourable feeding grounds.
Breeding: Galahs form permanent pair bonds, although a bird will take a new partner if the other one dies. The nest is a tree hollow or similar location, lined with leaves. Both sexes incubate the eggs and care for the young. There is high chick mortality in Galahs, with up to 50 % of chicks dying in the first six months. Galahs have been recorded breeding with other members of the cockatoo family, both in the wild and captivity. These include the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, C. galerita.
Calls: The voice is a distinctive high-pitched screech, 'chi-chi'.
Minimum Size: 35cm
Maximum Size: 36cm
Average size: 36cm
Average weight: 337g
Breeding season: February to July in the north; July to December in the south
Clutch Size: 3 to 4
(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)
© Chris Burns 2024
__________________________________________
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This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Tags: Galah Eolophus roseicapillus parrot bird Australian bird fauna Australian fauna nature Nikon D500 Nikon 200.0-500.0 mm f/5.6 VR Alice river Barcaldine Queensland Australia
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Many thanks for the visits, faves and comments. Cheers
Back Creek (after some rain) has an Artesian Memorial, Erected in commemoration of the explorative work undertaken by the pioneers of the Great Artesian Basin of Australia, and to the sinking of the first commercial artesian bore in Australia at Back Creek, 38km east of Barcaldine in 1886.
Barcaldine became the first town in Australia to use artesian water for reticulation from the town borehead completed in 1887.
Red River Gum (the Ghosts of the river)
Scientific Name: Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Eucalyptus camaldulensis, the river red gum, is a tree of the genus Eucalyptus. It is one of around 800 in the genus. It is a plantation species in many parts of the world, but is native to Australia, where it has the most widespread natural distribution of Eucalyptus in Australia, especially beside inland water courses. Oddly, it is named for a private estate garden near the Camaldoli monastery near Naples (L'Hortus Camaldulensis di Napoli), from where the first specimen came to be described. Material from this tree was used by Frederick Dehnhardt, Chief Gardener at the Botanic Gardens in Naples, to describe this species in 1832.
It is a familiar and iconic tree seen along many watercourses right across inland Australia. The tree produces welcome shade in the extreme temperatures of central Australia, and plays an important role in stabilising river banks.
River reds and many other eucalypts have an ominous nickname, "widow maker", as they have a habit of dropping large boughs (often half the diameter of the trunk) without warning.
The species can be found along the banks of watercourses, as well as the floodplains of those watercourses. Due to the proximity to these watercourses, river red gum is subject to regular flooding in its natural habitat. River red gum prefers soils with clay content. The trees not only rely on rainfall but also on regular flooding, since flooding recharges the sub-soil with water.
Hollows start to form at around 120–180 years of age, creating habitat for many wildlife species, including a range of breeding and roosting animals such as bats, carpet pythons, and birds. The dense foliage of the tree also provides shade and shelter from the sun in drier areas.
The superb parrot, a threatened species, is amongst the bird species that nest in the river red gum.
Fertilisation will therefore occur with other flowers on the same tree or other flowers on a different tree. Insects, birds, and small mammals help in the pollination of other flowers.
After flowering, the stamens will detach. The fruit is the part of the flower that remains after fertilisation, which enlarges, dries, and becomes woody. Triangular valves in the fruit will open, dispersing yellow, cuboid seeds. When seeds are shed from a tree, most fall onto the ground below the crown, with some seed carried by the wind and water. Dissemination occurs mostly in spring and summer, while natural flooding occurs during winter and spring. As the tree is inextricably linked with waterways, seed dispersion would logically be facilitated by floodwater.
(Source: Wikipedia)
© Chris Burns 2024
__________________________________________
All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Tags: landscape oil painting creek Back Creek gum trees gums Desert Uplands Nikon D850 Nikon 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 Australia
© All Rights Reserved
Many thanks for the visits, faves and comments. Cheers
Back Creek (after some rain) has an Artesian Memorial, Erected in commemoration of the explorative work undertaken by the pioneers of the Great Artesian Basin of Australia, and to the sinking of the first commercial artesian bore in Australia at Back Creek, 38km east of Barcaldine in 1886.
Barcaldine became the first town in Australia to use artesian water for reticulation from the town borehead completed in 1887.
Red River Gum (the Ghosts of the river)
Scientific Name: Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Eucalyptus camaldulensis, the river red gum, is a tree of the genus Eucalyptus. It is one of around 800 in the genus. It is a plantation species in many parts of the world, but is native to Australia, where it has the most widespread natural distribution of Eucalyptus in Australia, especially beside inland water courses. Oddly, it is named for a private estate garden near the Camaldoli monastery near Naples (L'Hortus Camaldulensis di Napoli), from where the first specimen came to be described. Material from this tree was used by Frederick Dehnhardt, Chief Gardener at the Botanic Gardens in Naples, to describe this species in 1832.
It is a familiar and iconic tree seen along many watercourses right across inland Australia. The tree produces welcome shade in the extreme temperatures of central Australia, and plays an important role in stabilising river banks.
River reds and many other eucalypts have an ominous nickname, "widow maker", as they have a habit of dropping large boughs (often half the diameter of the trunk) without warning.
The species can be found along the banks of watercourses, as well as the floodplains of those watercourses. Due to the proximity to these watercourses, river red gum is subject to regular flooding in its natural habitat. River red gum prefers soils with clay content. The trees not only rely on rainfall but also on regular flooding, since flooding recharges the sub-soil with water.
Hollows start to form at around 120–180 years of age, creating habitat for many wildlife species, including a range of breeding and roosting animals such as bats, carpet pythons, and birds. The dense foliage of the tree also provides shade and shelter from the sun in drier areas.
The superb parrot, a threatened species, is amongst the bird species that nest in the river red gum.
Fertilisation will therefore occur with other flowers on the same tree or other flowers on a different tree. Insects, birds, and small mammals help in the pollination of other flowers.
After flowering, the stamens will detach. The fruit is the part of the flower that remains after fertilisation, which enlarges, dries, and becomes woody. Triangular valves in the fruit will open, dispersing yellow, cuboid seeds. When seeds are shed from a tree, most fall onto the ground below the crown, with some seed carried by the wind and water. Dissemination occurs mostly in spring and summer, while natural flooding occurs during winter and spring. As the tree is inextricably linked with waterways, seed dispersion would logically be facilitated by floodwater.
(Source: Wikipedia)
© Chris Burns 2024
__________________________________________
All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Tags: landscape oil painting creek Back Creek gum trees gums Desert Uplands Nikon D850 Nikon 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 Australia
© All Rights Reserved
Many thanks for the visits, faves and comments. Cheers
White-necked Heron
Scientific Name: Ardea pacifica
Description: The White-necked Heron is a large heron with a white head and a long white neck with a double line of black spots running down the front. The upperparts of the body are slate-black, with plum-coloured nuptial plumes on the back and breast during the breeding season. Underparts are grey streaked with white. The bill is black, the naked facial skin is is blue or yellow, the eyes are green, and the legs and feet are black. The White-necked Heron is sometimes known as the Pacific Heron.
Similar species: The Pied Heron, A. picata, is a similar slate-black heron with contrasting white throat and neck, but it is a much smaller (43 cm - 52 cm) bird, with a crested dark cap that extends below the eyes, yellow legs, and a bill that is mostly yellow.
Distribution: The White-necked Heron is distributed throughout mainland Australia, inhabiting mainly fresh water wetlands.
Habitat: Although White-necked Herons are sometimes seen in tidal areas, most are found in shallow fresh waters, including farm dams, flooded pastures, claypans, and even roadside ditches.
Seasonal movements: White-necked Herons have regular winter or spring movements in many areas, but little is known of their patterns of movement.
Feeding: White-necked Herons feed by wading in shallow water or stalking through wet grass looking for fish, amphibians, crustaceans and insects. Like other herons, the White-necked Heron has a special hinge mechanism at the sixth vertebra that allows them to rapidly extend their folded neck and so catch unwary prey.
Breeding: White-necked Herons will breed in any month of the year in response to good rain, but most breeding occurs between September and December. The nest is a loose platform in a living tree such as a river red gum near or over water. The nests may be solitary or in loose colonies. Eggs are incubated by both parents.
Calls: A loud croak is uttered as an alarm call. Other gutteral calls are uttered at the nest.
Minimum Size: 76cm
Maximum Size: 106cm
Average size: 91cm
Average weight: 900g
Breeding season: Mainly September to December.
Clutch Size: Up to six, usually three or four.
Incubation: 30 days
Nestling Period: 45 days
(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)
© Chris Burns 2024
__________________________________________
All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Tags: White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica bird Australian bird fauna Australian fauna water bird Australian birdheron Nikon D500 Nikon 200.0-500.0 mm f/5.6 VR Barcaldine-Isisford Road waterhole nature Australian nature wildlife Australian wildlife
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Many thanks for your visits, faves and comments. Cheers.
Nankeen Night-Heron - (One of a number high in the Red River Gums along the Alice River at the Lloyd Jones Weir)
Scientific Name: Nycticorax caledonicus
Description: The Nankeen Night Heron is a stocky heron with rich cinnamon upperparts, white-buff underparts, a black crown, and yellow legs and feet. The head is large, the neck short (giving a stooped appearance), and the legs relatively short. During breeding the back of the head bears three white nuptial plumes. The bill is dark olive-green, and the eyes are yellow. Young birds are heavily spotted and streaked white, brown and orange-brown. As they mature, the black cap of the adult develops first, with the body plumage remaining streaked for some time. The Nankeen Night Heron is also called the Rufous Night Heron. The common name of the Nankeen Night Heron arose in early colonial times from the colour of nankeen, a cotton cloth from China.
Similar species: The Australasian Bittern, Botaurus poiciloptilus, is somewhat similar in form but is larger, with streaked underparts and patterned brown, buff and black upperparts, and does not have a black crown. The Striated Heron, B. striatus, may resemble juveniles in having a black crown, and variable plumage, some forms of which include cinnamon, but this is found only on the underparts, not the upperparts, which are grey in all colour forms. The Striated Heron also has a line of black and white marks down the centre of the foreneck.
Distribution: The Nankeen Night Heron is found throughout Australia, wherever there is permanent water. It is uncommon in Tasmania.
Habitat: The Nankeen Night Heron frequents well-vegetated wetlands, and is found along shallow river margins, mangroves, floodplains, swamps, and parks and gardens.
Seasonal movements: The Nankeen Night Heron is nomadic in response to rainfall.
Feeding: Nankeen Night Herons feed primarily at night in shallow water on a wide variety of insects, crustaceans, fish and amphibians but can occasionally be observed feeding during the day.
Breeding: The Nankeen Night Heron breeds throughout the year, depending on food availability. Breeding takes place in colonies, often together with egrets and cormorants. The nest is a loose stick platform over water. Both sexes incubate the eggs.
Calls: A loud croak, often at night
Minimum Size: 56cm
Maximum Size: 64cm
Average size: 60cm
Breeding season: Throughout year; mainly September to February in south; March to April in north.
Clutch Size: Up to five, usually two or three.
Incubation: 23 days
Nestling Period: 45 days
(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)
__________________________________________
© Chris Burns 2024
All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Tags: Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus water bird bird Australian bird fauna Australian fauna heron wildlife Australian wildlife Nikon D500 Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lloyd Jones Weir Alice River BArcaldine Queensland Australia
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