Hatching Brolgas

Hatching Brolgas

Brolgas are one of my favourite birds and are also the official bird emblem for Queensland. These stately and gregarious birds are commonly found in Western Queensland, and even in flight they form a distinctive and elegant profile. Brolgas hatch once a year, commencing now and through the month of February, which coincides with the end of the wet rainy season. At the moment, their preferred food of grasshoppers is to be found in abundance in the rapidly growing grasses of Western Qld. Their nest is often a raised mound of sticks and grass located in shallow water or on the ground near water.

The Western Rivers Carer will be keeping her eye out for these birds in the coming months, as the young hatch and slowly grow into graceful birds.

Wedge Tail Eagle

Wedge Tail Eagle

Check out this welded metal sculpture of a wedge tailed eagle, which can be seen on the banks of the Barcoo River in Blackall, Western Queensland. Isn’t it a majestic piece of artwork? As one examines this, one is tempted to think that the nest is a little too large. Think again. Wedge Tail Eagles build the most amazingly huge and messy nests of loosely configured sticks. These nests can be up to 1.5 metres wide, and 3 metres deep, and are found precariously perched high above the landscape on the top of trees or escarpments.

These magnificent birds of prey are quite common in mainland Australia, and can frequently be seen soaring high above the plains, or standing guard over their prey, which often is remnant road kill carcasses. They also eat small mammals (e.g. possums, lambs, foxes, cats) or reptiles (e.g. snakes and lizards). The birds are a sandy brown – black colour, and have quite a regal presence, just as this sculpture does. If you are passing through Blackall, detour from the main road West to the Barcoo River Bridge to view this magnificent art work.