Category Archive

Calyptorhynchus funereus (Birds of Drouin and District booklet P36) Description Size: 55-60cm All black, large cockatoo with yellow cheek patches and yellow tail panels. Sexes are similar but the male has a black bill, smaller, duller cheek patch and a red iris. Call Far-carrying ‘whee-la’, particularly in flight. Loud alarm screech. Raspy grinding begging sound from fledglings. Distribution South-east of … Read More

Eolophus roseicapilla (Birds of Drouin and District booklet P60) Description Size: 35cm Galahs are principally seed-eaters which they take from the ground. Often, they will fly in large flocks over long distances to find a food source. Galahs need large tree hollows in which to nest. It is estimated that barely 10% of galah fledglings survive to adulthood. Call needs … Read More

Calyptorhynchus funereus (Birds of Drouin and District booklet P36) Description Size: 55-60cm All black, large cockatoo with yellow cheek patches and yellow tail panels. Sexes are similar but the male has a black bill, smaller, duller cheek patch and a red iris. Call Far-carrying ‘whee-la’, particularly in flight. Loud alarm screech. Raspy grinding begging sound from fledglings. Distribution South-east of … Read More

Platalea flavipes (Birds of Drouin booklet P74) Description Size: 76-92cm Sexes are the same. Large, all white Spoonbill with a yellow bill. Plumage is often discoloured with mud. Develops long breast filaments when breeding. Call Mostly silent. Some coughing and hissing in breeding colonies. Distribution Widespread from the coast to deep inland and western WA. Nesting Builds a stick nest … Read More

Chenonetta jubata (Birds of Drouin booklet P66) Description Size: 440-500mm Male: Pale grey duck with two black stripes along the back; brown head; speckled chest; finely banded flanks. Female similar: Paler head; two white stripes, one above the eye, one below; broadly banded flanks. Call A long drawn out ‘gnooow’ often given in flight. Other chatterings when feeding. Distribution All … Read More

Rhipidura leucophrys (Birds of Drouin and District booklet P78) Description Size: 190-210mm Sexes alike. Familiar, black and white fantail. All black head, back and throat. White eyebrow. White underbelly. White flecks in the wings and throat. Call A short series of hissing, metallic, two-syllable rattles. Distribution Right throughout the continent apart from Tasmania. Nesting Builds a beautiful cup nest of … Read More

Egretta novaehollandiae (Birds of Drouin booklet P72) Description Size: 65-70cm Sexes are similar. A familiar heron with a two-tone grey body, white face and throat, yellow legs. Call Generally silent but emits occasional grunts. Distribution Widespread throughout except for the very driest parts. Nesting Can breed year-round at times but mostly over summer. Builds a stick platform-nest high in a … Read More

Engaeus sternalis The Warragul Burrowing Crayfish belongs to a group of specialised crustaceans known as burrowing crayfish. Its distribution is limited to about 20 km² between Labertouche and Nilma. It is thought to be one of the rarest species of burrowing crayfish in the world. There are nine species of burrowing crayfish in West Gippsland, five of them are endemic … Read More

Tree ferns are from the plant order Cyatheales. In Baw Baw Shire in the areas where rainfall is high, the tree ferns we see in gullies and wet areas with tree cover, can reach small tree height. They can grow up to 10m tall but some may only grow to 1m. Tree ferns have fronds which uncurl as they grow. … Read More