| ·
A brolga is an Australian crane, also known as "Native Companions" |
|
|
| ·
It is one of two types of cranes found in Australia, the other being
the Sarus Crane |
| ·
The Brolga is a tall and slender bird. They have very long legs
and a slender neck, both of which are mainly grey |
| ·
Their heads are bare with a red patch of skin behind the eye running
around the back of the head |
| ·
Once fully grown, their feathers are also grey |
| ·
They grow to around 1 meter tall and their wingspan is 2 meters |
| ·
Brolgas are normally found in large noisy flocks (sometimes 1,000
or more). These flocks meet in fresh water swampy grasslands |
| ·
The Brolga is found mostly in the tropical north or in the east
of Australia |
|
| ·
It is hard to estimate numbers in Australia but it is said to range
between 20,000 and 100,000 |
| ·
Brolgas eat grass, roots, insects, frogs, and lizards - the Brolga
looks for food during daylight hours |
| ·
Brolgas are most famous for their elegant, graceful mating dance.
A couple will spread their large wings whilst facing each other
and jump, dance and shake their heads!! At the same time they will
often make loud trumpeting calls |
| ·
The young when born are active within 2 - 3 hours. They will remain
with their parents for about a year |
| ·
Many brolgas are lost due to the following main threats: loss of
wetland habitats, red foxes and incidental poisoning |
| ·
There is an Aboriginal legend that says girls who do too much dancing
and not enough working, are changed into brolgas. (Since brolgas
are like to dance a lot!) |
| ·
The Aborigines copied the brolgas' dance and did it themselves |
|
