Banded Lapwing, Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney
Banded Lapwing, Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney
Many Australians are familiar with the Masked Lapwing (Spur-winged Plover) as they are very common around parks, ovals, school grounds and farmlands. I get many comments on these birds on my birding site when they are breeding; the birds can be very noisy and very aggressive when protecting the nest or their young.
Many people however, would not be aware of their quieter cousins, the Banded Lapwing shown in the photos on this post. This species is found throughout much of Australia in suitable habitat, except for the far north. Their preferred habitat is bare or ploughed paddocks, areas with short grass, near swamps and plains.
The photo above of a captive bird was taken recently in the Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney.
Further reading:
Banded Lapwings, Murray-Sunset National Park
Striped Honeyeater, Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney
Striped Honeyeater, Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney
Australia has many dozens of different honeyeaters. In my home town of Murray Bridge we have at least 12 different species, most of them resident year round.
The Striped Honeyeater is one of them, but it is a breeding migrant in this area, arriving in the spring and leaving late summer. Only on one occasion over the last 26 years has it actually nested in our garden.
The bird shown in the photo above was in an aviary at Taronga Park Zoo where we visited on a holiday earlier this year.
Rainbow Lorikeets welcome us to Taronga Park Zoo
Rainbow Lorikeets, Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney
When we went to Sydney earlier this year we went with our son and grandson to Taronga Park Zoo. We had just entered the gates when we were welcomed by these two Rainbow Lorikeets feeding on some scraps of bread left on the walkway by someone.
I guess whoever left them the bread didn’t realise that bread is absolutely no good for feeding birds. Not only has it no nutritional value whatsoever for a bird, it can also swell up in the intestines causing blockages.
An unusual sign
Sign at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
I was amused by this sign on one of the gates at Monarto Zoo, an open range zoo in South Australia.
At first glance you may be wondering what is so unusual about it.
It happens to be on a gate leading into the lions’ paddock!
Not the best place to be riding a bike, I’d say.
Lions, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Meerkats at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Meerkat at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
My local zoo, Monarto Zoo, has a small enclosure near the Visitor Centre which always attracts a lot of attention. The enclosure is on the way from the centre to the bus stop, and almost every visitor to the zoo passes by it. It is the Meerkat enclosure. This wonderful little animal is usually a crowd favourite.
The shuttle buses take visitors on guided tours of the zoo, as well as taking them to various stops along the way. Visitors can alight at any of these stops and walk along the numerous walking trails taking them to viewing platforms o see the animals.
On my most recent visit we thought that the Meerkats had gone to ground for the night. Sunset was not too far away and the zoo was about to close. Then one of them popped out to bid us goodnight, posing for photos – as they are wont to do.
Meerkat at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Meerkat at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Meerkat at Monarto Zoo, South Australia