Brolgas in Victoria

Always walking away

Tending the nest

Should this be fenced ?

Sewerage farm as a last resort

Following a query expressing surprise that Brolga are in Victoria I have added the following information.

References used include :   Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority

                                               Birdlife Australia

                                               Dept. of Sustainability and Environment

                                               Pizzey & Knight Field Guide Birds of Australia

  The Brolga sometimes known as the Native Companion (features in some Indigenous art) is a tall silver/grey native crane up to 1.3 m tall  .

  Annually post breeding the birds congregate in large flocks where it is famed for intricate dancing displays prior to moving to isolated nesting sites.

  They prefer to live in well vegetated wetlands, flood plains or isolated swamps where it feeds on a wide variety of wetland plants, insects and amphibians.

   The brolga was once widely spread through Tropical and Eastern Australia but is now regarded as vulnerable in NSW, Vic, and SA.

 Numbers are secure in NT, nth Qld and north WA. Where large flocks are not unusual.

   Populations have been steadily reduced since European settlement.

   In the Western District of Victoria numbers have dwindled to about 500 birds.  It was only in the 1980’s that it was realised that the Brolga were in trouble and moves were made by bird groups and dedicated landholders to improve habitat.

   At that rate of loss it is possible that the birds would have died out in our children’s lifetime. They are still vulnerable because 53% of wetlands have disappeared through –

-        drainage of swamps & wetlands

-       poor management, overstocking, plantation expansion

-       introduced animals such as foxes and cats

                        - Lets hope they survive