Walcha to Apsley Falls
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Photos taken on 22nd December 2002 of the walk from Walcha to the Apsley River Lagoon.
DCP_1964.JPG
11.09
Black Swan
You can just see the red beak on the long neck, just behind and above the right white wingtip.
Apsley River Lagoon, a superb long stretch of water on the Apsley.
GPS S 30.99481° E 151.6619°
Walcha S 30.99637° E 151.66101°
Walcha Grid Reference 721.61 700.31
From:
http://home.it.net.au/~austecol/swan.html
The Black Swan is the bird faunal emblem of the State of Western Australia, but it is found over much of Australia where suitable wetlands occur. It has been introduced to New Zealand.
There are seven species of swans in the world, all pure white except for the Australian Black Swan and the South American Black-necked Swan. The first European to see a Black Swan is believed to be the Dutch sailor Antonie Caen who described the species during his visit to the Shark Bay area in 1636. Later, the Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh captured two birds on the Swan River, Western Australia in 1697, but many people in Europe did not believe him, as at that time it was believed that all swans were white.
The Black Swan is black with white wing tips and a red bill. It is a large waterfowl, weighing about 6 kg (males are usually larger than females) and with a wing span of almost 2 metres.
Black Swans, like other swans, have very long necks. They can therefore reach deeper into the water than other waterfowl, so they can feed on vegetation in deeper water than most ducks. They feed entirely on aquatic vegetation, including algae.
Interestingly, swans have over 20 vertebrae in their necks (the exact number depends on the species) while mammals such as the giraffe only have seven. This large number of vertebrae provides great flexibility in their necks.
The breeding season in the Black Swan is usually in winter-spring in southern Australia and summer in northern Australia. In the arid inland, they will nest after heavy rains. Throughout their breeding range, breeding can occur at any time of year if conditions are suitable.
Males are, on average, larger than females in wing length and bill length, but there is a lot of overlap in measurements. In a mated pair, the male is likely to be the larger of the two, but you couldn't guarantee it.
They build a nest on islands or in vegetation in the water. They usually lay 5 or 6 eggs, but nests can contain as few as three or as many as ten eggs. Both parents share in incubation of the eggs, which takes about 40 days. Young swans are called cygnets. Cygnets of the Black Swan are covered in grey down. Black feathers start to appear after about 3-4 weeks.
DCP_1965.JPG
11.09
Pelicans
These birds appear quite awkward on land, but are excellent fliers and gliders.
Apsley River Lagoon, a superb long stretch of water on the Apsley.
GPS S 30.99481° E 151.6619°
Walcha S 30.99637° E 151.66101°
Walcha Grid Reference 721.61 700.31
From:
http://home.iprimus.com.au/readman/pelican.htm
The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is found all around Australia and is the biggest of the 8 species of Pelicans found worldwide.
Description
Pelicans as a whole are big birds with a very large wingspan, large beaks and are very well known One of the reason such a big bird can fly is that its skeleton is very light (10% of their weight).
Australian Pelicans are white in colour with black wingtips and black markings on their tail. Behind their head and part way down their neck there is a "streak" of grey Their bill and very large bill pouch are pink and is the longest beak/bill of any, of all the types of Pelicans in the world , whilst their legs and feet are blue-grey in colour.
They are so buoyant they cannot sink under water, though unlike most water birds they do not have a lot of water proof oil on their feathers etc so they can get wet and cold
Vital Statistics
Wingspan 2.5 meters to 3.4 meters.
Length 1.6 to 1.9meters.
Weight 4 to 6.8 kg up to 8.2 kg.
Australian Pelicans eyes are brown and white.
The female is slightly smaller than the male.
Pouched bill 40 to 47cm and can hold 9 to 13 litres of water.
They have 4 webbed toes.
There vocalisation is a chesty rumbling or deep growling.
In the wild they can live between 10 and 25 years.
Location and Habitat
On a world scale The Australian Pelican is found throughout Australia, except in the very dry middle (desert region), Papua New Guinea and parts of Indonesia (eg Sulawesi) and sometimes in New Zealand and some Pacific Islands close to Australia In Australia itself, wherever there is water you can possibly find Pelicans, ranging from wetlands to swamps, rivers, estuaries, lakes (fresh and salt), coastlines, mudflats, lagoons etc. They live in large flocks or colonies and will travel large distances to find suitable water, breeding grounds etc.
Feeding
Pelicans favourite food is fish.
They normally fish together "herding" the fish into a central position, and then plunge their bills into the water and capture a fish with a mouthful of water then "squeeze" the water out by pushing their bill against their chest region so they are left with just the fish in their bill pouch.
They will then turn the fish around in their bill pouch so it goes "longways" down their throat and then they swallow the fish whole with a "jerk" of their head.
There bills have a slight hook on the end and are serrated to help hold onto slippery fish.
They will feed from Humans, either stealing from fisherman or accepting handouts, and have been known to also eat small turtles, tadpoles, shrimp and other crustaceans
Flying
It is fantastic to see a Pelican take off, running across the water to build up speed and flapping its huge wings. Once in the air this big bird relies on thermals and soars to great heights and for long distances. When it lands it is like an amphibious aeroplane landing on a watery runway, finally gilding to a stop with the help of its wings spread out acting like brakes It has been reported that Australian pelicans have soared to a height of 3,000 meters (3 Kms) and when flying in a flock often form a rough V formation.
Mating, breeding and tests
Pelicans breed together in large colonies, at any time of the year depending on conditions like rainfall A complex courting dance by males competing for females occur, with the winning male and his female going off to their nest site. The nest usually a grass, twig and feather lined scrape in the ground is prepared by the female 1 to 3 eggs are then laid in the next week. Both parents help out sitting on the nest, with the eggs hatching after 32 to 37 days. The young are born naked and blind At first they are feed regurgitated food obtained by thrusting their bills down the parent's gullet. After a month or so the young chick can leave the nest and join a "creche" of other young pelicans where they are cared for the next couple of months, until they learn to fly and become independent.
Webmaster: Don Hitchcock
Email: don@northnet.com.au
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