Brolgas

Driving north on the Adavale-Blackall Rd we came upon a pair of Brolgas feeding in lush grass beside the road. We managed to pull up without flushing the pair and using the car as cover a few photos were obtained as they made cursory probes with their bills in the soft red soil and slowly moved away. One bird looked to have a larger dewlap under the chin so as the male has a larger dewlap it was assumed this was a male-female pair. The male stayed in the background while the female paid more attention to us – it was not long before they slowly moved away and we continued our drive north.

Please click on photos to enlarge.

It is always a thrill to find and observe Brolgas - Australia’s only crane.

PS Correction: It has been pointed out that Australia has two cranes - the Sarus Crane, an Asian species was first recorded near Normanton Qld, on the Gulf in October 1966 and it has expanded in number and range significantly since. As the Sarus is now resident in Australia we do now have two cranes. I am not sure of the deep history fo the Brolga in Australia but assume it has been here for a very long time, long enough to be regarded as Australia's crane and only crane until 1966.