Page 342 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

340  SOUTH A USTR ALIA

Birds of South Australia

The vast, varied habitats of South Australia are home to
some 380 bird species. Gulls, sea eagles and penguins
live along the coast, while waders, ducks and
cormorants are found in the internal wetlands. Parrots
are common in Adelaide’s parkland. The mallee scrub,
which once covered much of the state, is home to the
mallee fowl and an array of honeyeaters. The Flinders
Ranges and the South Australian Outback are the
domain of birds of prey such as the peregrine falcon Fairy penguins are the smallest
and the wedge-tailed eagle. Although much land has penguins found in Australia.
The only species to breed on the
been cleared for farming, many habitats are protected mainland, they feed on fish and
in the national parks. squid skilfully caught underwater.

The Flinders Ranges and Mallee Scrub Habitat
Outback Habitat Much of this low-level scrubland has been
The rugged mountains and deep gorges of the cleared for agriculture. Remaining areas such
Flinders Ranges support a wide variety of bird as Billiat National Park near Loxton provide an
species. Most spectacular are the birds of prey. important habitat for several elusive species.
Wedge-tailed eagles’ nests can be found in large Golden whistlers, red and brush wattlebirds and
gum trees or on rock ledges, and the eagles are white-eared honeyeaters can be seen here by
commonly seen feeding on dead animals in the patient bird-watchers. The best seasons to visit
arid Outback regions. are late winter, spring and early summer.
Mallee fowls, a wary
Wedge-tailed eagles, species, stand 60 cm
with their huge (24 in) tall. They spend
wingspan of up to most of the year building
2.3 m (7 ft 6 in), typically mounds, made of
perch on dead trees soil, leaves and
and telephone poles. twigs in which
to lay their eggs.

Peregrine falcons do not Southern scrub robins hop along
build nests; they lay their eggs the ground to forage for food around
on bare ledges or in tree mallee trees and shrubs. The female
hollows. Magnificent in lays a single green-grey egg, the
flight, they descend colour providing
on their prey at great camouflage
speed with wings within the
half or fully closed. scrub.