California Condor

 

Gymnogyps californianus

Sacred to Native Americans and the largest birds in North America, the California condor teeters on the brink of extinction, saved only by captive breeding programs.

Photograph courtesy Scott Frier/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The California condor is the largest flying bird in North America. Their wings may stretch nearly 10 feet (3 meters) from tip to tip. When in flight, these huge birds glide on air currents to soar as high as a dizzying 15,000 feet (4,600 meters).

Like other vultures, condors are scavengers that feast on the carcasses of large mammals, such as cattle and deer. When a big meal is available, the birds may gorge themselves so much that they must rest for several hours before flying again.

Condors were sacred birds to the Native Americans who lived in the open spaces of western America. Today, they are best known as the subjects of a famous captive breeding program that may save them from extinction.

After decades of decline, condors neared the point of extinction in the late 1970s, when only two or three dozen birds survived. No one is sure exactly what cause or causes contributed most to this decline. Many birds died from poison ingestion and illegal egg collection, and all felt the steady loss of the open lands over which they once soared. Fossil records also show that the birds occupied only a fraction of their former range when Europeans first reached America—perhaps because of the loss of the great prehistoric herds that formerly roamed the continent.

California condors mature and reproduce slowly. They don't breed until they are between six and eight years old, and the female lays only one egg every two years. If that egg is removed, however, she will lay a second or a third. With this in mind, scientists began to collect eggs for captive incubation. They also captured wild birds for captive breeding and, when the wild population dropped below 10 individuals, all of the remaining wild condors were brought into captivity in 1987.

Read full here... http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/california-condor/

Snow Goose

 

Anser caerulescens

Its numbers in dangerous decline in the early 20th century, the snow goose has made a stellar recovery, so much so that it has overrun its habitat.

Photograph courtesy Dave Menke/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Snow geese are known for their white plumage, but many of them are actually darker, gray-brown birds known as blue geese. These birds were once though to be two separate species, but they have recently been found to be merely two different color morphs of the same bird. A single gene controls the color difference.

Snow geese are harbingers of the changing seasons. They fly south for the winter in huge, honking flocks that may appear as a "U" formation or simply as a large "snowstorm" of white birds. They spend the colder seasons in southern coastal marshes, bays, wet grasslands, and fields. Their diet is entirely vegetarian, consisting of grasses and grains, grazed from damp soils or even shallow water.

At winter's end, snow geese fly north to their breeding grounds on the Arctic tundra. Pairs mate for life, and produce two to six eggs each year in a shallow ground nest. Chicks can swim and eat on their own within 24 hours, but families remain together through the young's first winter. Families can be identified as groups during both the southern and northern migrations.

Read full here... http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/snow-goose/

Great Blue Heron

 

Ardea herodias

Wading on its long, thin legs, a great blue heron scouts for prey.

Photograph courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Read full here...http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/great-blue-heron/

kangaroo pictures

The Wildlife of Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island probably offers the best wildlife viewing opportunities of any location in Australia. The sheer variety of animals and their relative ease with people mean that viewing and photographic opportunities are almost guaranteed. On top of that there are fantastic beaches, great coastal scenery and a wide mix of habitats. Highlights are the sea-lion and fur seal colonies, the koala viewing, the heath goannas, the glossy black cockatoos and the little penguins.
Overview.

Kangaroo Island stretches approximately 150K east-west and 50Km north-south and in all is 4500 sq. Km, making it Australia's third largest island. The main population centres are Kingscote (the capital and airport) to the north and Penneshaw (the ferry port) at the eastern end. However, the population is only 4300 so the vast majority of the island is essentially wilderness. Many of the visitors to the island are day trippers who only visit the main sightseeing destinations so there is no problem getting away from the crowds. Fully one third of the island is given up to National Park or Conservation Area status.

Getting there

Two options here, either take a 20 minute flight from Adelaide or drive two hours from Adelaide to catch the 45 minute vehicle ferry from Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Hiring a car from Kingscote is no problem.

When to go.

KI's climate is typically mild, although at times in summer it can get pretty hot. Winter averages are 13-15 degrees Celsius and summer is 20-25 degrees Celsius.The majority of the rainfall occurs in winter. For year-round weather averages in Kingscote click here http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_022807.shtml

For wildlife viewing any time is good, although if it is specifics you are looking for, such as viewing the Southern Right Whales as they pass the coast then obviously you need to time your visit carefully. However, the vast majority of what is available to see is there throughout the year.

Accommodation.

Plenty of accommodation scattered around the island, including the ideally located Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat ([http://www.austdreaming.com.au/]), a personal favourite. Also worth checking out is the National Park accommodation ([http://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/parks/kangaroo_is/index.htm#kiparksinfo]).

Equipment.

Everything you've got! The kangaroos and wallabies may let you get quite close but the birds won't, and the National Park staff are going to keep you away from the sea lions. So long lenses if you're going for the photography and binoculars if not. On top of that, remember the following;

Polarizing filter.

Plenty of memory capacity or film.

Cleaning cloth and brush - sand could be an issue.

Wet weather gear

Good flashlight

How long to stay.

If it's for photography then two weeks still won't see you bored, if it's for viewing then don't try to do the island in less then three days. Plenty of people get the coach tour from Penneshaw and are back off the island the same day but they miss so much.

Island Advice.

Take extreme care driving between dusk and dawn for the sake of both the animals and your car. If a big grey decides to cross the road just as you are passing it won't stop to check first and normally there will be another following right behind. And during the daytime look out for what look like sticks in the road, I have seen countless goannas and snakes have their sunbathing sessions cut short.

Get an island parks pass. If you are going to visit more than 4 parks, or if you are planning multiple visits to parks, this will save you money.

Don't feed the wildlife! Instruction given the world over, and I know it's hard to ignore the begging 'roos and wallabies at the visitors' centre car park, but you will be doing them no favours whatsoever if you hand over the remains of your sandwiches and crisps. And if you don't want to lose your al fresco dinner then watch out for the brushtail possums - they're everywhere and they're fearless! On my last visit they even followed me into my room before I could close the door on them.

Wildlife highlights

For a full list of flora and fauna in Kangaroo Island's National Parks, visit [http://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/parks/kangaroo_is/index.htm#kifauna]
Kangaroos. The roos on the island are the KI subspecies of the Western Grey and to my mind are the prettiest of all the roo species. There are plenty of places around the island to see them by possibly the best is on the meadows around the visitors centre at Flinders Chase NP. They can be seen at any time of day but first light is best. If you are patient and move quietly they will let you approach to within a few feet. Joeys are born at any time of the year but their is a peak in the summer months. These newborns will start to leave the pouch after about nine months.
Tammar Wallabies. Nearly extinct on the mainland, Tammar wallabies are so numerous on KI that regular culling needs to take place. The best places that I have found for viewing are probably the Western KI caravan park and around American River where they can be seen at any time of day, but they are found right across the island.

Echidnas. Echidnas are found across the island and are pretty easy to find. Just take a walk in any woodland and keep an ear out for the rusting sound. I have found that the best locations are to the north alongside the dirt roads where the soil is loose and easy for the echidnas to probe into, but you are pretty much guaranteed sightings anywhere. If you keep quiet and still it is possible to get echidnas to walk right up to you.

Sea Lions The only place to see the Australian sea lions is at Seal Bay Conservation Park on the south coast where you will be escorted by a NP guide onto the beach. You will be kept a minimum of 20 metres from the seals so bring a long lens/binoculars. Tours run from 9 to 5 and the sea lions tend to become less active as the day warms up so get there early. In winter the 9AM start is quite close to dawn which makes for the best light but to be honest the grey of the seals against the light-coloured sand means that photo opportunities exist throughout the day. Look for the bulls fighting.

Fur Seals. New Zealand fur seals are seen at Admirals Arch at the western end of Flinders Chase NP where there is a resident breeding colony. Access is via a boardwalk and it is possible to get quite close. However, most of the views are from quite high above the animals so picture opportunities are quite limited. Make sure you take warm clothing, regardless of how warm it might feel when you leave your car, and be prepared for the stink!

Koalas. Koalas were introduced to the island at a time when their existence on the mainland was felt to be uncertain. They found the conditions on the island to their liking and now numbers are thought to exceed 30,000. This has led to widespread damage to habitat and there is a continuing debate about ways to control the population. Flinders Chase NP is a great place to see them, as is Western KI caravan park. Listen for the males' groaning call to find out where they are, or just wander around looking for lumps in trees. It is also not too difficult to see them on the ground, moving between trees.

Platypus. Platypus were introduced to the island and can now be seen In Flinders Chase NP. However, the platypus pools are pretty dark even during the day so getting pictures is near impossible, even if you are lucky enough to see one.
Penguins. The penguin parade is at Kingscote harbour. Every evening you can watch the Fairy/Little penguins returning to their roosts. Forget traditional flash photography and use a red filter so as not to blind the little chaps.

Pelicans. Pelican feeding at Kingscote happens every afternoon, when 50 or so of these magnificent birds will fly in for free fish. Worth a visit, make sure you have a couple of bucks to donate and wander further north to Emu bay for great views and lots of shorebirds.
Glossy Black Cockatoos. Lathami ConsevationPark was created to conserve the habitat of the KI sub-species of this endangered cockatoo but I've also seen them at several places along the north coast so just keep an eye and an ear open whenever you're near pine forests. You should also be able to see the yellow-tailed black cockatoo, sometimes in flocks of 20 or more.
Heath Goannas. Found across the island (but rare on the mainland) you will probably see them on roads, both dead and alive, and if you walk quietly along one of the forest pylon clearings you will most likely come across one or two, especially if it is in the warmer months and not too early in the morning.

Enjoy!

Gerry Pearce is a wildlife photographer based in Sydney, Australia. He had visited and photographed much of Australia and has run a successful website http://www.australian-wildlife.com giving information and advice on Australia's wildlife since 2004.

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