BROOKLAND GREEN NATURE RESERVE

KOOKABURRA

"In eastern Australia, the raucous cackle of the Laughing Kookaburra is an essential feature of the dawn chorus. They can be heard laughing from the tip of Cape York south to Wilsons Promontory. The species’ occurrence in other parts of Australia, however, is no laughing matter. Kookaburras were widely introduced into Tasmania and Western Australia where they breed in tree hollows that would usually be used by parrots and owls, and they prey on small reptiles, mammals and nestlings, thus placing undue pressure on those creatures." - Bird Life Australia

Well known for its ability to wake people in the early morning, I just love the cackle of the Kookaburra. As I was walking through the nature reserve I saw a few but was unable to get them to laugh. You can try if you like, just call out to them by rolling your 'R's, do it as loud as possible and you might be rewarded with a call back!

You can find Kookaburras almost anywhere in Australia, they have adapted to suburbia fairly well. At one point we had a cheeky one eyeing off the goldfish in our pond. I don't think he got any, but he probably enjoyed some of the small skinks that were around.

The Kookaburra is well established in Australian culture and the Australian Nation Hockey team is named after them. They can be found on coins and stamps and one was a mascot for the Sydney Olympic Games.

This cache is one of a series in Brookland Green Nature Reserve. It is a good reserve that has walking paths through grassland and wooded areas. The path is packed gravel with a low gradient. Some sections are quite open, so hats and sunscreen are a must. Enjoy the reserve and keep an eye (and ear!) out for the birds.