Tag Archives: Australia

Apostlebird

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Apostlebird

The apostlebirds are preaching in the mornings.

  • Apostlebirds are birds native to inland eastern and southern woody habitats of Australia.
  • ‘Apostlebirds’ are also known as ‘grey jumpers’, ‘lousy jacks’, ‘family birds’, ‘happy jacks’, and a group of them is sometimes called ‘twelve apostles’ or a ‘happy family’.
  • Typically, apostlebirds have plumage that is mostly grey in colour, with touches of brown and black in various places.
  • The scientific name of an apostlebird is Struthidea cinerea, and it is from the family Corcoracidae, also known as Struthideidae, the family of Australian mudnesters.
  • Apostlebirds coexist helpfully in groups, actively caring for fellow birds, eggs and chicks, and all contributing to nest building.

Apostlebird, Animal, Australia, Ten Random Facts, Look, Single,

  • Female apostlebirds generally lay two to five very light blue to white coloured eggs, that have brown or grey coloured specks, and they are laid in a high, mud and grass nest.
  • The name ‘apostlebird’ is derived from the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, as the birds usually live in groups that number ten to twelve birds.
  • The diet of apostlebirds consists primarily of insects and vegetation, such as seeds and leaves.
  • Apostlebirds grow to lengths of 29 to 33 centimetres (11.4 to 13 inches), and weigh approximately 128 grams (4.5 ounces).
  • Apostlebirds are often seen foraging on the ground in their family groups, and in winter a number of groups may congregate together.
Bibliography:
Apostlebird, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostlebird
Apostlebird, n.d, Birds in Backyards, http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Struthidea-cinerea
Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea), n.d, Oz Animals, http://www.ozanimals.com/Bird/Apostlebird/Struthidea/cinerea.html

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Baby’s Breath

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Baby’s Breath

Baby’s breath are innocent little flowers, aren’t they?

  • Baby’s breath is a group of perennial and annual plants that produces flowers, and the genus contains approximately 35 species.
  • Areas of Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific are the native locations of baby’s breath.
  • Baby’s breath has the scientific name Gypsophila and it is from the family Caryophyllaceae, the family of carnations.
  • ‘Baby’s breath’ is also known as ‘soap root’, ‘chalk plant’ and ‘gyp’, and the plants are generally grown from seed.
  • The scientific name of Baby’s breath – ‘Gypsophila’ – comes from the words ‘gypsos’ and ‘philos’, meaning ‘gypsum’ and ‘loving’ respectively in Greek.

Baby's Breath, Plant, Vegetation, White, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Baby’s breath generally grows to heights of 15 to 90 centimetres (6 to 35.5 inches), depending on the species, and in most cases they grow best in full sun.
  • The five-petalled flowers of baby’s breath can be white, pink, or violet and they bloom during spring and summer months.
  • The baby’s breath plant often grown for decorative purposes has the scientific name Gypsophila paniculata, and it is commonly used as a cut flower to give a delicate look in arrangements and bouquets.
  • Some baby’s breath species have edible roots, and the plants and roots are also grown for and used as a medical ingredient.
  • Although baby’s breath plants are commonly grown for commercial purposes, some areas have designated some species of the plant as an invasive weed.
Bibliography:
Gypsophila, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsophila
How to Grow Gypsophila, 2015, Gardeners HQ, http://www.gardenershq.com/Gypsophilia-baby-breath.php

 

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Sulphur-crested Cockatoos

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Sulphur-crested Cockatoos

Sulphur-crested cockatoos are majestic and marvellous birds.

  • Sulphur-crested cockatoos are a group of birds that contain four subspecies, native to Papua New Guinea and eastern, northern and some southern areas of Australia.
  • The scientific name of a sulphur-crested cockatoo is Cacatua galerita, and it is from the family Cacatuidae, the family of cockatoos.
  • Sulphur-crested cockatoos have been introduced into Australia’s Perth in Western Australia, Asia’s Singapore, and New Zealand, along with other Pacific Islands.
  • Sulphur-crested cockatoos typically grow to heights of 44 to 55 centimetres (17 to 22 inches); they can weigh as much as 950 grams (34 ounces); and they can live up to 80 years, however, their lifespan in the wild is generally between 20 and 40 years.
  • A sulphur-crested cockatoo has white coloured feathers, a vivid yellow crest, and a grey coloured beak; and their feathers are waterproof due to a thin, special powder that they excrete.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow, Bird, Australia, Parrot, Perch, Ten Random Facts, Queensland

  • Seeds, berries, nuts, roots, and other vegetation make up the diet of sulphur-crested cockatoos and they generally live in family groups in forest habitats or where there are plenty of trees.
  • Female sulphur-crested cockatoos have clutches of one to three eggs, which are laid in a tree cavity, and the young are raised by both parents.
  • Some people consider sulphur-crested cockatoos as pests, even in native areas, as large populations can destroy crops, and they can also damage buildings with their sharp parrot beaks, as they like to chew wood.
  • When a group of sulphur-crested cockatoos are scavenging for food on a ground surface, a single bird from the flock is commonly found perching on a high platform watching for predators.
  • Sulphur-crested cockatoos generally make loud screeching noises; they are capable of imitating speech and other sounds; and are occasionally kept as pets.
Bibliography:
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, 2015, Australian Museum, http://australianmuseum.net.au/sulphur-crested-cockatoo
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulphur-crested_cockatoo
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, n.d, Zoos Victoria, http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/animals/sulphur-crested-cockatoo

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Common Garden Skink

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Common Garden Skink

Although small, common garden skinks are great garden helpers!

  • Common garden skinks are lizards native to forests, and grassy or woody habitats in southern and eastern Australia.
  • ‘Common garden skinks’ are also known as ‘pale-flecked garden sunskinks’ and ‘garden skinks’.
  • The scientific name of a common garden skink is Lampropholis guichenoti, and it is from the family Scincidae, the family of skinks.
  • The colour of the skin of a common garden skink is mostly a brown-grey colour, and it usually has a black or dark coloured stripe down either side of its body and a copper coloured head.
  • The diet of common garden skinks generally consists of insects and vegetation, and can include caterpillars, spiders, slugs, cockroaches, crickets, worms and ants, and fruit and vegetables.

Common Garden Skink, Animal, Reptile, Australia, Small,

  • Small and enclosed spaces, such as rocks or trees, are the sought after home for common garden skinks, and they are commonly found in urban gardens, hiding in among plants or leaves.
  • Common garden skinks generally grow to a length of 9 centimetres (3.5 inches), and they have five toes on each of their four legs, as well as a long tail.
  • Common garden skinks can release their tails when caught by predators, such as birds, cats and larger reptiles like snakes.
  • Female common garden skinks generally lay their small white eggs in a communal location, each contributing two to six eggs to the nest of up to 250 in total.
  • Common garden skinks have tiny teeth, and the lifespan of the reptile generally ranges from two to three years.
Bibliography:
Common Garden Skink, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_garden_skink
Garden Skink, n.d, Museum Victoria, http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/infosheets/lizards-found-in-victoria/garden-skink/
Lampropholis guichenoti, n.d, Lucid Key Server, http://keys.lucidcentral.org/key-server/data/09040100-0c09-4b0f-8501-000900020c0d/media/Html/Lampropholis_guichenoti.htm

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Richie Benaud

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Richie Benaud

“My mantra is: put your brain into gear and if you can add to what’s on the screen then do it, otherwise shut up.” – Richie Bernaud.

  • Richie Benaud was a famous Australian, well known for his cricketing career, both as a player and a high-profile commentator.
  • Richie Benaud was born on 6 October, 1930, in New South Wales’ Penrith, in Australia, with the name ‘Richard Benaud’, and he married twice, divorced once, and had two children.
  • In the game of cricket, Richie Benaud batted and bowled using his right hand, bowling with the leg-spin technique, and his father was a noteworthy cricket player, who passed on much of his cricket knowledge to his son.
  • Richie Benaud first ventured into more competitive cricket in 1948, when he was selected to join the New South Wales’ youth team, and his first Test match was in 1952.
  • Early in Richie Benaud’s career, in three separate incidents, he suffered a significant injury to his thumb, and sustained serious injuries to his skull and face.
Richie Benaud, 1956, Young, Old, Cricket, Ten Random Facts, Wikimedia Commons, Australia
Young Richie Benaud
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
  • Richie Bernaud’s best batting performance in test cricket was in 1957, with 122 runs; he ran almost 14,000 runs during his career, and he captained the Australian Test cricket team from 1958 to 1964.
  • Richie Benaud retired from professional cricket in 1964 and became a commentator for the United Kingdom’s BBC and Channel 4, and Australia’s Channel Nine.
  • Richie Benaud died at age 84, on the 10 April, 2015, after being diagnosed and treated for skin cancer in late 2014, and having suffered injuries from a car crash in 2013.
  • Richie Benaud was a notable cricket commentator and journalist for almost 50 years, and he usually wore a signature light coloured jacket, in shades of white, cream or beige when he was commentating.
  • In 1961 Richie Benaud became an Officer of the Order of British Empire (OBE); he was a recipient of a Logie Award in 1999, for Most Outstanding Sports Broadcaster; and Benaud was inducted into three halls of fame in his lifetime.
Bibliography:
Andrew McGarry, Richie Benaud, 2015, ABC News, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-10/richie-benaud-dead/6009202
Richie Benaud, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richie_Benaud

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Ivory Curl

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Ivory Curl

An ivory curl gives an Australian touch to an Aussie garden.

  • Ivory curls are a species of tree, native to Queensland rainforest habitats north of Townsville, in north eastern Australia.
  • An ivory curl tree is one of the two species in its genus, and the scientific name is Buckinghamia celsissima, which is from the family Proteaceae, a family of flowering plants.
  • ‘Ivory curls’ are also known as ‘ivory curl trees’, ‘spotted silky oaks’ and ‘spotted silkies’.
  • Ivory curls can grow up to 10 to 30 metres (33 to 100 feet) in height, although different climates may reduce its growth, causing it to reach shorter heights.
  • The flower spikes of ivory curls form a long, cylindrical shape, and are typically cream to white in colour.

Ivory Curl, Tree, Yellow, Flower, Side, Tall, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Ivory curls are commonly grown for ornamental purposes, especially as street or garden trees.
  • The leaves of ivory curls are smooth and a lush green on the upper side, while the underneath tends to be a lighter silvery white colour, and they generally grow to be 8 to 16 centimetres (3.1 to 6.3 inches) in length.
  • Ivory curls grow best in low humidity tropical conditions, particularly in full sunlight, although it is a hardy tree, and tends to be drought tolerant, as well as resistant to many diseases and pests.
  • Ivory curl trees can be grown by seeds or cuttings, and the tree can be pruned to keep it small.
  • Ivory curl trees generally bloom profusely during the months of summer and autumn, and the flowers are fragrant, and birds and bees are attracted to them.
Bibliography:
Buckinghamia Celsissima, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckinghamia_celsissima
Buckinghamia Celissima, n.d, Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants, http://keys.trin.org.au/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Buckinghamia_celsissima.htm
Buckinghamia celsissima ‘Ivory curl flower’, 2011, Society for Growing Australian Plants, http://www.sgapqld.org.au/Jan11%20Buck%20Cel.pdf
Fact Sheet: Buckinghamia celsissima, 2014, Gardening Australia, http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1335127.htm

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