Diamond Dove of Australia

Diamond Dove

The dainty little Diamond Dove of Australia is one of our loveliest birds. It is found throughout much of the drier parts of the mainland except for the very driest deserts. Its preferred habitats include grassy woodlands, along watercourses and scrubs.

Although this species has been recorded just a few kilometres from my home, I have not yet recorded it on our property here in Murray Bridge, South Australia. This is about as far south as it is found in our state.

In fact, I cannot recall ever seeing this bird in the natural environment. The bird in the photo was a part of the collection at Adelaide Zoo. This species is a commonly kept bird as a pet in an aviary.

You can read more about Australian birds and see more photos of them on my other site called Trevor's Birding. 

Bar-shouldered Dove of Australia

Bar-shouldered Dove

The beautiful Bar-shouldered Dove is found in eastern and northern coastal parts of Australia where there is suitable habitat.

Their preferred habitats include vegetation near water, mangroves, tropical and sub-tropical scrubs, gullies and gorges, near swamps, plantations and gardens with plenty of trees. They are sometimes found on off-shore islands.

This is one species I have yet to see in the natural environment. The photos in today's post were taken in one of the walk-through aviaries in the world renowned Adelaide Zoo.

You can read more about Australian birds and see more photos of them on another site I write for called Trevor's Birding.

Bar-shouldered Dove

Royal Spoonbill in the Adelaide Zoo

Royal Spoonbill in the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

I love seeing spoonbills in their natural habitat. Ever since I saw my first one in the far north of South Australia in about 1978 I have enjoyed seeing both the Yellow-billed Spoonbill, and the Royal Spoonbill shown in today's photo.  Both are relatively common and widespread throughout much of Australia where there is suitable habitat.

We don't have many of either species near where I live in South Australia despite there being suitable environments for them. So whenever I visit the Adelaide Zoo I look for them in the walk through aviary.

You can read more about Australian birds and see more of my photos on my other site, Trevor's Birding, one of the most popular bird sites in the world.

Pied Heron in the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

Pied Heron in the Adelaide Zoo

Because I am a life member of my local zoo I try to visit the Adelaide Zoo several times a year. It is about an hour's easy drive from home. Another section of the zoo is at Monarto, a quick ten minute drive from home. Yes, we have open range lions as our near neighbours. Fortunately, they are well fenced.

One of the features of the Adelaide section of the zoo is the walk through aviary. This affords me with great photographic opportunities. Today I have posted two shots of a Pied Heron, a bird of the northern parts of Australia.

For more information about Australian birds, and many more photos of them, go to my other site, Trevor's Birding.

Pied Heron

Sun Conure in Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

Sun Conure in Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

I don't normally feature non-Australian birds here on this site because its aim is to show photos of birds found in Australia. However, I couldn't resist showing this photo of a South American bird, the Sun Conure. I took the photo in the Adelaide Zoo in South Australia, an hour's drive from my home. I am a life member of the zoo so I visit often.

One of the most pleasing aspects of this photo is that I took it through the wire mesh of the aviary where this bird was kept.

You can read about Australian birds and see more of my bird photos on my other site called Trevor's Birding (click here).

The beautiful Eclectus Parrot of Australia

Male Eclectus Parrot of northern Australia

The Eclectus Parrots of northern Australia are one of our most colourful parrots. In fact, one of our most spectacular birds, period. Both the male and the female are brightly coloured as you can see in the photos on today's post.

This is one species I would love to see in its natural habitat, but because I haven't yet visited the far northern parts of Queensland, this is still a dream.

In the meantime, I have to be content with these photos of the beautiful birds kept in a walk through aviary in the Adelaide Zoo here in South Australia.

You can see more photos of birds and read more about our Australian birds by visiting my other site, Trevor's Birding here.

Female Eclectus Parrot in Adelaide Zoo

Beautiful Australian Lorikeets

Red-collared Lorikeets, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

One of my favourite places to visit is my local zoo in Adelaide, South Australia. The zoo has an excellent collection of birds, both Australian and exotic. There are also several walk through aviaries where the visitor can get up really close to the birds.

The photo of Red-collared Lorikeets was taken in one of the walk through aviaries. I had accidentally timed my visit to coincide with one of the keepers coming to feed the birds. I had "captive" subjects for my camera (in two senses).

Red-collared Lorikeets are a race of the more common Rainbow Lorikeet and are found in northern parts of our continent.

To see more photos of birds and to read more about Australia go to my other site Trevor's Birding.

White-bellied Sea-eagle, Taronga Zoo

White-bellied Sea-eagle, Taronga Zoo, Sydney

On many trips interstate over recent years we have visited our son and his family in Sydney where he works. On some of those occasions we have made a point of visiting the wonderful Taronga Zoo. It has to be one of my favourite zoos, and only a short drive from my son's home.

A feature of this zoo is the Bird Show, held twice daily and featuring some of Australia's wonderful birds. While this show is intended to be an educational event, it is also highly entertaining - and popular. (Hint: get to the amphitheatre at least 10-15 minutes before the scheduled starting time. After that it is standing room only.)

One of the birds featuring during one of our visits was the White-bellied Sea-eagle shown in today's photo. As you can see, it is an awe inspiring bird.

For more photos and information about Australian Birds, check out my other site, Trevor's Birding.

Ostriches in Australia

Ostriches are not an Australian native bird. They occur naturally in Africa, but if I want to see some Ostriches here in Australia I just have to drive for about ten minutes and visit the Monarto Zoo, just a few kilometers from my home.

Monarto Zoo is an open range zoo with large tracts of land for the animals on display. Ostriches were once farmed in Australia in the 1800s for their feathers which decorated elaborate hats. More recently they have been farmed for their meat.

Below is a photo of an Australian Emu for comparison. This was also taken at Monarto Zoo.

To read more about Australian birds click here.