Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 5 December 2021

Sunday Selections #562

 

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.  

I usually run with a theme.  This week, and possibly next week, I am taking you back to the zoo with me.  This week I am going to mostly focus on some of our native animals.




Koalas are dozy animals.  I know that we were told that the animals in the zoo missed seeing people.  I am not sure that the koalas even noticed we were gone.  I will ask the youngest of my brothers who volunteers at the zoo about that.  And as an aside he couldn't volunteer when our lockdown was at its hardest and he most assuredly did miss the animals.  All of them.

 





Ostriches are of course not native to Australia.  However when I got to their enclosure I was unsurprised to see that pigeons and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos had claimed their feeding trough.  The ostrich didn't look at all perturbed by the greedy interlopers.

Aren't those feet impressive though?  I would hate to be on the receiving end of an ostrich kick.


While many of the animals in the zoo are caged, there are others that wander freely.  These charming wallabies are one such animal.  They even have a labelled rest area.



The dingoes are caged, but there is a sign on their enclosure saying that if they are nowhere to be seen, to keep your eyes out - they may be on their daily (escorted) walk through the zoo.  That is one of the jobs that zoo bro undertakes while he is there.  Goodness how he suffers.




Again the peacock is not an Australian native, but happily wanders free in the zoo.  I suspect that its spectacular, but very wet tail, weighed a ton.  At one stage there were also pea-hens at the zoo and they bred happily.  However, the youngsters wandered into areas that were not safe for them (like the big cat's enclosures) and got munched - to the distress of onlookers.  This beautiful boy now lives alone.




The emu also lives outside a cage - though I suspect it can often be found need this feed bin.




 

More relaxed wallabies.


Tree kangaroos are another dozy animal.  I have never seen them more active than this one.


These kangaroos were in an enclosure, but I gather that other kangaroos have simply moved in and colonised other parts of the zoo.


Finishing with a not very good photo of a wombat, doing the rounds of his/her enclosure.

I will remember the animals much better and for much longer than the meeting.  I hope your week is filled with happy memories too.

112 comments:

  1. Thank you for taking us on a native animal photo tour. Now I wonder if some of our local peacocks and peahens wander into dangerous areas and meet the same fate. We have a several of them free ranging all over the zoo (and in a few nearby yards too)

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: One of the suburbs in my city has been colonised by peacocks. They are much loved in the community - though goodness their cries are unattractive.

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  2. The Koala is so cute, I also love the peacock. I remember seeing a few at a bird sanctuary I'd visit often. :)
    -Quinley

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    1. Quinley: Koalas ARE cute. And look very cuddly.

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  3. I always enjoy your animal posts, especially the Australian natives, EC. One of my favourite photos from our Aussie trip was my husband and I with a sleepy koala.

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    1. Marie Smith: Not long after my brothers arrived in Australia their photos were taken with a koala. Also sleepy.

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  4. Loved the visit! I haven't been to a zoo in a very, very long time. Thank you!

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    1. Yolanda Renee: Zoos have changed a lot (and for the better) from the ones I knew as a child.

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  5. At least you got a free visit. It's amazing how many animals Australia has that I've never heard of.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: Surely it was only the tree kangaroo that was new to you in this post? And we rarely see them too. And I have no chance of seeing them outside a zoo.

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  6. Loved seeing all the animals... and so many not enclosures! I feel sorry for the lone peacock. Too bad they couldn't somehow corral the young ones long enough to keep them away from the cats. Yes, that ostrich has some wicked feet!
    I'll send a gallon of Jezebel's punch to get you through the holiday horde most likely descending on you! Hugs to you and my homage to Captain Chain Yanker.

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    1. River Fairchild: I hope to be hordeless. So much I hope it. Captain Chain Yanker accepts your homage as his due. And continued to yank. Hard.

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  7. Dear EC
    Thank you for sharing your visit. I have always liked wombats, well, ever since I became a Pre-Raphaelite fan. However, I don't think Rossetti was the best person to be caring for any animals...
    Hope you have a good week
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: I like wombats too. I will have to investigate Rossetti and animals.
      You have a good week as well.

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  8. I don't think I've even seen a picture of a wombat before. I thought they were a made-up animal. Now I know they are real! Love the visit to your zoo, and glad to hear that many of them don't need to be caged. :-)

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    1. DJan: Wombats are most definitely real - and not even the weirdest of our native animals. I think the platypus wears that crown.

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    2. There is a you tube channel featuring Rufus the Couch Kangaroo. Rufus has wombat "siblings" who feature. You might like to watch a clip or two, DJan

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    3. kylie: Sadly DJan doesn't come back to see if her comment has any replies. I will hunt out Rufus the Couch (Pouch?) Potato though - and thank you.

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  9. Thank you for sharing this marvelous trip. I'm so glad that so many of your animals are allowed to roam free.
    Enjoy your weekend. May it be pain free and filled with your wonderful birds and flowers.

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    1. Sandra Cox: What a wonderful weekend wish. Thank you. I have been in the garden today - and yes, there are plenty of birds about too.

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  10. I think you need a pet wallaby.

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    1. Mike: Nope. No how, no way. The garden would not welcome a resident wallaby.

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  11. A lovely visit. Thank you, Sue. Being pretty dozy, myself, I shall soon follow koala's and tree kangoroos example. The peace of the night.

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    1. Sean Jeating: Thank you. I hope your night's sleep is blissful.

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  12. I do love koalas...and wombats...such fascinating animals. I love all animals.

    Of course, my two animals don't believe they're animals...they believe they are four-legged variations of humans!

    It'd be a good idea to stay clear of a kick from an ostrich, an emu...and a cassowary...and a horse...or from a human, for that matter!! :)

    I hope the coming week treats you well, EC...and treats Jazz well, too....cuddles to Jazz. :)

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    1. Lee: Jazz considers himself an underprivileged person too. And yes, being kicked by anything is not fun, but I will do my best to stay away from the bird birds. I hope you and the overlords have a wonderful week.

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  13. Terrific photos, especially of the wallabies.

    Typical of an uncaring sister who has no pity for her poor brother walking dingoes in the heat, the cold and the rain. The dingoes look rather well fed.

    It was fun to see ostriches being ridden in South Africa. I don't think we can ride emus, although I bet some have tried.

    You were fortunate to see a wombat during the day. I never can.

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    1. Andrew: Thank you. The brother does a lot of shit shovelling but gets some wonderful experiences at the zoo as well. I am jealous - which he knows. He tells me though that shovelling wet shit is hard work.

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  14. what a lovely tour of the zoo - the animals are clearly all so well looked after. The tree kangaroo is new to me, so I have just been reading about it. Their coats look beautiful.
    The wallabies may well be relaxed and charming, but sadly they are extremely unpopular here - yet another animal which has flourished in NZ, to the point where they have become a real pest.

    I envy your bro - when I was a youngster, my great wish was to be a zoo-keeper :)
    Have a restful and enjoyable week, EC.

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    1. Alexia: I am sorry to hear that our wallabies are an unpopular import. We have given you a few of them.
      I envy zoo bro too. We works hard but has some wonderful experiences at the zoo, riding round with a lemur on his shoulder, socializing the cheetahs, walking the dingoes and more...

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    2. It sounds wonderful. I forgot to say that I didn't realise that dingoes are very handsome!

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    3. Alexia: Dingoes are good looking aren't they? And pure bred ones are few and far between now.

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  15. Love your pictures of zoo critters.

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  16. Wonderful photos. Thank you. Wishing you a good week.

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    1. e: In my few hours at the zoo I took literally hundreds of photos. I hope you and Lukas have a healthy and happy week.

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  17. What a great visit we have all had, thank you. Peacocks would be the decor on some of the mansion lawns in Ireland, Angry birds that would attack kids. But how gorgeous their feathers are! Love the koalas and wallabies.

    XO
    WWW

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    1. Wisewebwoman: A friend of ours had peacocks. And yes, they were often angry and aggressive. The zoo bird isn't.

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  18. Whether they miss us or not, i certainly miss the animals and appreciate you sharing yours. It's been a while since i've been to our zoo, i would love to be able to sneak out there one day.

    My selections will be over here. Just some sunset photos, i'm trying to get up a good collection of Christmas photos for the next two weeks.

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    1. messymimi: There is NOTHING just about sunset photos. I look forward to seeing yours when you post them - just as I will look forward to your Christmas shots.

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  19. I love that there are free ranging animals at t he zoo and even more that a gang of 'roos set up shop there! They know where the living is easy!

    Have a great week!

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    1. kylie: I love both of those things too. I gather the roos have significant paunches as well as pouches.

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  20. I love dozy koalas, but they often make me want to just lie down and nap too. The wingspread on the sulphur crested cockatoo is beautiful. Ostrich feet do look odd and I certainly wouldn't be wanting a kick from them, nor from any other animal, including humans.
    I didn't know dingoes got taken for walks, do any other animals get taken for walks?
    The tree kangaroo looks like its coat is made of velvet.

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    1. River: The cockatoos were having a beak-off over their access to the ostriches food. One at least of the cheetahs used to be taken for walks - though I don't know whether it still does. The cheetah was good friends with a dog and the two went walking together. The tree kangaroos fur looks lush doesn't it?

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  21. The ostrich feet look prehistoric. Ancient. I have become a dozy animal too, of late. Winter does that to me, but you are in summer and what is better than a nap in the sun, even if in a tree. The dingo looks like a common dog. I still recall the story, of the baby gone missing from the tent and the mother charged.

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    1. Strayer: I doubt that those effective feet have changed much in thousands and thousands of years. I also remember Lindy Chamberlain being charged with the murder of her daughter Azaria. It was finally ruled that a dingo had indeed taken her baby.

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  22. It's been a long, long time since I've visited a zoo. I love how many of the animals you mention were roaming free along with the more traditional ideas. And the ring-ins are gorgeous!

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    1. Kim: Zoos have changed so much. I still mourn that for too many animals this is the only place that they are safe, but applaud the conservation work that so many zoos now do.

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  23. That was an excellent idea to take us on a walk through the zoo ! I love that !
    https://gattinawritercramps.blogspot.com/2021/12/sunday-selections.html?m=1

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    1. Gattina: Thank you. I am heading over to see your selections now.

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  24. To see your native animals has a special significance for me right now, for I have reluctantly pretty much abandoned the idea of visiting Australia again, Prospects looked to be promising for a July trip, but now with Omicron rearing its head, the increased cost of airline tickets, and the inability to get adequate insurance to cover cancellations due to COVID, quarantine expense if that is needed, and the possibility of getting stranded somewhere, all combine to make the trip impractical. Better bring me lots of cockie fixes, Sue!

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    1. David M. Gascoigne: I am very, very sorry to hear that and will happily give you lots of cockie fixes. Lots and lots of cockie fixes.

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  25. @ EC – wonderful photos you've given us … I love the kaola, as too the ostrich feet, zoo brother obviously enjoys his walks enormously – lovely to see a dingo, then the peacocks – they are beautiful, but noisy creatures and they don't manage boundaries very well – as my mother in Cornwall would have attested (granted not that far from Oz to Penzance!).
    I must admit the emu bemused me – didn't realise they looked like that. Fascinating to see the Tree Kangaroo … I've recently seen a tv programme on the Wallace line and the divisions of where one finds these and other creatures.
    Brilliant photos EC – thank so much – cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: Thank you. Zoo brother works hard, but LOVES his volunteering time. He is so very grateful to be back at the zoo as the city reopens. Peacocks aren't musical are they? I would love to see a tree kangaroo in its natural habitat - as I would so many of the zoo's residents.

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    2. Peacocks are 'awful' at times ... at least they were when they wandered into the garden where my mother lived - and one had to shut the doors ... they'd happily wander in. It's great your zoo brother is helping out so much. Cheers - see you soon for Words! Hilary

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    3. Hilary Melton-Butcher: A friend had peacocks and yes they were difficult birds. Zoo bro enjoys his volunteering. He works hard, but says (and I believe him) that it is completely worth it.

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  26. Thanks for sharing our natives, don’t they look wonderful..

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    1. Margaret D: They did didn't they? Healthy, happy and wonderful.

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  27. I've actually held a koala. They are really cute.

    :o)

    Cheers

    PM

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    1. Plastic Mancunian: I haven't held a koala - but agree that they are very cute.

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  28. Tree kangaroos - never heard of those before An lots of active, attractive kangaroos thanks so much for the fix :D
    That ostrich foot looks positively dangerous! And I too love the sleepy koalas

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    1. Charlotte (MotherOwl): I cannot remember when I first heard about tree kangaroos, but they are not commonly talked about. Which is sad. I am glad that you enjoyed your roo and wallaby fix. I thought of you when I added them to the post.

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  29. Oh my this is a special treat for me, I so enjoy seeing your mostly native critters, and it's too bad that some adults as well as children go and spoil it with their own stupidity, but they do. I especially enjoy your peacock of course since ours is still wandering about and teaching me new things every day. thank you for this delightful journey together. Enjoy your week ahead.

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    1. 21 Wits: You are so right about some people. I was furious to see that some children and their doting parents rushed up to the resting wallabies to pat them. You have a wonderful critter filled week too.

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  30. Lovely walk through the zoo..love the koalas!

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    1. ashok: The koalas are heart warmers aren't they? And surprisingly difficult to see.

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    2. Yes, we don't have them in our country. Cute animals

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    3. ashok: They are very cute, and sadly endangered.

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  31. It's amazing that when I went to our zoo, the ostrich was located in the Australia section, along with my favorite, the black swan. So were the kangaroos, koalas, and birds I'd never heard of before. This was fascinating to see them in their natural habitats. I want a dingo (grin). Too bad about the pea hens. Darwin would say survival of the fittest, but still . . . .

    Thanks for sharing these wonderful animals and birds you can visit at your national zoo. I am sure they were far more fun than the meeting you had to attend there. BTW, how is Jazz doing?

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    1. Bleubeard and Elizabeth: While Darwin would understand it, I suspect he would also be sad. Or perhaps that is just me. This really is a wonderful zoo, and a treat to wander through.
      Jazz is (touch wood) doing pretty well at the moment. How are you? I do hope that you and your back are recovering after your fall.

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    2. It was great to read about Jazz. I'm tender, sore,and not moving fast. Still can't sit for any length of time, but nothing is broken, so I consider myself lucky and very happy to be alive!

      I have to agree with you about Darwin. I'm sure saddened by the brutal slayings of the pea hens.

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    3. Bleubeard and Elizabeth: I am glad that you are ok(ish). Look after yourself please. And yes, the cats have to eat but I would have hated seeing the chicks being eaten.

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  32. Such lovely animals and such fun seeing them. Hope you have a wonderful and safe week my friend.

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    1. Mason Canyon: Thank you. A happy, healthy week to you too. This week and every week.

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  33. I love the animal pictures. I thought the Dingo was jut a dog when I first saw the picture.

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    1. Mary Kirkland: Thank you. The dingo is our native dog. Over the years they have mated with other dogs and I wonder just how many pure bred dingoes are left.

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  34. I so enjoyed your photos. Animals have wonderful colouration, don't they? They put humans in our pitiful "fashionable" clothing to shame.

    I get a wombat rescue group, plus the Rufus the Couch Kangaroo mentioned by kylie in her comment, in my Facebook feed and am very taken with their little furry selves. Their feet are so much like hands, it's incredible. How anyone can see them and not see the connections between man and the rest of the animal world is beyond me.

    Thanks for the wonderful walk with you, EC. I hope you have a good week and that Jazz is being a good boy. Hah

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    1. jenny_o: Birds and animals are so often very, very beautiful aren't they? I have a soft spot for wombats too. Jazz is (knock on wood) doing pretty well at the moment. I hope your invalid is also doing well.

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  35. Lovely to see all of these animals.
    I do agree with you I wouldn't like to be on the end of a kick from an ostrich, those feet are big!
    I hope your December has started well, wishing you a good week ahead.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Those feet as big and the legs look powerful. December is busy, but so far, so good. I hope you and Edie are enjoying it too.

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  36. Thanks for sharing these cute photos of the animals! I love seeing all the animals at the zoo, although I haven't been for a while. A few months ago we went to Australia Zoo - that's always a lot of fun!

    Hope you had a good weekend! We had a busy but fun one, with a big Christmas night out at a theme park and a couple other events.

    Away From The Blue

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    1. Mica: I have never been to the Australia Zoo - and I am glad you enjoy it. Christmas night out at a theme park? I hope you could take it easy the next day.

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  37. Such beautiful animals in your zoo! I would love to visit in person and see all the Australian countryside, animals, and of course visit Elephant's Child!

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  38. Ohmygoodness, your brother gets to take the Dingos out for "walkies?" How freakin' cool is that??? And thank you for opening with a Koala and closing with a Wombat -- two of my favorites to visit whenever I stop by the San Diego Zoo.

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    1. musicalsciencedoggies: He does. And yes, I am jealous. He works hard at the zoo, but gets some incredible privileges too.

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  39. Wonderful nature and the gorgeous animals of our land. xx

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    1. aussie aNNie: We have some very special birds and animals don't we?

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  40. We recently had a kangaroo hunt going in our neighborhood of Oklahoma, USA. Yes it escaped from a small zoo and was finally found moving down a highway using the correct lane of travel. Don't you know he enjoyed his freedom for a couple of days.

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    1. Granny Annie: I hope that the roo was captured safely. Sadly we lose too many of them on the roads.

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  41. That emu has such a small head and brain. Unusual animal.

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    1. gigi-hawaii: I have no idea about the size of an emu's brain, but yes, they are an unusual animal. Like so many of our natives.

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  42. This looks like a wonderful zoo! All these animals and birds you've taken photos of, I thank you so much for sharing them :)

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    1. DeniseinVA: Thank you. It is a wonderful zoo - and there is another photo heavy post to come.

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  43. The kola in the second photo (top to bottom) looks as if it's scratching its back. :-) Great pictures.

    Greetings from London.

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    1. A Cuban in London: I can see that. Mind you if it is scratching its back it is doing so in a VERY leisurely (dozy) way.

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  44. I enjoyed going back to the zoo! : )

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  45. I am envious of one of your your brother's duties at the zoo, walking the animals. Koalas are just about the cutest plump animals. We have emu farms here and their eggs are huge, enough to make an omelette for an entire village, I think!!

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    1. kestrel: Some of his duties are less pleasant, but socialising with the animals is always a win (and makes me jealous). Emu eggs are HUGE aren't they. I have never had one and wonder whether they taste different too.

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  46. I've been told that koalas are sleepy because they eat eucalyptus leaves...I should look it up.

    I don't know why cockatoos make me laugh...they look so cheeky, full of mischief. I've heard them, and I swear, they sounded like they were clucking like chickens...or as we say, fowls.

    Emus look like some Dr. Seuss creature. :-D

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    1. neena maiya (guyana gyal): Cockatoos so obviously enjoy life. They are often destructive - but are also having fun. The emu (and the cassowary) are unlikely looking critters aren't they?

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  47. Thank you for the zoo tour! (Or should that be 'zoo toor'?) ;-) I had to go and look up how to tell the difference between kangaroos and wallabies - in photos the wallabies look as though they could just be small kangaroos. Now I know about their distinguishing features, though - I learn something new every day! :-)

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    1. Diane Henders: A day where I learn things is a good day. Mind you, I wish I didn't need to relearn things quite so often.

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    2. I completely agree! Thinking, "There, now I'll remember that" practically guarantees I'll have to look it up over and over... and over.

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    3. Diane Henders: Sadly true. How I wish it wasn't.

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  48. Such an interesting view of a different side to zoo life! Nice that there are opportunties for some of the animals to wander around freely, and so amazing that zoo bro can take dingoes for walks!!

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    1. karen: Thank you. Zoo bro has some amazing experiences there. He works hard, but the rewards are HUGE.

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