Australian Animal Facts: Kookaburra - Why are they Fatal Road Kills?

Kookaburras as Road Kill

Laughing Kookaburra in Flight

What is a Kookaburra?

The Kookaburra, the world's largest kingfisher but it doesn't hunt fish. Instead it preys on snakes, frogs, lizards and large insects. Its about 18 inches (45cm) long and weighs about 1lb (.5kg). 

Why is the Kookaburra prone to Vehicle Strikes?

Being a carnivorous bird the Kookaburra is also an opportunist and will try to eat road prey knocked down by passing road vehicles. Unfortunately the kookaburra is a slow flier. It finds it very difficult to quickly get airborne and get out of the way of oncoming traffic.

Unfortunately as a consequence the bird itself becomes a road fatality. 

Learn more about the  Kookaburra here...

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Australian Animal Facts: Southern Cassowary the Endangered Dinosaur Bird of the Australian Rainforest

Southern Cassowary Endangered Dinosaur Bird
of the Australian Rainforest

Southern Cassowary the Endangered  only 1500 remain

What is a Cassowary?

The Southern Cassowary is a massive flightless Australian bird that lives a solitary existence in the rainforests of northern Australia. 

If provoked it will attack with a powerful kick slashing its victim with its fearsome claws. 

Why is it Endangered

There are only 1,500 Cassowaries left in the wild today. This is nearly a 50% drop in population over the last twenty five years. The major causes of its decline are habitat loss, motor vehicle accidents, attacks by dogs, feral pigs and human hand feeding. 

Read more . ..

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Great Barrier Reef Facts: Touring the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Tours

Great Barrier Reef Coral and Fish (including a Star Fish)

The Great Barrier Reef off the Gold Coast of Queensland Australia is one of the finest coral reefs in the world. It is also the largest. These are hundreds of tour operators providing 

Major Cities near the Great Barrier Reef

The key "jump-off points for the reef are Cairns, Townsville, Airlie Beach, Port Douglas and Townsville. These cities are all well equipped to handle tours. 

Getting to the Great Barrier Reef

The Best way to get to one of the major cities of the Gold Coast is by air. Local and international airlines such as Qantas, Virgin, Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand fly into these cities regularly.

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