The Brolga
The Brolga is the Queensland Bird Emblem.
They are a member of the Crane family and also known as the Australian Crane or the Native Companion.
A tall, slender grey to silver-grey crane, that stands about 1 metre, or just over, high, with a broad red band extending from the eyes around the back of the head.
They are omnivores, so they eat both vegetable and animal matter, they feed on an assortment of wetland plants and a variety of insects and small vertebrates like frogs.
Brolgas stay together for life and gather together in their family groups to form large flocks in the non-breeding season.
They are famous for their elaborate mating dance, where they jump in the air with their wings spread wide, they prance about bowing and calling and shaking their head.
When we lived in the bush a pair would visit every year for a few years and stay near our dam, our mother used to sit on the dam bank for hours watching them, she absolutely loved them and thought their dancing was beautiful, she knew when they were due and looked forward to seeing them.
Breeding time varies depending on where they live, in southern Australia they breed from around September to December, and in northern Australia they
breed a little later from
around February to May.
The female usually lays two eggs and both sexes sit on them for 28 to 30 days, when the young are born both parents care for them.
They are found in north and northeast Australia, and especially in northeast Queensland, they are also found as far south as Victoria and the northern part of Western Australia.
The Brolga was proclaimed the Queensland Bird Emblem in 1986
They have been featured on the Queensland Coat of Arms since 1977
Go to next bird page: Budgerigar
Return to Australian Birds or Australian Bird Emblems
Return from The Brolga to Australian-Information-Stories home page
"The Legend of Bimi"
Introduction
There's a tale that begins in the sand hills
That I would like to tell,
Built from myth and many legends,
And my pen it does compel.
The desert's a hot, a hostile place,
Nothing's changed since time began,
There's a hazy unreality there
As if it, in the dreamtime was planned.
The noon of the day is so hot and still,
And over all an expectant hush,
Like a canvas that's waiting impatiently
For the touch of the artists brush.
The fire of the day can change swifly
To the night of startlingly cold,
Many legends are told of the people
Who live in this land so old.
To continue to read the introduction to this wonderful piece of poetry our Mother wrote called
"The Legend of Bimi" just go to our
Epic Poetry page
We know you will love it!