September 23, 2010
Bingarra, an Australian Brolga crane, has recently moved in to Franklin Zoo & Wildlife Sanctuary from Hamilton zoo. He was hatched at Auckland zoo on June 2005. The Brolga is a gregarious wetland bird species from tropical and eastern Australia, well known for its intricate mating dance. This mating dance involves beautiful movements such as flapping of wings and bobbing up and down; very like ballet in fact. It is the official bird emblem of the state of Queensland. Their numbers are threatened by their wetlands gradually drying up and the closer encroachment of mankind.
Brolgas are omnivorous and eat a variety of wetland plants, insects, invertebrates, and amphibians. They also eat seeds, molluscs and crustaceans. Here at the Sanctuary Bingarra enjoys a wide variety of food, and is settling in well living beside Eugene the Tammar Wallaby and also is visited frequently during each day by our seven free ranging Peacocks.
