MVH - Wildlife

WILDLIFE

This is a collection of wildlife that has arrived at our practice for one reason or another over the years.


	Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) young. Usually found in open forests, rarely in the suburbs. Nocturnal birds feeding on small animals. This owl flew into a nearby suburban garden and was brought in because it seemed weak. It had an infection in the mouth that required drug treatment, received initial treatment and was sent on to a wildlife centre.


Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus) very young. One day this little critter may reach 40 kg weight. Solitary marsupials, living in burrows, they are mainly nocturnal, particularly during summer and feed on native grasses, shrubs and roots. This little fellow was an orphan. Normally he would live in his mother's backward facing pouch for the first 6 months of his life.

Tawny Frogmouth
(Podargus strigoides) immature

Closely related to the nightjars, Frogmouths are very well camouflaged and the young generally freeze when danger approaches, their colouring blending in well with the bark of the tree. They are mainly nocturnal, feeding on small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The young are reared in flimsy nests made of twigs and found in the forks of trees.


Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), young. Another nocturnal marsupial, common in suburban Melbourne building their spherical nests in the higher branches of trees or in hollows. They feed mainly on the leaves of native trees, but also on flower buds. European rose buds are very attractive to the suburban Ringtails.

Common Brushtail Possum
(Trichosurus vulpecula)

This is the commonest of the possums and is well known to householders particularly in eastern Australia where it has adapted its habitat to the roof cavity of suburban homes. It's natural home is open forest where it sleeps by day in hollow trees and comes out at night to feed mainly on leaves. It gets its name from the bushy dark tail, shown here under its chin.

Spurwinged Plover
(Vanellus novaehollandiae)

Found over all but arid Australia. These birds nest directly on the ground, usually in the open with only minimal nesting materials but they are fiercely protective of their nests, swooping on intruders and using their sharp spurs at the bend of their wings as a weapon.
This one is only a few months old and was brought in abandoned. It was reared by Belinda our local wild life carer.


	Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), adult This friendly larrikin is a favourite pet to many Australians. They are usually found in flocks in open wooded country but are also quite common around cities throughout Australia. Seed eaters with a loud shrieking voice.


Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tigican), young Common around the Melbourne suburbs. Frequents parks and gardens, browsing on the grass for insects and grubs. This baby bird was brought in with a fractured pelvis and was nursed back to health.


	Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), young A very adept diving bird found throughout most of "wet" Australia on lakes, ponds and dams. It builds a floating nest and attaches it to reeds.

Diamond Python
(Morelia spilota spilote)

This python is found throughout continental Australia except for southern Victoria and the arid centre and west coast. It is often arboreal but can live in the burrows of other animals and feeds off terestrial vertebrates. They are non venemous constrictors. This fellow was undergoing treatment for "canker" an infectious mouth ailment common in snakes.

webDesign

Bookmark this Site

Sitemap