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Goonoo Important Bird Area
The Goonoo Important Bird Area is a 1034 km2 tract of wooded land in New South Wales, Australia. It lies between the towns of Dubbo, Gilgandra and Dunedoo, about 200 km north-west of Sydney. Formerly the Goonoo State Forest, much of the land is now within the Goonoo State Conservation Area (538 km2) and the adjacent Goonoo National Park (91 km2). The Important Bird Area (IBA) also includes (18 km2) of the Coolbaggie Nature Reserve. Description Goonoo IBA is mainly box-ironbark-callitris woodland with patches of mallee. It is surrounded by farmland. Past forest management involved logging the larger box trees to promote the growth of cypress pine and ironbark, but the site is now managed primarily for conservation. Much of the area was burned in fires in 2007.BirdLife International (2011) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Goonoo. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/06/2011 Birds The site was identified as an IBA because it supports an isola ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stagonopleura Guttata 3
''Stagonopleura'' is a genus of small seed-eating birds in the family Estrildidae that are native to Australia. The species are similar in appearance, with short red bills, brown upperparts, red rumps and uppertail coverts, and barred or spotted underparts. The informal name of firetails refers to the rich crimson colour at the rump, a prominent characteristic of the genus. Taxonomy The genus ''Stagonopleura'' was introduced by the German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach in 1850. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek ''stagōn'' meaning "spot" with ''pleura'' meaning "side" or "flank". The type species was designated as the diamond firetail in 1851 by Jean Cabanis Jean Louis Cabanis (8 March 1816 – 20 February 1906) was a German ornithologist. Cabanis was born in Berlin to an old Huguenot family who had moved from France. Little is known of his early life. He studied at the University of Berlin from 18 .... Species The three species in the genus are: References *Cle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Woodland
A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with trees, or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the ''plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade (see differences between British, American, and Australian English explained below). Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of primary or secondary succession. Higher-density areas of trees with a largely closed canopy that provides extensive and nearly continuous shade are often referred to as forests. Extensive efforts by conservationist groups have been made to preserve woodlands from urbanization and agriculture. For example, the woodlands of Northwest Indiana have been preserved as part of the Indiana Dunes. Definitions United Kingdom ''Woodland'' is used in British woodland management to mean tre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yellow-plumed Honeyeater
The yellow-plumed honeyeater (''Ptilotula ornata'') is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is endemic to Australia, where it inhabits temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. The yellow-plumed honeyeater was previously placed in the genus ''Lichenostomus'', but was moved to ''Ptilotula'' after a molecular phylogenetic analysis, published in 2011, showed that the original genus was polyphyletic. Description The yellow-plumed honeyeater is a medium-sized honeyeater with a relatively long, down-curved black bill, a dark face and a distinctive, upswept yellow neck plume. It has an olive-green head, with a faint yellow line under the dark eye, grey-green upperparts, and heavily streaked grey-brown underparts. Young birds have a yellow bill base and eye-ring. Similar species include purple-gaped honeyeater,Tzaros, C. (2021) ''Wildlife of the Box-Ironbark Country.'' 2nd Edition, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Victoria, grey-fronted honeyeater and fusco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gilbert's Whistler
The Gilbert's whistler (''Pachycephala inornata'') is a monotypic species of bird endemic to Australia, scattered in semi-arid zones of southern Australia. Taxonomy The family Pachycephalidae originated within the Australo-Papuan region. Together with the red-lored whistler and the olive whistler, the Gilbert's whistler is basal to the genus Pachycephala – the typical whistlers. This old monotypic lineage represents a relictual form that was once more widespread. John Gould, who first described this species in 1841, named it after Mr Gilbert who discovered the bird in Western Australia and collected specimens that he handed over to Gould. As for its scientific name – ''Pachycephala inornata'' – in Ancient Greek ''pachys'' and ''kephale'' respectively mean ‘thick’ and ‘head’; several of the members of the genus Pachycephala are indeed called ‘thickheads’, and other common names for the Gilbert's whistler include black-lored Gilbert thickhead, red-throated th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Glossy Black-cockatoo
The glossy black cockatoo (''Calyptorhynchus lathami''), is the smallest member of the subfamily Calyptorhynchinae found in eastern Australia. Adult glossy black cockatoos may reach in length. They are sexually dimorphic. Males are blackish brown, except for their prominent red tail bands; the females are dark brownish with some yellow spotting. Three subspecies are recognised. Taxonomy The glossy black cockatoo was first described by Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1807. The scientific name honours the English ornithologist John Latham. The glossy black cockatoo's closest relative is the red-tailed black cockatoo; the two species form the genus ''Calyptorhynchus''.Forshaw, p. 89 They are distinguished from the other black cockatoos of the genus '' Zanda'' by different tail colour and head pattern, significant sexual dimorphism, and differences in two juvenile call types, a squeaking begging call and a vocalization when swallowing food. Subspecies The three subsp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Painted Honeyeater
The painted honeyeater (''Grantiella picta'') is a species of honeyeater in a monotypic genus. Taxonomy A member of the family Meliphagidae, ''Grantiella picta'' is the sole species under this genus. The painted honeyeater was first described in 1838 by Gould and given the name ''Entomophila picta'',Gould, J. (1865). ''Handbook to the birds of Australia''. Retrieved from https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34074714#page/540/mode/1up but it was renamed ''Grantiella picta'' in 1911 by Mathews. It took another sixty years from its initial description before details of its eggs, habits, and distribution began to be investigated and recorded. Its genus name is in reference to Robert Grant, a Scottish-born taxidermist and collector, while the species name originates from the Latin word for painted, ''pictus'', and refers to the yellow markings on the feathers of its tail and wings. DNA sequencing has helped in organising genera within the family Meliphagidae into four main cla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diamond Firetail
The diamond firetail (''Stagonopleura guttata'') is a species of estrildid finch that is endemic to Australia. It has a patchy distribution and generally occupies drier forests and grassy woodlands west of the Great Dividing Range from South East Queensland to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. While it is a small stocky bird it is one of the largest finches in Australia. The birds are very distinctive with a black breast-band on a white breast. The flanks are black with white spots and it has a scarlet rump (hence the name) and a black tail. Taxonomy The family Estrildidae (grass-finches) was named by Swainson in 1827 and "finch" can be traced back to the Old English ''finc'' but its origin is debated. Firetail is now used to describe the three species of ''Stagonopleura''. The red-browed finch (''Neochmia temporalis'') is no longer considered a firetail even though it has a red rump. The diamond firetail has also been known as the "spotted finch (Lewin 1808), spotted gr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malleefowl
The malleefowl (''Leipoa ocellata'') is a stocky ground-dwelling Australian bird about the size of a domestic chicken (to which it is distantly related). It is notable for the large nesting mounds constructed by the males and lack of parental care after the chicks hatch. It is the only living representative of the genus ''Leipoa'', though the extinct giant malleefowl was a close relative. Behaviour Malleefowl are shy, wary, solitary birds that usually fly only to escape danger or reach a tree to roost in. Although very active, they are seldom seen as they freeze if disturbed, relying on their intricately patterned plumage to render them invisible, or else fade silently and rapidly into the undergrowth (flying away only if surprised or chased). They have many tactics to run away from predators. Breeding Pairs occupy a territory, but usually roost and feed apart; their social behavior is sufficient to allow regular mating during the season and little else. In winter, the male s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vulnerable Species
A vulnerable species is a species which has been Conservation status, categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being threatened species, threatened with extinction unless the circumstances that are threatened species, threatening its survival and reproduction improve. Vulnerability is mainly caused by habitat loss or destruction of the species' home. Vulnerable habitat or species are monitored and can become increasingly threatened. Some species listed as "vulnerable" may be common in captivity (animal), captivity, an example being the military macaw. There are currently 5196 animals and 6789 plants classified as Vulnerable, compared with 1998 levels of 2815 and 3222, respectively. Practices such as cryoconservation of animal genetic resources have been enforced in efforts to conserve vulnerable breeds of livestock specifically. Criteria The International Union for Conservation of Nature uses several criteria to enter species in this category. A tax ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bushfires In Australia
Bushfires in Australia are a widespread and regular occurrence that have contributed significantly to shaping the nature of the continent over millions of years. Eastern Australia is one of the most fire-prone regions of the world, and its predominant eucalyptus forests have evolved to thrive on the phenomenon of bushfire. However, the fires can cause significant property damage and loss of both human and animal life. Bushfires have killed approximately 800 people in Australia since 1851, and billions of animals. The most destructive fires are usually preceded by extreme high temperatures, low relative humidity and strong winds, which combine to create ideal conditions for the rapid spread of fire. Severe fire storms are often named according to the day on which they peaked, including the five most deadly blazes: Black Saturday 2009 in Victoria (173 people killed, 2,000 homes lost); Ash Wednesday 1983 in Victoria and South Australia (75 dead, nearly 1,900 homes); Black Frida ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mallee Woodlands And Shrublands
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands is one of 32 Major Vegetation Groups defined by the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy. Description " Mallee" refers to the growth habit of a group of (mainly) eucalypt species that grow to a height of , have many stems arising from a lignotuber and have a leafy canopy that shades 30–70% of the ground. The term is also applied to a vegetation association where these mallee eucalypts grow, on land that is generally flat without hills or tall trees and where the climate is semi-arid. Of the 32 Major Vegetation Groups classified under the National Vegetation Information System, "Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands" (MVG14): * are semi-arid areas dominated by mallee eucalypts; * may also have co-dominant species of '' Callitris'', '' Melaleuca'', ''Acacia'' and ''Hakea''; * have an open tree or shrub layer with more than 10% foliage cover and more than 20% crown cover, distinguishing MVG 14 from "Mallee Open Woodland" (MVG14 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Callitris
''Callitris'' is a genus of coniferous trees in the Cupressaceae (cypress family). There are 16 recognized species in the genus, of which 13 are native to Australia and the other three (''C. neocaledonica, C. sulcata'' and ''C. pancheri'') native to New Caledonia. Traditionally, the most widely used common name is cypress-pine, a name shared by some species of the closely related genus '' Actinostrobus''.Eckenwalder, J.E. 2009. ''Conifers of the World: The Complete Reference''. Timber Press. p. 122-124 Description They are small to medium-sized trees or large shrubs, reaching tall (to in ''C. macleayana''). The leaves are evergreen and scale-like. But young seedlings have needle-like leaves; in ''C. macleayana'', needle-like leaves are found mixed with scale leaves throughout the tree's life. The scales are arranged in six rows along the twigs, in alternating whorls of three (often in whorls of four in ''C. macleayana''). The male cones are small ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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