Mysterious Lyrebird

16/10/2014

Almost invisible in the dark recesses of the rainforest the lyre bird becomes noticeable only when it moves. But the sound can alert us long before we see the mysterious bird. A wonderful mimic, the dawn chorus is sometimes just one individual, running its repertoire of 10 or 20 other birds. Maybe even a phone ringing or vehicles passing.
Imported from New South Wales as an insurance population when the NSW species was seriously threatened by habitat destruction, they were initially released at Mt Field and Hastings. Now they roam the forests from the Florentine River to the South Coast.

This photo was taken near Mystery Creek Cave by
Max Wellstead during his stay at Buttongrass Retreat.
Lyre birds are often heard and occasionally seen at
Huon Bush Retreats as well.

1 Comment

Barry Dawson

24/6/2020 06:40:39 pm

Today 24/06/2020 my wife and I went along Hopetown Rd via Francistown Rd toward Glendivie and were lucky enough to see two Lyre birds. The first was close to the junction of Francistown and Hopetown Rds and the second was further along Hopetown rd.
Time was around 4.00 pm.
About a month ago we saw another on the walk to Duck Hole Lake.

Prior to these two outings the last time I saw a Lyrebird was 40 years ago in the forests of the Dandenongs

Pretty lucky eh!!

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