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Major recruiting drive under way for Parks and Wildlife Service

09/02/2010

The Parks and Wildlife Service had begun one of its largest ever recruiting drives, with up to 30 positions available around Tasmania.More

Rain provides respite for fire fighters

05/02/2010

Overnight rain on the Lake Mackintosh fire has temporarily cleared smoke from the Tullah and Rosebery areas, and allowed equipment abandoned by fire fighters earlier in the week to be flown from the fireground.

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Cradle Mountain interim visitor centre improvements

03/02/2010

Visitor services at Cradle Mountain are set to be improved with construction of extensions to the visitor centre under way this week.

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Black Currawong, Strepera fuliginosa

Black currawong

Black Currawong
Photograph by Peter Grant

Description

The endemic Black Currawong is a large bird, up to 490mm, completely black, except white-tipped tail feathers and a small patch of white in the wing. The eye is a bright yellow.

Habitat

Common throughout the highlands of Tasmania in subalpine forest and woodland, often moving to lower altitudes during the winter, when it can form flocks of up to 50 individuals.

Diet

The Black Currawong is a opportunistic feeder, taking a wide range of food items, including lizards, mice, invertebrates and fruits. In areas frequented by people, the animals bold nature may lead it to snatch food from a persons hand. To ensure that they retain a natural and healthy diet, and to prevent them becoming a nuisance, it is important not to feed currawongs.

Breeding

The nest is a large, bowl-shaped mass of sticks built in the branches of trees. Between two and four eggs are laid.

Call

currawongThe call, so distinctive of the Tasmania highlands, is a loud kar-week-week-kar.


Distribution

Found in suitable habitat throughout Tasmania.

Found throughout Tasmania