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Brolga

Brolga

There are three Brolga populations which, by and large, are not connected and do not interbreed. By far the largest and best-known population occupies the tropical north. The smallest and most critically endangered population occupies the Murray Basin. Gross overdevelopment of the basin for agriculture has almost wiped these birds out already and they are not expected to survive.

This bird comes from the third, Southern Victorian population which, although severely threatened by feral animals and habitat loss, is still surviving so far. There are not many of them so it is always a special day when you see one, and a very special day when - as in this picture - one of a breeding pair.