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06 Feb 10 - 09:00 PM (#2831933) Subject: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk My question is: which is the most morally reprehensible and downright untrustworthy Oz creature? The Kookaburra? The Wallaby? The Kangaroo? The Budgerigar? The Duck-billed Platypus? The Salt Water Crocodile? The Dingo? Which of them is most likely to sidle up whilst you are photographing Ayers Rock or some other stunning sight like that, say, "G'day, mate!", then give you a sharp bop on the head, pick your pocket, fillet your lungs, and steal your shoes and camera? Which one is most inclined to give you false directions when you're crossing the desert on your way to some godforsaken place like Coober Peadie or Yulara...just so you'll be found dead of thirst and mummified by the sand and sun a year or so later? Are koalas meaner than they look??? I want all this cleared up before I go to visit, you see. |
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06 Feb 10 - 09:18 PM (#2831944) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Ebbie All I can say is that if a man sidles up to you and claims he is a duck-billed platypus, look for an escape route. |
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06 Feb 10 - 09:21 PM (#2831946) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Janie Good one, Ebbie! |
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06 Feb 10 - 09:33 PM (#2831950) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan LH, most of them will run away from you, quick as a flash; salties won't though, so take care to obey the signs. Oh, and enjoy the trip. Will we see you at the National? Cheers, Rowan |
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06 Feb 10 - 09:45 PM (#2831955) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk My schedule is not yet finalized, Rowan. It is contingent on a couple of key matters which I cannot divulge at this time. |
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06 Feb 10 - 09:48 PM (#2831958) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rapparee Brown snake. Death adder. Taipan. Roughscaled snake. Tiger snake. |
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06 Feb 10 - 10:14 PM (#2831965) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan Perenties can be fun, but the one to be wary of is the magpie during breeding season; males' testes take up 1/6 of their body weight and they delight in bombing cyclists and pedestrians. Then again, waking up to their carolling is one of the delights of an Australian morning. Cheers, Rowan |
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06 Feb 10 - 11:04 PM (#2831979) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: JennieG I have been dive bombed by maggies....it's an alarming experience. But as Rowan says, they sing beautifully! Cheers JennieG |
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06 Feb 10 - 11:10 PM (#2831981) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: JennieG And of course we mustn't forget Drop Bears and Hoop Snakes. Cheers JennieG |
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06 Feb 10 - 11:10 PM (#2831982) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan For the uninitiated. Magpie bombing is not like seagull bombing; the latter splatter you but magpies use the sharp ends of their beaks to leave a bit of a dent in the rear of your skull, with little warning. Cheers, Rowan |
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06 Feb 10 - 11:28 PM (#2831989) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: GUEST,Rolf Skippy great big huge bastard poisonous spiders hiding under the bog seat. |
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06 Feb 10 - 11:40 PM (#2831992) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: JennieG They clack their beaks as they dive....very spine-chilling sound. And don't forget wombats. Cheers JennieG |
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06 Feb 10 - 11:41 PM (#2831995) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan Go on with you. Redbacks are only about 1cm across the abdomen. Unless you've not used the bog for a few decades and let the Sydney funnelwebs take up residence. Either way, banging the lid and seat down a couple of times make them run away too. Cheers, Rowan |
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06 Feb 10 - 11:46 PM (#2831996) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Janie You are doomed, LH. Doomed, I tell you! |
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07 Feb 10 - 10:06 AM (#2832056) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Sandra in Sydney Drop Bears |
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07 Feb 10 - 10:34 AM (#2832083) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk Terrifying!!~! I know I'll be having nightmares about Drop Bears for weeks now. Do they ever penetrate as far as downtown Sydney? |
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07 Feb 10 - 11:04 AM (#2832106) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rapparee From what I hear, they congregate in certain parts of Sidney, especially downtown. Like pigeons in big cities (or rabbits in Oz), you can't seem to get rid of them. |
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07 Feb 10 - 12:07 PM (#2832155) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Alice Don't forget the lizards. VIDEO From abc.net.au, science news: "The researchers discovered that two common lizard lineages found in Australia, monitor lizards and iguania, have mouth glands that secrete venom toxins. This was surprising as until now scientists had only found two lizard species around the world that produced venom, the gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard." |
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07 Feb 10 - 03:03 PM (#2832319) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk Those goanos (is that the right spelling?) are marvelous lizards. Furthermore, lizards are among my favorite animals. I am beginning to look more favorably on the notion of getting "up close and personal" with Australian wildlife. |
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07 Feb 10 - 03:15 PM (#2832335) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rapparee Until you hear your bones snapping in the croc's mouth. Remember, crocs are just big lizards. |
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07 Feb 10 - 03:45 PM (#2832362) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk Well, even such a noble and elegant concept as the lizard can be taken a bit too far.... |
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07 Feb 10 - 04:16 PM (#2832406) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: gnu LH... don't listen to that crapbout crocs... they are just misunderstood. All they need is a gentle hand, which you seem to have along with your gentle soul. You should get right to it when you get to Oz... find a really big one and make friends... sing to it and pet it lovingly. Don't forget to take a camera. A visual record is invaluable. |
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07 Feb 10 - 04:33 PM (#2832422) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rapparee And they LOVE to be stroked under the chin and play kissy-face. |
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07 Feb 10 - 05:01 PM (#2832458) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Tangledwood LH, most of them will run away from you, quick as a flash; salties won't though, so take care to obey the signs. And if one of those has made it as far as Ayers Rock it's tougher than most! |
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07 Feb 10 - 05:07 PM (#2832462) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan Youse are misleading Little Hawk when you say crocs are just lizards; they're not. Salties are definitely ones to steer clear of and there are signs all over the Top End warning against swimming in their territory. [The signs are so attractive to tourists that they are regularly stolen, which caused the tourist trade to get into making plastic replicas, including stickers that go under the lid of you dunny seat.] Freshies are safer to swim with if you're not small in stature, but it's difficult to be sure there are no salties in the same waterhole. Monitors (perenties, goannas etc) will always try and run away and climb the nearest tall object. If they're running from something else and you happen to be the nearest tall object you can expect to have a mascot (with claws) looking over your head from on your shoulders. And if you ever pick up or take hold of an animal, make sure you hold it so that its instinctive release of urine is sprayed away from you. Cheers, Rowan |
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07 Feb 10 - 05:09 PM (#2832465) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: JennieG Those signs on the riverbank saying not to swim with the crocs......ignore them. That's just to keep the locals away, so tourists can have the experience themselves without having to share it with anyone. We like to send our tourists home happy. Cheers JennieG |
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07 Feb 10 - 05:11 PM (#2832467) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: WalkaboutsVerse Fitness for purpose depends largely on how many gum leaves koalas have consumed..?! And I agree on lizards, L.H. - of all the interesting wildlife in Australia, they fascinate me the most. |
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07 Feb 10 - 05:13 PM (#2832469) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan And if one of those has made it as far as Ayers Rock it's tougher than most! I seem to recall that a saltie made its way to Dunmarra Roadhouse once and decimated the owner's chooks. Dunmarra is on the Stuart Highway and about 600 miles from the nearest (previously) known location for salties. But that was quite a while ago. Cheers, Rowan |
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07 Feb 10 - 05:21 PM (#2832477) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk He was probably a poor map-reader. Perhaps he was holding it wrong way around (the map). |
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07 Feb 10 - 05:41 PM (#2832492) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: JennieG Yep.....that's another thing we do.....we print our maps upside down. That's so Oz is at the top in the centre of the whole world, which is - of course - as it should be. Cheers JennieG |
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07 Feb 10 - 06:14 PM (#2832515) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan We've all forgotten the sneakiest nasties of the lot; stingers! Cheers, Rowan |
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07 Feb 10 - 06:21 PM (#2832518) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Bill D If I read correctly, you should trust NOTHING on the continent that moves. (well, maybe a few two-legged sorts...) (now, the wood is a different story... almost all of that is great!) |
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07 Feb 10 - 06:25 PM (#2832519) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan Those signs on the riverbank saying not to swim with the crocs......ignore them. There are lots of places that are 'out of the way' and don't have such signs; I recall a young tourist (a woman from the US) having a swim in the top end of WA and being taken by a saltie. A colleague (Su Solomon) was, at that time, researching taphonomy and specialising on identifying predators by identifying and classifying tooth marks on bones; she was the one who identified the East Kenyan "first family" hominins as a collection of crocodile victims, by comparing them with recovered victims (in the morgue) from our Top End. Su had a cartoon on her door, depicting a pair of crocs post-prandially sunning themselves on a river bank and saying "That was lovely. All soft and pink, with no claws or horns." Cheers, Rowan |
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07 Feb 10 - 06:32 PM (#2832528) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan Bill, that's defeatistim. But you're right about the timbers. Somewhere in my collection of "stuff" I have flitches of named timbers from several of the state Forest Commissions; beautiful stuff. Cheers Rowan |
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07 Feb 10 - 08:03 PM (#2832598) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: JennieG Was it Bill Bryson who said that Australia has more things that will kill you than any other country in the world? If you can get hold of his book on Oz - "Bill Bryson Down Under" - it's a hoot. Cheers JennieG |
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07 Feb 10 - 08:47 PM (#2832625) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Bee-dubya-ell Well, there's always the Thylacoleo (aka Marsupial Lion or Pouch Lion). It's supposed to have been extinct for thousands of years, but numerous people have reported sighting creatures that match its description. It had (has?) the strongest jaws of any mammal that has ever lived. |
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07 Feb 10 - 10:08 PM (#2832671) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Sandra in Sydney when are you planning on visiting, Little Hawk? |
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07 Feb 10 - 10:33 PM (#2832683) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rapparee Be careful when you go, LH. You have to walk on your hands or you'll fall off the Earth. And the flush goes the wrong way round -- up, not down. |
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07 Feb 10 - 10:34 PM (#2832684) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: JennieG And we drive on the 'other' side of the road.....not the wrong side, the 'other' side...... Cheers JennieG |
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07 Feb 10 - 11:08 PM (#2832696) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rapparee Right. The bottom side. |
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07 Feb 10 - 11:12 PM (#2832698) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Joybell Little Hawk -- come and visit us. We'd love that. We can take you to see a GIANT Koala. Fearsome sight. You can walk around in it. We have a stunning coastline, mountains, sleeping volcanoes, lava caves -- AND I'm a William Shatner fan from way back. Say the word and we'll put the kettle on and turn back the covers on the guest bed. Cheers, Joy |
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08 Feb 10 - 08:38 AM (#2832776) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Amergin You know why LH is curious, right? He's on trial for stalking William Shatner. He wants to find more out about Oz in case he gets convicted. |
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08 Feb 10 - 11:05 AM (#2832911) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: SINSULL A galah. |
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08 Feb 10 - 11:54 AM (#2832971) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rapparee CANADA still sends folks to Botany Bay? |
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08 Feb 10 - 12:43 PM (#2833014) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Amergin They do in his case...because no one else will take him. |
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08 Feb 10 - 01:20 PM (#2833061) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rapparee Farewell to your Shame and Penny Farewell to Corridus' slime Farewell to the Winona and Hillary bases And farewell to your Shatner time For the good ship "Ragamuffin" Is lying at the quay To take Hawk back His computer on his back To the shores of Botany Bay. |
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08 Feb 10 - 09:56 PM (#2833576) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk That's great, Rapaire, except for one thing. "Quay" is pronounced like the word "key". It doesn't rhyme with "bay". Amergin, if I was on trial for stalking anyone it would most definitely not be William Shatner. It would be Winona Ryder. ;-D Or Susanna Hoffs. I have no definite plans to visit Australia...yet...however, the idea is looking more and more attractive, I must admit. I HAVE to see those lizards! |
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08 Feb 10 - 10:58 PM (#2833604) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Desert Dancer quay as "kway" is an accepted pronunciation, esp. in the U.S., "kee" and "kay" being other options. |
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09 Feb 10 - 01:35 AM (#2833654) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Gurney Never mind the crocs, just watch out for the Holdens! People from your side of the pond look the wrong way first. LOOK RIGHT, FIRST. |
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09 Feb 10 - 12:09 PM (#2834165) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: JohnInKansas I would have thought, from recent news from down under, that the cane toad would be among the least-loved critters in Australia. A foreign species imported to control beetles in the cane fields, it was a total failure at its intended task, but being toxic (venomous) to most other wildlife it has decimated many native species, while proliferating uncontrollably. Eradication efforts appear to be stalled while debate rages over what "humane methods" are permissible for killing them. One of the toxins produced by this toad reportedly can produce a mild but brief "high" but multiple other toxins that it produces are likely to be fatal, so "toad licking" is extremely dangerous. John |
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09 Feb 10 - 12:21 PM (#2834183) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk I'll remember that and curb my toad-licking impuses if I come to Oz... How fast does one have to run to escape a cane toad? |
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09 Feb 10 - 03:26 PM (#2834368) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: RangerSteve I don't know if anyone mentioned box jellyfish yet. They are considered one of the most poisonous animals on earth. I've been told they only exist in a small area off the coast, but the last time I checked, animals don't recognize boundaries and will go wherever they please. To be safe, Stay out of the water. |
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09 Feb 10 - 04:56 PM (#2834466) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan Cane toads are a right royal pain in the arse but they don't do people any damage unless the people are extremely stupid. Stingers, on the other hand, are a dangerous proposition; I mentioned them above but RangerSteve has used their more formal common name. And they're found in all coasts north of the tropic. All that beautiful water and you have to beware of stingers if you go in! Cheers, Rowan |
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09 Feb 10 - 05:03 PM (#2834480) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Tangledwood I would have thought, from recent news from down under, that the cane toad would be among the least-loved critters in Australia. Right at the top of the list for those that live in the infested areas I'd say, and those areas are rapidly expanding. I had one jammed in the inlet pipe to my swimming pool a few days ago. That wasn't much fun to remove! Little Hawk, you can stroll quite slowly to escape a toad but there will still be ten more surrounding you. I don't know if anyone mentioned box jellyfish yet. They are considered one of the most poisonous animals on earth. Little Hawk is concerned about what might sneak up on an unwary photographer at Ayers Rock. It's stretching the imagination that a salt water croc might get there but a box jelly would snap it completely. :) They can be encountered anywhere in coastal tropical waters but are generally only considered to be a problem during the wet season, i.e. the hot season when you'd most like to be in the water. From what I've heard, it's not the poison, it's the intensity of the pain it causes that kills. That distinction probably isn't important to you if you've just been stung. There seem to be increasing numbers of irrakanji jellyfish stings being reported and I think they are a year-round menace in Australia's northern waters. Yeah, Ayers Rock looks like a good destination. |
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09 Feb 10 - 05:51 PM (#2834528) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk Let's say you go all the way to Ayers Rock...imagine the anticipation along the way! You finally get there... You gaze at Ayers Rock in gobsmacked awe! "Wow. That is one hell of a big rock." You gaze at it awhile longer. Then what? |
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09 Feb 10 - 06:05 PM (#2834544) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Amergin Well you can start climbing all over it, spray paint your name on it...and chip away several pieces of it for souvenirs... |
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09 Feb 10 - 06:06 PM (#2834547) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk You must remember...I'm not an American. ;-D |
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09 Feb 10 - 08:04 PM (#2834655) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Charley Noble Little Hawk- When you get more serious about this I will be happy to offer a few more survival tips. Especially beware the backyard Sydney BBQ for one thing; you may not survive the hospitality, all the beer and wine and BBQ blackened dead animals that you will be offered. And they sing the strangest songs! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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09 Feb 10 - 08:15 PM (#2834663) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: quokka Come to Australia |
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09 Feb 10 - 08:18 PM (#2834666) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Rowan And those who prefer to use Uluru as the name (especially those who are sensitive to the desires of the custodians) of Oz's biggest monolith are increasing in number. Cheers, Rowan |
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09 Feb 10 - 08:20 PM (#2834668) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Alice LOL, that was funny, quokka. Thanks for posting that song. |
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09 Feb 10 - 10:37 PM (#2834736) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: katlaughing Yes, it was. Thanks! Rowan, thanks for the indigenous(?) name. I'd read it somewhere before, but couldn't remember it. Years ago, I wrote an op/ed piece supporting a Native American initiative to get Devil's Tower renamed "Mateo Tepee" meaning Grizzly Bear Lodge which is what they have always known it as. It shows up that way on maps as far back as 1816. "Devil's Tower" is offensive to them. |
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10 Feb 10 - 09:06 AM (#2834862) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Charley Noble quokka- Love the chorus and the images! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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10 Feb 10 - 09:58 AM (#2834928) Subject: RE: BS: Which is worse? Kookabura? Wallaby? Pl From: Little Hawk That song addresses the subject of this thread perfectly, quokka! Bloody marvelous! |
