Vol. XVI. -1 Barrett, Bird Life on Yanko Creek (N.SJV.) 21 



1916 J ' -' \ ^ J -> ^ 



captured and reared as a pet. Tlie bird, which had the freedom of 

 a small paddock, was friendly, tliough it showed some fear of the 

 camera. Its plumage was similar to that of the adult Crane, bat 

 there was still a mass of beautiful silvery-grey down on the rump 

 and flanks. The legs were sufficiently developed to enable the 

 young bird to run briskly and dodge its pursuers very cleverly 

 when it tired of posing for a portrait. We heard that, in another 

 locality, no fewer than 400 of these noble birds had been destroyed 

 by poison. 



Yanko Creek was reached at noon on the third day out from 

 Jerilderie, and the shade of the gums was very welcome after the 

 sun-glare and dust of the plains. Max Egger and I had come 

 here together in the jinker, leaving his two assistants to continue 

 trapping on the wheat lands. We camped in the old spot. 

 While the billy boiled we sat in the shade and watched the bird- 

 life of the creek. A flock of Maned Geese {Chlamydochen jubata) 

 paddled down stream, within a stone's throw of our camp. (We 

 had also seen Wood-Duck earlier in the day, resting under a gum- 

 tree near the Ibis Swamp.) Galahs, Yellow Parrots, and many 

 other birds were noted. After the meal we made a voyage in the 

 flattie, and my harvest of photographs was increased. On the 

 following day we struck camp and drove along the creek for 

 several miles, to a beautiful spot, the haunt of a pair of Delicate 

 Owls {Strix delicatula). The nest, which had been found by my 

 companion some weeks previously, was in a deep hollow of a 

 dead gum-tree standing in the creek. A natural causeway of 

 logs and debris enabled us to reach the tree dryshod, but it was 

 not so easy to climb the hard, polished trunk. But Max Egger, 

 who was a skilled and fearless climber, won to the nest, and 

 descended carrjnng a young Owl. The queer little bird was almost 

 enveloped in creamy white down, softer than teased silk, but its 

 tail and wing feathers were well developed. Perched on a bough, 

 it blinked sleepily, and made scarce an effort to escape. 



When the Owls' nest was discovered, more than a month 

 previously, it contained eggs. On a second visit, Mr. Egger found 

 two nestlings, one of which was evidently several days older than 

 the other, in the hollow. Now there was only one Owlet, the 

 first-bom, no doubt, being somewhere among the trees with its 

 parents. The beak and legs of the Owlet we photographed were 

 well developed, but the latter were not strong enough to keep 

 the bird securely on its perch. 



This quiet reach of the creek was also the haunt of a pair of 

 Boobook Owls {Ninox boobook), whose nest was in a hollow of a 

 dead tree a few feet from the bank. It would have been pleasant 

 to camp there for the night, and watch the Owls flitting on noise- 

 less wings through the shadows and moonbeams among the 

 ancient trees. But our plans would not permit of this. (The 

 Owlet was taken to Jerilderie. and would have been reared, as 

 a gift to the Zoological Gardens, but it escaped from its box one 

 evening. While in captivity it ate sparingly of raw meat.) 



