Brolga Crane Grus rubicunda

Brolga Crane pair
Brolga Crane head
The Brolga Crane, standing some 4 feet high, comes from wetlands of eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. They live in small groups, often with other birds and are not generally shy of humans. Outside of the breeding season many groups will form a large flock.
Brolga Crane
Brolga Crane
Brolga Crane
They have a complex mating dance which begins with throwing grass into the air (symbolising nesting?), catching it, then jumping, skipping, walking, calling and bowing! The dance can be done by one partner, by both, or by several in line dancing fashion, males facing females.