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White-faced Heron

 

Yes indeed, another wild and free Australian native waterbird - at La Trobe University.

This bird is only perhaps 10 metres away from the little pied cormorant.

There is a small lake only 20 metres away from the Electronic Engineering and Computer Science building - and there are often many birds that will be found here.

 

White-faced Heron

 

Scientific name: Egretta novaehollandiae

Family: Ardeidae

Order: Ciconiiformes

 

The White-faced Heron is mostly light blue-grey in colour, with a characteristic white face. In flight, the dark flight feathers of the wing contrast with the paler grey plumage, making this bird easily identifiable when viewed from below. It has a long, slim neck and a pointed grey-black bill. The legs are long and dull yellow in colour. Sexes are similar.

White-faced Herons are the most commonly seen herons in Australia. They are found throughout the mainland and Tasmania, and most coastal islands. They also occur in Indonesia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and New Zealand.

White-faced Herons can be found anywhere where there is water, from tidal mudflats and coastal reefs to moist grasslands and gardens.

The White-faced Heron feeds on a wide variety of prey, including fish, insects and amphibians. Food is obtained in a variety of ways, such as walking and disturbing prey, searching among damp crevices or simply standing in the water and watching for movement.

 

La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia

 

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Uploaded on September 23, 2008
Taken on September 23, 2008