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Cormorant
Cormorant
Cormorants and Shags are large birds, usually black with some white or grey. They have a long body shape with short legs and big, webbed feet set back on the body so as they stand upright when on land, much like penguins. Unlike most waterbirds, the feathers of cormorants, shags and darters are not waterproof. This reduces buoyancy, which allows them to submerge without effort and splashing and with an absence of bubbles; this means they do not disturb or alert potential prey. However, this also means they have to ‘hang their wings out to dry’ and are often seen standing with their wings outstretched. These birds often dive underwater to catch their prey. They swim by kicking with their big webbed feet. The wings are tucked by their side and they do not use them to ‘fly’ underwater like penguins.
 
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Study Tours

  • Ecosystem Guide Books

    Accompanying our biology programmes and tours are the Ecosystem Guide Books. The first in the series, "Rainforest of tropical Australia", has now been released as a second edition. The second in the series "Ocean Surfaces of Australasia" is also available. They are found in all good bookstores in Cairns and in souvenir shops and info centres throughout the rainforest areas of North Queensland. If they haven't got it, ask them to order it in! It's RRP is $35-$40. It is also available online at:

    www.ecosystem-guides.com

     

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Plants

Lichen
Lichen is actually a life-form that is the result of an inter-dependent relationship between two very different organisms; usually a fungus and an algae, (or a cyanobacteria, a common occurrence in the lichens lower down in the rainforest strata).
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Birds

Spoonbills and Ibis
There are from 26 to 33 species of Spoonbills and Ibis, depending on your classification. They are all large birds, usually white with very long, distinctive bills specialized for feeding. They usually have bare skin on their faces, and unlike Herons, they fly with their necks fully outstretched. They are quite gregarious at breeding and feeding times especially if sharing a coincident food source. Ibis and Spoonbills have no larynx and therefore they are practically voiceless; except for feeble grunts and harsh croaks or when begging for food as juveniles. Ibis are usually recognized by their long curved bill. Spoonbills, as the name suggests, have distinctive long bills with the end shaped like a spoon.
ibis
Australian White Ibis
 

Mammals

Rock Wallabies
There are about 15 species of 'Rock Wallabies', Petrogale spp. Many of them look very similar to each other, and before the use of genetic testing to determine species, there was were thought to be far fewer species. They are generally very small kangaroos that live within rocky outcrops.
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