Possums on the Pipes, Parrots in the Park: Canberra the Bush Capital

Canberra is often referred to as the Bush Capital for its parks, gardens, and natural reserves. Due to the abundance of nature, there is also an abundance of native birds and animals. My apartment complex has a swimming pool, tennis court amid eucalyptus trees and native plants. This morning a common brushtail possum was sitting on the pipes (which is unusual as they are nocturnal), sulphur-crested cockatoos were having breakfast, and a crimson rosella was enjoying the morning sun.

 

Common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula, literally meaning furry tailed little fox) are nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupials native to Australia and New Zealand, and are quite often seen in cities. They are folivore (leaf-eating) mammals that particularly like eucalyptus (gum) leaves, but will also eat fruit and vegetables. The mammals are marsupials because they have front pouches in which the young are raised (like kangaroos). They nest in tree hollows, caves, and the roofs of houses, and mainly breed in spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May). The gestation period is about 18 days and they give birth to a single young. The young are called joeys, the same as young kangaroos. Because they like eucalyptus trees, they are found around the coast and in the hinterlands, but not in central Australia. Animals that eat possums include tiger quolls, foxes, cats, goanna lizards, snakes, and some owls.

They are the largest of all native possums and are silver-grey, brown, black, and a golden colour, with large pointed ears and extremely bushy tails that can wrap around branches. Their feet have sharp claws with a strong grip. They can grow to 32-58 centimetres/12-23 inches (the tail length is about 24-40 cm/9-16 inches) and can weigh between one and 4.5 kilograms (2-10 pounds). Males are usually larger than females. They make quite a few sounds, such as clicks, grunts, hisses, coughs, and screeches.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) are large (about 44-55 cm; 17-22 inches tall) with white-feathers, grey feet, black beaks, and yellow crests. Males and females look similar. They are native to New Guinea and Australia. They are found in the south, southeast, east, and north of Australia. They can live up to 70 years in captivity, but only 20-40 in the wild. Their breeding season is from August to January in the south of Australia and from May to September in the north. They like tree hollows to nest, where the female lays 2-3 eggs which take about 27 days to hatch. Both parents keep the eggs warm and raise the nestlings, until they can fly (usually 9-12 weeks).

Sulphur-crested cockatoos are social, comical, and love to dance to music. In the wild, they are often seen in groups and can be quite raucous. To avoid predators, while the group is on the ground feeding, one is usually in a tree keeping a look-out. Because they group in large numbers, they can be seen as a pest as they eat cereal and fruit crops. They can also chew timber, such as garden furniture. They are not migratory and stay in the same region.

Crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans) are parrots native to eastern and south-eastern Australia, mainly in forests and gardens. They are medium-sized (36cm/14 inches) with a long tail. They have brilliant red breasts, with bright blue wings and blue cheeks. Males are a little larger than females, but the young can be different colours (often greenish) until they gain their adult red and blue feathers. They are not migratory birds, so they will stay around the same region and not travel far. They like to travel in pairs (and not in groups like the sulphur-crested cockatoos). When they mate, they stay with the same partner for life. Nesting sites are hollow tree trunks, limbs, and stumps selected by the female. The breeding season lasts from September to February, and varies depending on the rainfall. They lay 3-8 shiny, white eggs and have an average incubation period of 20 days. Only the female keeps the eggs warm. For the first six days, only the mother feeds the nestlings. After this time, both parents feed them. The young become independent in February, and reach maturity at 16 months of age. They eat fruit, seeds, nectar, berries, and nuts from a wide variety of plants. Often they will also eat insects, including termites, aphids, beetles, weevils, caterpillars, and moths. Crimson rosellas may be eaten by cats or dogs, and sometimes possums will steal their eggs from the nest.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).