Aussie Animals (No Zoos!)
Crikey Mate! She's a ripper! These are my aussie animal all stars to date. I'll append this message as new ones arrive. No zoos needed in Australia, just step out into your backyard!
I wrote up a flowchart to simplify animal identification in the bush. I've broken it down into a run/don't run structure that I believe will greatly decrease potentially dangerous encounters. I recommend memorizing this for future reference.
Hot Goanna Love
Location: Lake Parramatta, near work
Cover your eyes kids. These two were so concerned with their business that they didn't budge when I stepped over them on the path. Normally Goanna will head up the nearest tree. Compare the size of the leaves to them - these aren't little lizards.Echidna
Location: Royal National Park
This is a rare encounter during the day. Only cloudy days will do as they usually move around at night. They have poor eyesight and only reacted to me when I was moving. He was adorable because every time I moved he would bury his head in the ground to "hide" from me. It was like playing peek-a-boo. Red Bellied Black Snake
Location: Lake Parramatta, near work
I find all kinds of cool things near work. As I sat down on a rock I noticed him not 5 feet from me! Poisonous? Very.Eastern Water Dragon
Location: Blue Mountains, Jenolan Caves
Reminds Tara and I of our beloved pet "Colonel Mustard." This guy jumped off into the water and swam across the lake! I thought dragons feared water as it would expel the pilot light in their throats. I guess I was wrong.Kangaroo mom and Joey
Location: Blue Mountains, Campsite near Jenolan Caves
4am, thump thump thump. All around our tent I heard this and thought "what manner of beast is this?" Around 20 kangaroo (this will increase every time I tell the story) were around our tent. Every time I stuck my head out they'd stop and I couldn't see them (pitch dark). I had to snap these photos in the dark, review the camera, then re-shoot- predicting where they were. A lot of work for a mediocre shot. Green Tree Snake
Location: Near Manly beach
OOOh! The famous Angry Green Spitting Snake! He'll jump off his perch to take small children. They are more feared than drop bears.. (actually they are harmless)Angry Lizards
Location: Blue Mountains, Six Foot Track
These two warriors were fighting over (you guessed it) a woman. The 'lady' waited to see what would happen then ran off when they were done head bobbing and hissing. The winner got to chase her home. Sounds like what happens at bars in Sydney.Shark
Location: Mona Vale
Go surfing, pack up surf board, walk up the beach.. Shark. Good thing he was already dead. I would have opened a can of whoop ass on him.Copperhead Snake
Location: Blue Mountains, campsite
hehehehe.. This guy was near our first campsite. So I told Tara that I didn't like the site because of the 'neighbors'. We left and later I showed her the photos. Copperheads are friendly enough though.. right?
