Above: A Kookaburra watching out for unsuspecting prey such as lizards
Above: This Kookaburra probably came down to the ground to take a closer look at a lizard or a snake
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This famous Australian bird is well known for its laughter. They often can be heard laughing throughout the Blue Mountains. The Kookaburra is also very interesting. A young kookaburra usually stays with its parents for several years, helping feed, raise and protect its younger brothers and sisters. Baby Kookaburras are reared in high tree hollows and fed by several members of the family.
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Left: Kookaburras often come close to people as they have adapted to scavenging for food scraps.
Right: A perfect nest inside a tree hollow
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The kookaburra will keep the same mate for life and may live up to 20 years of age!
To let other Kookaburras know about their home territory a family group will laugh throughout the day, especially around dawn and dusk. Disputes over territory are usually resolved with complicated flight displays involving a bird from each group. Very rarely do they result in tough physical fights.
A family needs a large area with big trees and garden areas in which they can safely search for food. Their home territory may include over one hundred house blocks and some parkland.
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