No laughing matter - Kookaburras get a helping hand

We all love the distinctive sound of raucous laughter from our native Kookaburras. So much so, one of our most well-known songs is about our ‘merry king of the bush’.

While Kookaburras are still classified as a common bird species, Birdlife Australia recently revealed that their numbers are in decline.

So when a concerned Newport resident alerted us to a pair of Kookaburras nesting in a tree hollow very close to the ground, Council was pleased to provide these two love birds with some privacy as well as security from predators, by installing a temporary fence.  

In fact, this is the third year in a row that these Kookaburras have attempted to breed at this location.

Going forward, we will install a custom-built hardwood nesting box for future breeding seasons. The box will be designed specifically for Kookaburras, so we hope it will meet with their seal of approval!

Here are a couple of tips that we can all do to help Kookaburras and other precious wildlife stay safe.

Provide water in a shady spot, on the ground in a low shallow dish or a small pond. It could be lifesaving on hot days for our wildlife.Keep your pets indoors at night and out of bushland to ensure nocturnal birds and animals stay safe.Consider building a nest box or possum drey in your backyardDon’t use rat poisons and slug baits that can accumulate in the food chain and inadvertently kill native wildlife

For more information about Kookaburras: