Kookaburra on the hunt

It was with some degree of relief that I heard a number of Kookaburra calling last week. Since then they have been making their world famous call each morning and evening.

A bird that I remember well from my youth ( I cared for one once while its wing healed), it has been sadly lacking in numbers over the years following.

Many bird species are on the decline due to a number of factors and I recall a recent report stating that the beloved Kookaburra was on that list.

A few posts ago I photographed a young Red Bellied Black snake in my backyard. This is not the only one I have seen. It seems that this years breeding season was a good one for snakes. Hot and dry.

It also seems that the Kookaburra, who are fond of snake for dinner, are aware of the fact.

.

A shot of a Black Snake being swallowed whole is on my wish list.

Next time you see an inoffensive snake on its way, remember that a bird song we associate with all things Australian depends largely on snake populations.

Bites and parasites

Many snakes have been out and about with the warm weather of late and it seems Charlie the dog may have found one of them.
Charlie was suffering from a wound on his leg, pictured 1 week after the event.

A blood test was inconclusive when taken, though showed the possible presence of venom next day.
The bite location was possibly a lucky one.
Considering snakes give "dry" bites more often than not (no venom injected), perhaps his survival was a decision of the snake.
Either way he was quite sick, though has pulled through well.
Today I found one of these guys between his toes....a tick

Using methylated spirits on the area made it back out a little, with careful removal using tweezers.
UPDATE: I have recently found out not to use metho to make the tick back out.
This old school practice has been found to make the tick deliver more toxins as it backs out.
A pen like device is available for removal of ticks that has a loop at its end that can be tightened.
Once placed around the tick ( between head and body ) removal is easier.
These devices are available at most vets and some chemists :)
A deeply embedded tick is still a task to remove though.

Seems the onset of summer can be a dogs life in Australia.

Reptiles on the move

With the hot pre spring weather of late my snakes have begun to awaken.

This shot is of Ruby out for a "walk" on the lawn.

Being part Diamond Python she needs her UV rays, as lack of them will cause problems with bone formation...a problem specific to this member of the python family.

Although she has a UV light in her enclosure, nothing beats the real thing.

Heads Up...Summers almost gone

With the approach of Autumn its "Heads Up" for our reptile friends.
Its time for building body fat reserves for winter before hibernation begins.





Isis was out for her afternoon "walk" when I took these photos.
The raising of the head as seen in the LH Shot is so that she can get a better look at things.
She has been a bit hungry of late, consuming a large rat a week.
The tongue of the snake is a complicated device. The "fork" smells in stereo,
enabling prey to be tracked down by triangulation.

A year of Blogging

Today is the anniversary of this blog, and to celebrate I am going

to say little and let the photos speak for themselves.

As a site devoted to the natural world, the following photos reflect

the wonders that surround us all if we just take the time to have a look.

Take the time to care for this world of ours.

It is a truely amazing place

How to eat a rat

Well, it was asked for...so here it is.

How to eat a rat...snake style

This montage shows a step by step on how it is done.

The process takes about half an hour and is fascinating to watch...if a little gruesome to some.

Nugget belongs to a mate of mine, and is a 8 foot Atherton Carpet Python. He is a nice boy....just don't get in the way of a feed.

Want a closer look?

click on the image for a more in depth view :)

Robbo Copperheads

Children love a new pet and Rhiannon, my eldest, was no exception when I presented her with her very own Copperhead. Listed as the 20Th most poisonous snake in the world, she was impressed to say the least.






















Seriously though, this poor specimen was found dead, and seeing these creatures in such a state is common at this time of year as hibernation comes to an end.
The Copperhead is common in the Robertson area and is a quiet and a usually non aggressive species.

Having spent some time in habitats in which they reside, I have found all my encounters free from trouble as long as the snake is left be.
Wires run a service to remove snakes from areas where they are not welcome and please remember that not only are they protected under the law, they are also a valuable member of our ecosystem.

Reptillian Spring

Not your standard spring photos this time.

Spring is the time when reptiles of all manner come out of hibernation to have a feed, shed their skins, and find a mate.

Isis, the carpet python, is in the process of shedding her skin in these photos. First the snake will nuzzle to break the scales around the nose and mouth line then, through moving amongst obstructions, will slowly peel the old skin back and slide from it. The whole process can take about 1/2 an hour and produces bright new colouration, for about a week, as the new scales dry and harden.

Before shedding, the snake will go "off colour" as secretions between the new and old layers prepare for the easy removal of the old. This secretion also causes the snakes eyes to go misty - making the snake close to blind, though this will clear closer to the shed time.

Reptilian Anomaly

Recently a friend of mine, also obsessed with snakes and all things reptilian, was able to breed the unusual creature pictured here.

The product of two standard Diamond Pythons it, along with a number of hatchlings from the clutch, produced this amazing red colouring.

The anomaly being caused by a recessive gene, this snake pictured also had a pink tongue.

Albinism usually produces reptiles with this characteristic and, if you look closely, you will see the fork of the tongue is white.

A most unusual animal indeed and one that its owner plans to breed in the upcoming years with the aim of producing a full albino hatchling - one of the most sought after permutations in reptile breeding.

Snake bites part of keeping reptiles

Ever been told not to get in the way of a dog and its food?





Its much the same for snakes.





Ruby, her picture in a previous post, turned up her nose at some food recently and I was attempting to remove it when this happened.

















While not painful at this size, the bite gives you a shock more than anything else. It all happens in under 1/100 of a second. This is about 5 times faster than we humans can react.


The bite will bleed a little, and a good antiseptic is recommended followup.


Being non venomous no further treatment is necessary.
Remember that bites from venomous creatures should NEVER be washed before going to hospital, as this removes the venom traces that are necessary for quick identification.

The bite healed quickly, except for one spot.
This I investigated, and managed to remove from the area a tooth.
This tooth is pictured next to a tooth pick for scale.
The loss of a few teeth is all in a days work for snakes, as they are replaced on a regular basis.

Reptiles pick up pace

Well summer is almost over, and reptiles are starting to prepare for the arrival of winter.

At the end of hibernation, reptiles will be quite active in the spring regaining weight losses, though will slow somewhat over the summer and then pick up the pace in the months before winter to build up fat reserves.

This slowing over summer could be due to the hot weather - they can overheat easily.

This is not a steadfast rule with all reptiles, as Ruby the Coastal Carpet Intergrade would happily point out if she did not have her mouth full.

She has been a guts for food all year round and must be kept on a firm dieting regime to avoid her getting too fat to move.

Seen here swallowing a large rat tail first, not the wisest thing to do, she will sit poised for a feed as soon as she feels the vibration of your approach.

It is recommended that hatchling snakes be kept warm enough to eat over winter- a min temp of around 20 Degrees - dependant on the species, though adult snakes should be allowed to hibernate and no food should be supplied during this time.

Limited heat should be offered, as reptiles will come out occasionally to get a little warmth even during times of hibernation.

Please only purchase food for your reptile that has been dispatched in line with RSPCA guidelines, keeping in mind that live food may cause your reptile harm. Ever seen the teeth on a rat?

All reptiles require a licence from NPWS - It is illegal to keep them without one.

Check out the NPWS link for details.

The Bones and BJ farewell Performance

The well behaved snake pictured here is Goldie.
She is a golden phase carpet python who has kindly posed to promote my latest joint exhibition, held at the Fettlers Shed Gallery, and the farewell performance of the legendary Anthony "Bones" Bonito to be held at the Robertson Bowling Club.
The picture viewed here is a classic example of the cross-artistic collaboration inherent in this coming event.
Co-designed with Bones, shot and shopped by myself, it may yet end up on the limited edition CD run that will mark this event.
Admission is free to both events.
We look forward to seeing you there.

The weather is getting warmer

What a great time to start a Blog!

As the weather warms up many snakes are coming out of hibernation.

This snap, please pardon the pun, is of my snake Ruby. After a long sleep a little yawn seems quite natural, and gives the chance to observe the bitey end from the comfort of your computer chair.

Ruby is an intergrade coastal/diamond python and is harmless, though can give a bite if upset.

Many snakes of all types are emerging from winter dens at the moment, and it pays to be careful of snakes getting a little warmth on roadsides and rocky outcrops near water.

Love em or hate em, all snakes are protected in Australia and can be avoided in most cases with a little noise (stamp your feet) as you approach areas in which you suspect they may reside.