Australia is the home of many unique and amazing bird, water and land animals.

I find a fascinating thing to do is to go through the breakdown of species of animals in Australia. This is an impressive list.

So here goes -

450 species of mammals,

300 species of lizards,

140 species of snakes,

2 species of crocodiles,

2,000 species of bony sea fish,

180 species of fresh water fish,

100 species of sharks,

50 species of rays,

750 species of birds,

2,000 species of flies,

5,000 species of bees,

110,000 species of insects and

2,000 species of spider.

These sheer numbers are staggering when you think about it.

Some of my favorite Birds are the Magpie, Finches, Cockatoos, Wedgetail Eagles, Galahs, Ducks, Kookaburra's, Emu's, Owls, Parrots, fairy Penguins, Bell-birds and Lyrebirds.

Bell-birds have beautiful song that fills the bush. This is the second verse of five in the famous Poem, Bell-birds which I think expresses how beautiful these birds are and sound.

BELL-BIRDS

The silver-voiced bell birds, the darlings of daytime!

They sing in September their songs of the May-time;

When shadows wax strong, and the thunder bolts hurtle,

They hide with their fear in the leaves of the myrtle;

When rain and the sunbeams shine mingled together,

They start up like fairies that follow fair weather;

And straightway the hues of their feathers unfolden

Are the green and the purple, the blue and the golden.

Poem by popular poet Henry Kendall

Some of my favorite Water Animals are; platypus, turtles, sea horses, sting rays, dugongs, seals, whales and crocodiles.

Now a little poem about the Crocodile which I have written,

The Crocodile

How about that saltwater crocodile?

She can stay underwater for an hour,

And use that strong tail to propel a mile!

What excellent hearing too,

Whilst fixing you, her prey, with a glower,

She knows exactly the distance

To leap to get to you,

So don't slip up or forget she's there

Respect those giant jaws,

€‹And remain in awe of this ancient creature.

Poem by Kerrie Thomsen

Finally some of my favorite Aussie Land Animals are: Macropods (over 50 species of Kangaroo, Wallabies, Potoroos, Wallaroos and a few others), Echidna, Wombat, Tassie Devils, Koalas, Goanna's and Frill necked Lizards.

One more Poem, this time about the Koala,

THE KOALA

Am I a Koala or Bear? Let me see,

I live in the tree tops to be safe,

Munching on the leaves of the Eucalyptus tree,

I watch the happenings below,

A pretty good life I think you agree!

Sleeping and dozing most of the day,

Up in the trees that are my home,

The wombat is my curious little cousin,

Rarely do I get restless or roam!

So there, I am a Koala not a Bear.

Poem by Kerrie Thomsen

I hope you enjoy my writings as a celebration of our amazing bird and animal life.

Kerrie