Brolga: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Cranes and Marsh Birds · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. A brolga's dance can start with a toss: it throws grass in the air and catches it in its bill, then leaps a metre up, wings spread.
2. Brolgas may dance alone, in pairs, or in a troupe of about a dozen that first lines up face to face.
3. In a pair's duet, the female usually starts. The male gives one long call for every two of hers.
4. Brolgas can drink salty water. Glands near their eyes get rid of the extra salt.
5. When chicks are in danger, they hide and stay quiet while a parent pretends to have a broken wing to lead the predator away.

The quiz

1. How can a brolga begin its dance?

• By digging a hole
• By tossing grass in the air and catching it (correct)
• By splashing water on its back
• By lying flat on the ground

The dance often starts with a toss of grass, caught in the bill, then a leap.

2. About how many brolgas can dance together in a group?

• Exactly 3
• Only 2, never more
• About a dozen (correct)
• Several thousand

Sometimes a group of about a dozen brolgas dance together.

3. In a brolga pair's duet, who usually starts?

• The female (correct)
• The male
• The oldest chick
• A neighbouring pair

The female usually begins the calling, and the male joins in.

4. How do brolgas cope with drinking salty water?

• They only drink rain
• Their feathers soak up the salt
• They mix it with mud first
• Glands near their eyes remove extra salt (correct)

Special glands near the eyes let them get rid of excess salt.

5. What do brolga parents do to protect hiding chicks?

• Carry them on their backs
• Pretend to have a broken wing (correct)
• Bury them in sand
• Fly away and leave them

A broken-wing display distracts the predator while the chicks hide.

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