The Bunyip Bird
or Australasian Bittern
Also known as the Brown Bittern, Australian Bittern, Black-backed Bittern, Bull-bird, Matuku hurepo (NZ)
Aboriginal names include Kawor" [tjapwurrung]; "Boordenitj" (WA);
Bunyip Bird. According to legend, a man-eating monster called the bunyip once lived in the rivers, lakes and swamps of Australia. Its howl carried through the night air, making people afraid to enter the water. At night, the bunyip prowled the land, hunting for women and children to eat.
The bunyip is a creature from the aboriginal mythology of south-eastern Australia, said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds, and waterholes.
This bunyip legend is a special one in Australian mythology. Mostly because as an Aboriginal figure it crossed over so effortlessly to the Early European settlers folklore. This monster was the stuff of children’s nightmares, as it skulked in swampland and billabongs, and at night prowled for women and children to eat.
It is assumed that the cacophony of bizarre noises made by our native animals convinced the new settlers that there was something ominous prowling around nearby. It was these intense booming nocturnal calls historians have used to link the Australasian bittern to the tales of the mighty bunyip. It has been said the noise is so deep you can feel it in your chest if you are close by.
A large member of the heron family, this bittern has a range that spans much of Australia and Tasmania as well as New Zealand. It is, however, critically endangered thanks to habitat loss – much more of which will be lost in the current bushfires [November 23] in the Narran Wetlands.
Also referred to as a Boomer or Boonboon, this partially nocturnal heron grows to up to 70cm. The upper parts of its body are patterned dark brown, buff and black, and underparts that are streaked brown and buff. Resembling an owl in flight mode, its broad wings will beat slowly and legs will dangle upon take off.
Notoriously difficult to spot - the very secretive Australasian Bittern is well camouflaged in freshwater wetlands in dense beds of reeds and rushes. When disturbed, these shy birds disappear slowly into cover or freeze and blend into the surrounding reeds by keeping perfectly still with their neck and bill pointing skywards. Sometimes they even appear to sway in the breeze, in time with the nearby reeds!
Drainage of swamps removes the habitat of Australasian Bitterns, but rice-fields are also used by the species as habitat.
Remaining close to the water’s edge in search of snails, frogs and yabbies, it creates shrouded nests among the thick wetland vegetation. During the breeding season, [October to February or a flood] a male will loudly call to the female, cementing its reputation of being more likely to be heard than seen.