Spectacular trip along the Adelaide River on the edge of the Kakadu National Park. There are around 3000 Crocodiles living in this river alone. The Crocodiles have been protected from hunting since the 1970's and are now widespread in the Kakadu and Arnhem Land.
The females grow to 3.5 metres and males can grown up to 6 metres.
Stumpy was the largest croc we saw at 4.5 metres. Called Stumpy because he had lost a leg in a fight with another male over territory. The females stay in one area of the river, one every 60-100 metres, with the males roaming up and down the river covering a number of their girlfriends areas.
These Saltwater Crocodiles eat, fish, birds, kangaroo, other Crocodiles, and anything else they can catch. The Crocodiles are very dangerous and kill several people a year in Australia.
Mitchel and Callum really enjoyed this boat trip, the crocs were jumping out of the water to take pieces of meat from the guide.. we got very close to the action. On these boat trips, you have to keep your head inside the boat so the Crocodile does not mistake it for food.
The croc can leap it's full body length out of the water, the guide kept the boat moving to keep us safe.
The birds of prey are common. The Whistling Kite can catch it's prey but also steals food from other birds. Mitchel and Callum can now hear the Whistling Kite before we can spot the birds.
Kakadu National Park - Ubirr rock art. The Aboriginals have been living around Ubirr for 20,000 years, and some of art is as old. Much of art is of the favourite foods of this area.
Barramundi.. good tucker.
Top of Ubirr rock.. Richard knows which way to go....
The boys agree with Richard's directions.....
Mitchel and Callum really enjoyed this boat trip, the crocs were jumping out of the water to take pieces of meat from the guide.. we got very close to the action. On these boat trips, you have to keep your head inside the boat so the Crocodile does not mistake it for food.
The croc can leap it's full body length out of the water, the guide kept the boat moving to keep us safe.
The birds of prey are common. The Whistling Kite can catch it's prey but also steals food from other birds. Mitchel and Callum can now hear the Whistling Kite before we can spot the birds.
Kakadu National Park - Ubirr rock art. The Aboriginals have been living around Ubirr for 20,000 years, and some of art is as old. Much of art is of the favourite foods of this area.
Barramundi.. good tucker.
Top of Ubirr rock.. Richard knows which way to go....
The boys agree with Richard's directions.....
Mitch... doing what Mitch does.....!
Kakadu is a world heritage site, a 20,000 squared km National Park. It is special because it is one of the few wetlands on Earth and a significant Aboriginal cultural site. Kate and Richard had a bet as to which National Park is larger: Kruger National Park in South Africa or Kakadu.. do you know which? Richard won a breakfast (although there is only 170 square km difference).
The happy crew at Nourlangie, Crocs and birds are not the only common wildlife in Kakadu.
Mitch and Richard did the Baark walk to the top of Nourlangie. Spectacular views of the lowlands from Mitch's rock.
The Lightning Spirit lives here. The Kakadu area gets an average of 80 lightning strikes per day. We are here in the Storm season, and we hear thunder every day.
Guess who....!
Yellow River, actually Jim Jim Creek... the river is rotten with Crocodiles and alive with bird life.
Paperbarks line the waterway, and the aboriginals used the bark to make canoes and shelters. The bark is waterproof.
Spot the reptile. In this area the Crocodile would eat Magpie geese, this meal would last an adult croc a week and a half.
A croc on the bank, the open mouth is for cooling.
Too cool for school! Mitch needs a haircut ( or pony tails...).
The females make nests and lay eggs on the banks. The eggs take about 3 months to hatch.
Kakadu is a world heritage site, a 20,000 squared km National Park. It is special because it is one of the few wetlands on Earth and a significant Aboriginal cultural site. Kate and Richard had a bet as to which National Park is larger: Kruger National Park in South Africa or Kakadu.. do you know which? Richard won a breakfast (although there is only 170 square km difference).
The happy crew at Nourlangie, Crocs and birds are not the only common wildlife in Kakadu.
Mitch and Richard did the Baark walk to the top of Nourlangie. Spectacular views of the lowlands from Mitch's rock.
The Lightning Spirit lives here. The Kakadu area gets an average of 80 lightning strikes per day. We are here in the Storm season, and we hear thunder every day.
Guess who....!
Yellow River, actually Jim Jim Creek... the river is rotten with Crocodiles and alive with bird life.
Paperbarks line the waterway, and the aboriginals used the bark to make canoes and shelters. The bark is waterproof.
Spot the reptile. In this area the Crocodile would eat Magpie geese, this meal would last an adult croc a week and a half.
A croc on the bank, the open mouth is for cooling.
Too cool for school! Mitch needs a haircut ( or pony tails...).
The females make nests and lay eggs on the banks. The eggs take about 3 months to hatch.
A Jabiru (an Australian stork) and Australia's largest flight bird. A Jabiru can the crack a turtle's shell, and likes to eat turtles, fish, and small crocodiles.
We really enjoyed this cruise, it was at sunset and we got caught in a storm.
A Saint Andrews Cross Spider... Kate loves spiders...............not...!
A Cattle Egret
Mitchel's favourite bird.. a Darter.. a great fisherman. This Darter was singing the Elanora School song as we passed.
We really enjoyed this cruise, it was at sunset and we got caught in a storm.
A Saint Andrews Cross Spider... Kate loves spiders...............not...!
A Cattle Egret
Mitchel's favourite bird.. a Darter.. a great fisherman. This Darter was singing the Elanora School song as we passed.
2 comments:
How's the croc life? Katarina
I hope you're having fun.Heather
Galileo is really enjoying your travels. We are learning soooo much. Mrs Hinton
Hey Mitch it's Jess.I reckon you should go with the pony tail-that would look sick and how did you go wrestling the crocs, did you get a saltwater? Too bad you're not here for surf Ed.Will said he'd rather do maths all day!seeya!
Hey Mitch those crocs looked tough, hope you caught one!!!! Its been raining nearly all day, the weather there looks really good!! Hopefully its sunny tomorrow for surf ed. You should get a pony tail, I'm sure it'll look kinda hip. Hope you're enjoying yourself.
From Siena.
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