Beechworth Wildlife (Fauna)

Beechworth Tawny Frogmouth

Beechworth Tawny Frogmouth The Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) is often found in Beechworth and throughout Australia and Southern New Guinea. They are found in the well forested areas and occasionally in farm and garden sheds.

The Tawny Frogmouth is often referred to as an owl which is incorrect, and also incorrectly as a "Mopoke" or "Morepork" which are in fact alternate names for the Southern Boobook Owl (Also found in Beechworth and district. Both males and females measure 35–50 cm long and have yellow eyes and a wide beak with a tuft of bristly feathers at its base. The Tawny Frogmouth makes loud clacking sounds with their beaks and produce a reverberating call.

Possums in Beechworth

Possum in Beechworth The Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) is common in Beechworth gardens and is also found in rainforests, woodlands, eucalypt forests and coastal shrubs. Ringtail Possum primarily live in trees but will often also find their way into house roofs and walls.

A Ringtail possum may build as many as five drays (nests) in their home territory ad move amongst them with their offspring through any given day. Their nests are typically built in hollow logs and in thick vegetation and are ball shaped. Both the male and female possums build the nest from grass, leaves and shredded bark which they carry in their curled up tails.

Kangaroos in Beechworth

Kangaroo in Beechworth The hills and farms around Beechworth are home to a number of large mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Eastern Grey Kangaroo’s (Macropus giganteus) are found in south and eastern Australia and are also known as the Great Grey Kangaroo and the Forester Kangaroo. A big Eastern Grey male Kangaroo will generally weigh around 66 kg and stand almost 2 metres tall.

Without a doubt the kangaroo is Australia’s most iconic and features on the Australian coat of arms and on some of the national currency. The kangaroo is important to both Australian culture and the national image and consequently there are numerous references in business and culture.

Southern Boobook Owl in Beechworth

Southern Boobook Owl in Beechworth The Southern Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae) Owl is often found around the Beechworth area. It is a small brown owl found in the temperate parts of Australia and more commonly in New Zealand. It is also known colloquially as the , also called the Mopoke or Morepork. The Southern Boobook is the smallest of the owls in Australia.

Blue Tongue Lizards in Beechworth

Blue Tongue Lizard in Beechworth There are six species of blue-tongued lizards or skinks in Australia and vary considerably in colour and size. Those found in Beechworth Victoria are commonly grey with broad brown stripes across their back and tail and approximately 550 millimetres long. The Common or Eastern Blue-tongue Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides) is regularly found in Beechworth and is the most widespread of the Australian Blue-tongued Lizards.

Wombats in Beechworth

Wombat in Beechworth Another iconic Australian animal found in Beechworth is the wombat. An Australian marsupials, wombats are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds that can reach up to 1 metre in length and have a very short tail. They are common to well forested, mountainous area’s and hence their attraction to Beechworth. They are, however, relatively shy animals and will avoid human contact. Wombats live is burrows which can often be seen amongst the Beechworth bushlands.