The popular Ipswich Nature Centre has a clutch of fresh fluffy babies – and they will not stay little for long!
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson Councillor Russell Milligan said it was exciting to see a Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby joey poking its face from the mother’s pouch.
“This baby is a new addition to a species that is vulnerable to extinction. It is also the faunal emblem of our city with Ipswich identified as a population stronghold,” Cr Milligan said.
“The joey was born around November but has been hiding with mum and only recently started venturing out. It is still too early to tell if it is a boy or a girl.
“This is only the second joey of this iconic species born at the Ipswich Nature Centre. The older sister, Coco, was born in 2021 and can be spotted with her parents Paxton and Tahli.”
Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies are a shy creature, found living in complex and isolated rocky habitat such as Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate, the Teviot Range and Little Liverpool Range.
Cr Milligan said Magpie Geese Lucky and Penny were also proving adept at being first-time parents with three goslings hatched recently.
“It has been about a decade since we have had new Magpie Goose chicks, so they are living off-display at the moment to keep the goslings safe,” Cr Milligan said.
“The Magpie Goose is a large, distinctive black-and-white water bird. We have had some living at the Ipswich Nature Centre for many years, but it is wonderful to finally see new additions to the Magpie Goose family.”
Magpie Geese are natural foragers, living on fresh grasses, plants and insects. Their diet at the Ipswich Nature Centre is supplemented with a grain mix, chopped lucerne and greens.
They have a prominent knob on the head, and a loud distinctive honk as their call.
The Magpie Goose is widespread throughout coastal northern and eastern Australia. In the wild, flocks of a few thousand birds congregate to feed on aquatic vegetation.
The Ipswich Nature Centre is in Queens Park and is open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am until 4pm.
During school holidays it opens seven days from 9.30am until 4pm, and is closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Ipswich Nature Centre in Ipswich’s historical Queens Park offers a magical opportunity to get up close and personal with Australian native wildlife.
The centre is home to over 42 species and around 200 animals in care, from dingoes, bilbies and wallabies to water dragons and a whole petting zoo.
Open six days a week, seven during school holidays, and near the Japanese Nerima Gardens within Queens Park, the Ipswich Nature Centre is perfect family-friendly fun.
For more information about the Ipswich Nature Centre, click here.
