Tasmanian Native Tasmanian Native HensHens

The Tassie Turbo Chook and why a Tasmanian The Tassie Turbo Chook and why a Tasmanian AFL football team should be named after this AFL football team should be named after this unique endemic species.unique endemic species.

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About the Chook About the Chook The The Tasmanian Native-henTasmanian Native-hen ( (Gallinula mortieriiGallinula mortierii) is a ) is a

flightless rail, one of twelve species of birds flightless rail, one of twelve species of birds endemic to Tasmania. Although many flightless endemic to Tasmania. Although many flightless birds have a history of extinction at the hands of birds have a history of extinction at the hands of man, the Tasmanian Native-hen has actually man, the Tasmanian Native-hen has actually benefited from the introduction of European style benefited from the introduction of European style agricultural practices in Tasmania.agricultural practices in Tasmania.

Other common names include Narkie, Native-hen, Other common names include Narkie, Native-hen, Waterhen and Turbo chook This species was Waterhen and Turbo chook This species was originally described in 1840 as originally described in 1840 as Tribonyx Tribonyx mortieriimortierii. The name . The name mortieriimortierii is in honour of is in honour of Barthemely Charles Joseph Dumortier.Barthemely Charles Joseph Dumortier.

The Tasmanian Native-hen is a stocky flightless bird The Tasmanian Native-hen is a stocky flightless bird between 43 and 51 centimetres in length. The between 43 and 51 centimetres in length. The upperparts are olive brown with a white patch on upperparts are olive brown with a white patch on the flank. The underparts are darker with a bluish the flank. The underparts are darker with a bluish grey tinge. The short tail is close to black and grey tinge. The short tail is close to black and mostly held erect. The legs are thick and mostly held erect. The legs are thick and powerful, with a grey scaly appearance and sharp powerful, with a grey scaly appearance and sharp claws. The eye is bright red. The bill has a small claws. The eye is bright red. The bill has a small frontal shield and is a greenish yellow colour).frontal shield and is a greenish yellow colour).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Native-hen#Descriptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Native-hen#Description

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More about the Chook -More about the Chook -DistributionDistribution

The Tasmanian Native-hen is a sedentary The Tasmanian Native-hen is a sedentary species, living around open grassy areas close species, living around open grassy areas close to water. It is widespread in Tasmania apart from to water. It is widespread in Tasmania apart from the west and south west regions. the west and south west regions.

It is not found on King or Flinders Islands in It is not found on King or Flinders Islands in Bass Strait though Michael Sharland does Bass Strait though Michael Sharland does record it as being on Flinders Island. A record it as being on Flinders Island. A population introduced to Maria Island is now well population introduced to Maria Island is now well established. It is generally common and easily established. It is generally common and easily seen around bodies of water that have grassy seen around bodies of water that have grassy verges.verges.

Fossil records indicate that the Tasmanian Fossil records indicate that the Tasmanian Native-hen was found on the Australian Native-hen was found on the Australian mainland until around 4700 years ago. mainland until around 4700 years ago. Suggested reasons for its extinction there have Suggested reasons for its extinction there have included the introduction of the dingo or an included the introduction of the dingo or an extremely dry period.extremely dry period.

Locally, the bird is often referred to as a 'turbo Locally, the bird is often referred to as a 'turbo chook'.chook'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Native-hen#Descriptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Native-hen#Description

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BlogBlog

This is the link I used to my This is the link I used to my blogblog research research topic.topic.

Phinas Fancy@ blogspot.comPhinas Fancy@ blogspot.com

This is a blog I am following on a RSS This is a blog I am following on a RSS feed.feed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wdbu7mf1HAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wdbu7mf1HA

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Video Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wdbu7mf1HAv=2Wdbu7mf1HA

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The Case for naming a The Case for naming a Tasmanian AFL Team after Tasmanian AFL Team after the Tasmanian Native Henthe Tasmanian Native Hen

Parallels between the life of Tasmanian Hens and a Parallels between the life of Tasmanian Hens and a proposed AFL team of Tasmanian menproposed AFL team of Tasmanian men

DistributionDistribution –Native Hen not prevalent on West Coast –Native Hen not prevalent on West Coast of Tasmania possibly due to lack of grassy verges and of Tasmania possibly due to lack of grassy verges and grassy areas. (Interestingly there is only a gravel grassy areas. (Interestingly there is only a gravel football oval on the West Coast of Tasmania).football oval on the West Coast of Tasmania).

PhysiquePhysique – – Can run fast and wCan run fast and white underneath flanks. hite underneath flanks. Pushes around heavily with muscular flanks. The eyes Pushes around heavily with muscular flanks. The eyes are bright red.are bright red.

Social HabitsSocial Habits - - Likes to hang around waterholes andLikes to hang around waterholes and

runs fast to hide when in trouble. Native hens are very runs fast to hide when in trouble. Native hens are very social and make a number of calls including a loud, social and make a number of calls including a loud, distinctive rasping ‘see-saw. * This call is often carried distinctive rasping ‘see-saw. * This call is often carried out in unison, with several birds joining in to produce a out in unison, with several birds joining in to produce a cacophony of noise.cacophony of noise.

Supporting ReferencesSupporting References(the supporting references given Here are linked to the outlined parallels (the supporting references given Here are linked to the outlined parallels

on the left.on the left.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Native-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Native-hen#Description (see Slide 3)hen#Description (see Slide 3)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Native-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Native-hen#Description (See Slide 2)hen#Description (See Slide 2)

National Library of Australia; scanned images from Gould’s National Library of Australia; scanned images from Gould’s birds of Australiabirds of Australia (See Slide 2) (See Slide 2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wdbu7mf1HA (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wdbu7mf1HA (See Slide 5)Slide 5)

*http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife birds/nathen.html*http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife birds/nathen.html