‘Laughing Kookaburra (C)Ray St James 2015 birdlifephotography.org.au’
‘Laughing Kookaburra (C)Ray St James 2015 birdlifephotography.org.au’
Laughing Kookaburra – Gary Tate
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Tree hollows and man-made structures
Diet: Reptiles, frogs, small mammals, birds
Water: Bird baths and frog ponds
ReWild Benefit: Not applicable, possible pest control
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
Kookaburras nest in tree hollows. Kookaburras live in family groups and are highly territorial.
Families will evict native birds already nesting in available hollows.
Novel Shelter
We do not encourage putting up nest boxes for Kookaburras as they are not native to the area.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
Kookaburras feed on frogs, reptiles, small mammals, and other birds. They can become a menace in home gardens by chasing or preying upon native animals living in the garden. Kookaburras should not be feed or encouraged around the home.
Toxins from baits are travelling up the food chain as birds feed on poisoned rodents. Overtime, the toxins build up in the birds body and result in lethargy, clumsiness, paralysis, and are ultimately fatal.
If baits are required to control a rodent problem, look for the active ingredients Warfarin or Coumatetralyl as they are much less harmful to birdlife.
Providing sources of water
Kookaburras prefer to live reasonably close to water and frequently drink and bathe in bird baths and ponds.
ReWild Benefits
Laughing Kookaburras are introduced and the ecological impact is being assessed. They could help to control pest species (rats and mice) within the urban environment. Visit BirdLife Australia to learn more about our native birds. If you have seen one in your neighbourhood or around the home you can record your sighting on Birdata and help scientists monitor their population.
