It moves with a family group and lives on a diet of small mammals, snakes, lizards and insects. Because of its loud calls and large size it is one of Australia s most familiar birds. Early in the morning, as the local kookaburra gang rouses us with their own particular salute to the sun, they are telling all other kookaburras within earshot that they have a territory and that they are ready to defend it. The kookaburra is the world s largest kingfisher. They spend most of the day on high branches or posts overlooking rainforest clearings or disturbed agricultural areas where they swoop on small snakes, lizards or frogs.
Young kookaburras continue to live at home for about four years.
Syd Syd the platypus , named for Sydney, the city of the 2000 Games, is a dynamic fellow a team player and a natural leader whose energy and vigour reflects that of Australia and its people. Quite a sportsman himself, Syd's sturdy body and muscular limbs give him the speed and agility to excel at most sports, although swimming is his favourite. Even if he doesn't win a race he'll always finish, because it's not so much winning that counts to him as how he plays the game. In fact, there are only two things that get up Syd's snout bad sports and environmental vandals. An easygoing bloke most of the time, if Syd sees anybody littering the land or polluting the water he won't hesitate to thump his tail and let them know what he thinks.