Lyrebird Country Tasmania, Australia
By OldSaint on 01-Jan-20. Waypoint GA14274

A cache hidden while RESEARCHing others in the area

On recent trips to the Hartz Mountains, I have been fortunate enough to see Lyrebirds cross the road as I have driven to the top. Today, and I stress usually very early in the morning, was no exception. This prompted me to hide this cache.

Dark in colour, they look like a “road runner” as they speedily cross from one side of the road to the other.

The closest I’ve been to a lyrebird was at the Isabella & Reuben Falls cache and I quote from my log for that cache:

“On the way in, I was privileged to see a lyre bird in full flight as it winged its way through the trees. It followed me all the way to the falls where I had the honour of watching it feed. (Photographic evidence provided - albeit not very good photographs.) Had this bird as a companion as I climbed out from the falls. It tried to kick stones on my head from the ridge above the track.”

A lyrebird is either of two species of ground-dwelling Australian birds  that compose the genus Menura, and the family Menuridae. They are most notable for their superb ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment, and the striking beauty of the male bird's huge tail when it is fanned out in courtship display. Lyrebirds have unique plumes of neutral-coloured tail feathers and are among Australia's best-known native birds.

Lyre birds are native to Victoria and New South Wales, and were introduced to Tasmania during the 1930s and '40s, and so are indeed an introduced species to Tasmania. And I should also point out we have other Australian native species that have been introduced to Tasmania as well.

Hope you see one on your visit to the HARTZ.

Hints