Zoo releases rare birds into WA park
A bodyguard protecting two sought-after chicks in the West Australian bush might not be a blockbuster hit but could be worthy of its own anthem, "and I... will always love curlew".
Perth Zoo staff discovered the recently-hatched brush-stone curlews on Thursday during the release of seven captive-bred birds into Whiteman Park, north of Perth.
A park worker protected the rare birds that night after staff spotted a fox eyeing the pair and their parents just five metres away.
The pesky predator and the destruction of the bird's open woodland habitat are the main reasons why the roadrunner-like animal has almost disappeared from the state's south for more than 80 years.
Perth Zoo animal health and research director Peter Mawson told AAP while the curlew was found across Australia's mainland, the last known sustainable population near Perth was in Rockingham in 1932.
Mr Mawson said the bird, known for its striking eyes and eerie call, was a good companion species in captivity and often paired with parrots or cockatoos to keep away mice.
While those re-located to Whiteman Park were happy to walk among humans, finding them in plain sight could be challenging.
"I think they've got great character, their camouflage is just spectacular," Mr Mawson said.
"If you see them move you think `oh there it is'.
"Then you take your eye off it for a couple of seconds, you turn back and think, did it move when I wasn't looking or have I just lost it?"
Mr Mawson said the easiest way of knowing a Curlew was around was to hear its "weer-loo" scream.
"Some people find that very distracting and a bit eerie in the bush," he said.
"But if you know it only comes from this lovely, innocuous bird it's quite reassuring that something that was common for our grandparents and great-grandparents in the farming communities is still around."
