The Brolga is a majestic Australian bird well known for its wonderful mating dance. It is found across the tropical north, southwards through north-east and east central areas, as well as central New South Wales to western Victoria.
These tall birds are up to 130cm in height with a wingspan of up to 240cm. The female is shorter than the male. Brolgas have a featherless red head and a grey crown.
It is thought that Brolgas are monogamous. The bond between breeding pairs is strengthened during elaborate courtship displays, which involve much dancing, leaping, wing-flapping and loud trumpeting. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCJVmINmtZg&NR=1
Outside the breeding season, Brolgas form large family groups and flocks of up to a hundred birds. These groups may be partially nomadic or may stay in the same area. Some birds also migrate northwards.
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In Aboriginal Dreamtime, there lived a young girl called Brolga who was famous for her wonderful and unique dancing style. One day, when Brolga was dancing alone with the light and shadows of a big old-coolibah tree, the evil spirit Waiwera saw her from his home in the Milky Way and wanted her as his woman. He spun himself into a willy-willy (whirlwind) and drew her up to him. Her tribe searched and found her captive. The tribe fought off Waiwera, and when the evil spirit realised he couldn't escape with the dancing girl he turned her into a Brolga so as no-one could have her.
The dance of the Brolga is a traditional dance of Aborigines.
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