We are blessed here in the Northern Rivers
region, due to it being one of the few areas in Australia where
the Wonga Pigeon is still a relatively common sight. Being one of
the larger members of the pigeon family, the adult Wonga Pigeon
is resplendent with its generally bluish grey upper body, white
face, striking white “V” on its upper breast, with its
lower breast, abdomen, flanks and undertail also white, with bold
black spotty markings.
They live in temperate and sub-tropical rainforests,
wet sclerophyll forests and other eucalypt forests with thick understorey.
These pigeons are ground foragers and are likely to be spotted walking
under berry or seed laden trees looking for food. Wonga Pigeons
eat fruits and seeds, especially Acacia and are often seen in this
area feasting on Blue Berry Ash and Bleeding Heart berries. They
also eat invertebrates such as snails, cockroaches and caterpillars
which makes up a large part of its daily food requirements unlike
many other species of pigeons and doves.
You often see them alone or in pairs, as
they are solitary animals and widely disperse themselves within
forested areas. Pigeons are generally very wary animals and will
fly away at the slightest inkling of trouble. During breeding season
both parents care for the young and laying two eggs on a platform
of twigs and vines, high in the fork of a tree. The male and female
pigeons and doves feed their chicks pigeon milk made in their crops,
which they regurgitate into the crop of their chick. Like all pigeons
and doves the Wonga’s crop is located in the chest area. This
is where it stores the berries and crushed seed which is slowly
digested into its system. The digestive systems of the Fruit doves
and pigeons removes the fleshy parts from the fruit and pass out
the seeds, thus helping the reproduction of these tree species into
other areas.
Australia has 22 species of native doves
and pigeons and three introduced species, the Feral Pigeon, and
the Spotted and Laughing Turtle-Doves. Sadly, one of this region’s
most beautiful and larger pigeons, the Topknot Pigeon, with its
Elvis Presley styled head plumage, is now disappearing due to the
removal of its food source along our coast. I am glad to say, that
even though the Wonga Pigeon provided a hearty BBQ snack in the
early days, we still have a few floating around in this area today.
