tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post2080460764303961204..comments2023-03-18T18:19:26.000+11:00Comments on Hunter Valley Backyard Nature: #34 Observations of an Eastern Water DragonGayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02899430268722758947noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-35084107613132864072012-01-08T17:28:25.296+11:002012-01-08T17:28:25.296+11:00Hello Cassandra,
thanks for your email, and I'...Hello Cassandra,<br /><br />thanks for your email, and I'm so pleased to hear of your encounters with a backyard lizard. I miss Jacky, (he disappeared after 18 months in my garden when he was frightened by a visiting dog), but I imagine he's fathered plenty of cute little dragons by now.<br /><br />If you wish to give the lizard a few treats, I suggest digging invertebrates from the garden or lawn (my lizard loved worms, native cockroaches, crickets, beetles - all live creatures, not dead ones). He hated millipedes and I remember him catching one and spitting it out - it was SO funny.<br /><br />The main thing is not to make feeding wild creatures a routine, not every day, and not at the same time of day. If they become used to handouts, they can become dependent on them, and not only that, they might become a aggressive if they become too familiar with humans feeding them.<br /><br />It is not a good idea to feed lizards 'human food' as they will be getting nutrients and products that their digestive system is not used to, and this could lead to health problems.<br /><br />Enjoy the lizard, I know how lovely it is to have one close at hand to observe.<br /><br />All the best for the New Year.<br /><br />Regards,<br />GayeGayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02899430268722758947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-22964505416174549522012-01-07T22:52:18.123+11:002012-01-07T22:52:18.123+11:00Hi Gaye,
Well its 2012 and Jacky's legend stil...Hi Gaye,<br />Well its 2012 and Jacky's legend still lives on.<br />My Husband and I have a very friendly 'wild' Lizard who swims in the neighbours pond but basks in our yard. We adore him and named him THIN after the makeup prouct thin lizzy.<br />He is very big and strong and quite comfortable with humans- we are unsure of wether the previous owner of the house fed him or not... My husband says we should leave him be and enjoy him from afar but id like to occasionally give him a treat ( any suggestions? ) We feed the local Lorikeets a nectar porridge and he seems to have a few licks of that but is not that interested...<br />He is just a delight to watch.<br />Thanks for your blog, i enjoyed reading it.<br />We have some great pic's of THIN that i will upload later,<br />Cassandra xoCassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18262493931915195672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-75076633125761757092011-01-30T18:31:43.556+11:002011-01-30T18:31:43.556+11:00Jenny,
I forgot to include a link to more fun wit...Jenny,<br /><br />I forgot to include a link to more fun with my backyard water dragon - this entry is on my journal blog:<br /><br />http://huntervalleyjournal.blogspot.com/2008/02/12-living-with-dragons.html<br /><br />GayeGayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02899430268722758947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-15964612508658035292011-01-30T18:14:57.673+11:002011-01-30T18:14:57.673+11:00Hello Jenny,
how lucky you are to have a young wa...Hello Jenny,<br /><br />how lucky you are to have a young water dragon living in your yard. Do take care that your dog doesn't become over zealous investigating this native animal, as family pets and lizards are generally not compatible. <br /><br />Unfortunately, my water dragon was frightened by a visitors puppy, and natural instinct kicked in and the lizard disappeared. I was so pleased that natural instincts 'saved' the lizard after it happily lived in my patio garden for 18 months. He 'hibernated' twice in my garden - once in an unknown hiding place, and the second winter he tucked himself away in t he barbecue on the back porch.<br /><br />It was a fabulous experience for me and my grand-children having this beautiful, active lizard living wild with us for such a long time, and a wonderful opportunity to observe his antics and learn about one of Australia's native reptiles.<br /><br />Enjoy.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />GayeGayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02899430268722758947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-47572935632682863542011-01-29T21:07:41.596+11:002011-01-29T21:07:41.596+11:00Hello, just found this blog by chance.We have a 10...Hello, just found this blog by chance.We have a 10 inch lizard like yours living next to our pool in Adamstown. I am abit freaked by him because he runs towards us and then stops and just watches us and the dog! I am pleased he seems to be so happy in our backyard, no idea where he has appeared from, He climbs up the frangipanni tree and appears whenever we go near the pool, haven't seen him in the pool as yet.Jenny Moasenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-61734604577134857962009-07-22T13:32:13.912+10:002009-07-22T13:32:13.912+10:00thank you gay and he is held in a extrem;ly big ta...thank you gay and he is held in a extrem;ly big tank he is still onley a juvinile and thank you for your advive greatly appreciatedmacauleyk40http://www.bebo.com/MacauleyK40noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-84103090031253633342009-07-22T13:07:52.106+10:002009-07-22T13:07:52.106+10:00Hi Macauley,
I'm pleased you are enjoying you...Hi Macauley,<br /><br />I'm pleased you are enjoying your friendly Water Dragon. My Water Dragon gave me countless pleasure before he decided to venture back out into the big wide world, presumable looking for a lady with which to raise a family.<br /><br />I am unable to confidently advise you on whether it is ok to feed your lizard frozen aquarium fish, as I do not know if your lizard is free-ranging and feeding himself, or whether you keep Fred in an enclosure of some sort.<br /><br />Personally, I wouldn't feed him the fish, but then I also would not be enclosing the lizard, so there are completely different circumstances with a captive lizard or free-ranging.<br /><br />My lizard was free-ranging, so fed himself (except for the times when I spoiled him with a native cockroach or worm or curl grub).<br /><br />I'm sorry I can not be of more help to you.<br /><br />Best wishes<br />GayeGayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02899430268722758947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-80377108322419482262009-07-22T11:21:05.652+10:002009-07-22T11:21:05.652+10:00hey gaye
thanks for your information i have a wa...hey gaye <br /><br />thanks for your information i have a water dragon exactly like that his name is fred i found him hurt in queensland and he was giving to me as a present he now lives with me in am 12 and he is the BEST!!!<br /><br />he loves to shed all the time and he is always fat is that good<br /><br /><br /><br />P.S should i feed him frozen feeder fish out of my aquruium???<br /><br />i freeze them and then defrost them.macauleyk40http://www.bebo.com/MacauleyK40noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-11858213661409624712007-10-24T19:25:00.000+10:002007-10-24T19:25:00.000+10:00hi Paul,thank you for leaving a comment. Feedback...hi Paul,<BR/><BR/>thank you for leaving a comment. Feedback is always very welcome.<BR/><BR/>Constructing and keeping a nature blog is a great way to promote nature, especially within the area you live so observations can be detailed. <BR/><BR/>Often people are not aware of the native animals and plants that they live amongst, so creating awareness of the beauty and diversity of nature, along with the fragility of the environment and specific habitats is a worthwhile project.<BR/><BR/>Residential settlement and industrial development is continually expanding and displacing native flora and fauna, so the more who realise what life is out there to consider and care for, the better.<BR/><BR/>And during the exercise, I have learned an enormous amount of interesting and useful stuff, as well as broadened my outlook on many subjects. Research is a fabulous way to increase one's knowledge base and enthusiasm. And then, there are so many other nature lovers out there who are happy and willing to offer assistance.<BR/><BR/>I can thoroughly recommend blogging about your local nature. If you go ahead with it, do please let me know, and if you need any tips on getting started, please ask if you think I may be of assistance (email facility is on my blog home page).<BR/><BR/>Regards<BR/>GayeGayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02899430268722758947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-26504782095109098402007-10-24T15:13:00.000+10:002007-10-24T15:13:00.000+10:00Hi Gaye,Love those Eastern Water Dragons, I think ...Hi Gaye,<BR/><BR/>Love those Eastern Water Dragons, I think they're magnificent little creatures (yes, I know they're not THAT little!!). I was first drawn to your blog by the "postcard" you had noted in the Australian Geographic newsletter enclosed with the magazine. What a great idea. As I also have a keen interest in nature and photography I think I might consider using your idea to try and promote conservation in the south-west Sydney suburbs.<BR/><BR/>Cheers, PaulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-88559789951722680302007-10-23T18:34:00.000+10:002007-10-23T18:34:00.000+10:00I saw my first Water Dragon in this district today...I saw my first Water Dragon in this district today. Photo soon. It was in the sandstone plateau country, near a creek. <BR/><BR/>Funny that you have just written about them. It must be the season.<BR/><BR/>DenisDenis Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10031115992910569116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-64328699706076626622007-10-23T06:42:00.000+10:002007-10-23T06:42:00.000+10:00hi Denis,it really is a pity that tourists are all...hi Denis,<BR/><BR/>it really is a pity that tourists are allowed (and sometimes, encouraged) to feed wildlife. The food they are offered is nothing like the natural food of the animal.<BR/><BR/>I am not totally against the idea of giving the wildlife a helping hand with a meal (afterall, we humans destroy and degrade the natural habitat of these animals to the extent that they might struggle at times). But to allow animals to become dependent upon handouts can be detrimental to the animal, as can inappropriate food items.<BR/><BR/>Occasionally I will offer Jacky a live invertebrate, but he is an excellent hunter and has a very good strike rate.<BR/><BR/>I don't believe that Water Dragons are common in rural Hunter Valley where I live, but they appear to thrive in the rainforested environs of the Allyn, Williams and Gloucester Rivers. <BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/>GayeGayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02899430268722758947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-24681061282482775442007-10-23T03:49:00.000+10:002007-10-23T03:49:00.000+10:00Hi GayeNice post on Jacky. I don't get the large l...Hi Gaye<BR/>Nice post on Jacky. I don't get the large lizards here, just small skinks, and a few (not too many) Snakes.<BR/>The sandstone country (below the baalt) has more lizards. The Botanic Gdns in Canberra has a great collection of tame, but "wild" Eastern Water Dragons. Some of them are enormous. Tourists feed them. Its funny watching the Americans and Japanese going "nuts" over them.<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/><BR/>DenisDenis Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10031115992910569116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-35736099585045727492007-10-22T19:56:00.000+10:002007-10-22T19:56:00.000+10:00hi Jack,I'm pleased you asked about growth, becaus...hi Jack,<BR/><BR/>I'm pleased you asked about growth, because I should have included growth details. When he first arrived here 9 months ago he would have been between 22 and 25cm from snout to tip of tail, and now he would be about 35cm. He hasn't thickened up a lot, but his tail is certainly longer.<BR/><BR/>Since finishing his moult today, he is very fresh looking with orange belly and white and yellow markings on his sides contrasting with the dark greenish-grey of his overall colour, so I need to get some up-to-date photos.<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/>GayeGayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02899430268722758947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-46859805527551037442007-10-22T19:30:00.000+10:002007-10-22T19:30:00.000+10:00Hi Gaye, just love those big feet. He is a very h...Hi Gaye, just love those big feet. He is a very handsome fellow. About how long is he now and has he grown much since your previous blog on him?WAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09714877215893612150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-71134713864231063432007-10-22T13:49:00.000+10:002007-10-22T13:49:00.000+10:00hi Lola,thank you.The more I get to know reptiles,...hi Lola,<BR/><BR/>thank you.<BR/><BR/>The more I get to know reptiles, the more interested in them and fond of them I become.<BR/><BR/>When I was a child, turtles were "boys stuff", and lizards were as scary as snakes. Now that I'm a grandma, I am sure to include my grand-daughters in all things nature. My 6yo grand-daughter is a real nature enthusiast in the making, and is full of questions and intelligent observations. It gives me much pleasure and satisfaction to pass on some of my enthusiasm and respect for our native fauna and flora.<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/>GayeGayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02899430268722758947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431372659681922416.post-44911178316273471362007-10-22T13:06:00.000+10:002007-10-22T13:06:00.000+10:00Hi Gaye,Another delightful and informative blog, t...Hi Gaye,<BR/>Another delightful and informative blog, this time on Water Dragons. How wonderful for you to have "Jacky" close at hand to observe and photograph. He must be aware that his surroundings are safe. Well done!<BR/>LolaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com