On HMS Beagle’s third voyage, 1837-1843, she was dispatched to fully explore the coast of Australia. During a survey of the northern area, Captain John Wickham sailed into a natural harbor and named the site “Darwin” in honor of his former shipmate Charles Darwin. The two men had sailed together on the Beagle’s second voyage.
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Ardeotis australis - Australian bustards are large birds. A typical adult male stands 1.2 meters tall, has a wingspan of 2.3 meters, and weighs 6 kilograms. Bustards are capable of flight, but will only take to the air as a last resort to escape danger. Flightless juveniles will stand motionless and rely on their camouflage to evade potential threats. Primarily a terrestrial bird, bustards can be seen slowly walking through open fields searching for food. Their diet relies heavily on plant material, but it does include insects and smaller mammals, reptiles, and other birds.
