OT: Geckos in Canberra

["Geoffrey Dabb" <>]

Peter  -  Oolambeyan is the still relatively new national park in the riverina south-east of Hay.  It is a former sheep-grazing property acquired partly for its value as plainswanderer habitat.  COG has paid a few visits there.  As I mentioned to Steve, there are now few trees in the distinctly paddocky environment, except for some old callitris in the sandier areas.  g

 

From: Peter Ormay [
Sent: Friday, 5 November 2010 10:19 PM
To: Geoffrey Dabb;
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] OT: Geckos in Canberra

 

Hi Geoff,  

Where is Oolabeyan? PNG/ Qld?

Peter

----- Original Message -----

From:

To:

Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 5:59 PM

Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] OT: Geckos in Canberra

 

Snaps from Oolambeyan a few years ago of a gecko waiting for insects on a fly-screen.  Reminded me of the pinkish ones in PNG where you could have half a dozen running up walls and even across the ceiling chasing moths. Chonk-onkle-onk-onkle. They were best regarded as household pets. Every now and then you would experience a faint smell of something dead which could usually be traced to a squashed and decaying gecko that had chosen the crack between an open door and the frame on the hinge side for its daytime resting place. All different with air conditioning now, I suppose.

 

 

 

  

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Holliday [
Sent: Thursday, 4 November 2010 5:14 PM
To:
Subject: OT: Geckos in Canberra

 

Hi Paul

 

Marbled Gecko is by far the more likely species, judging from the number of

people I know who have seen them they seem quite common in some parts of

Canberra. They are regular at our place in Ainslie.

 

Stone Gecko is less likely to be in gardens, I have only seen them in rocky

areas in hilly country in the north of the ACT, although they have also been

recorded on Black Mountain and Red Hill. They are strictly terrestrial,

unlike Marbled Geckos which happily cling to windows and walls, and even

upside down under eaves.

 

Marbled Geckos don't habitually call, I think it is mainly tropical species

that have this ability - the Asian House Gecko for example is a rather noisy

little thing.

 

cheers

Steve