Last week I went to Sydney for a week. Larry and son Scott looked after the roos .Scott enjoyed feeding Bozo sitting in a chair in the large paddock next to the house paddock. This proved to be a good move as in the late afternoon a mob of greys can be seen in the distance on the far side of the paddock. One afternoon after Bozo had finished his bottle Scott called Larry to come and take a look. Bozo had hopped over to the greys then hopped on into the centre of the mob and begun grazing without a care in the world! Bronte and Bucky also went but stayed on the fringe. All the manuals say that a buck will not be accepted into a mixed mob so this was indeed a surprise. Obviously Bozo knows these greys and has been seeing them at night for some time. The morning after I returned Bozo didn’t turn up for his early morning milk. He has stopped drinking as much in the morning so he is probably starting to wean himself off. There are conflicting views about when a grey roo should be weaned. In the wild they drink up to 18-19 months of age so I don’t see why we should to do any different if the joey still wants to drink.

big healthy Bozo now aprox 16 – 17mths old

We waited to see if Bozo would return .It got to 12pm .Larry was more worried than me. I think Bozo is a strong young buck who can run very fast but if alone he could be crept up on by a group of wild dogs .Eventually  I went off to look around in case he was lying somewhere injured or dead. I got to the edge of the large paddock where there is an open gate and a bank with long growth which goes down to the river. I was calling “Bozo” and the next thing he hops up from the bank to the top but  the other greys he was resting and grazing with got scared and hopped off down the bank ,across the river and away . Bozo was upset and looking for them .Needless to say I felt awful but it was to late. He came back home with me . I am now waiting and hoping it happens again soon .I’m sure it will.

early morning workout

What is very interesting it appears that  depending where you raise a buck ,even alone, he maybe able to join a mixed mob after all. I guess not many carers are lucky enough or want to live in the type of surroundings we do.

If you have been following my blog you will remember “The Fatty Family”.

Fatty & Mama relaxing in the afternoon sun

Mama was a very old red – neck wallaby who had a baby that came out of the pouch about 4 months  ago. Fatty, Mama and Baba where constantly together although Baba would run around full of energy and often stay on his/her own for some time before appearing again. We think maybe a little girl as very independent. Mama seemed to be waning and we suspected she was going downhill quite quickly. Having the baby must have been hard on her but she was a great mother and taught her baby well.

Last image of Mama & Baba together

Mama knew she was waning and she never left our house paddock for about a fortnight before she died. We thought she felt save here and knew it was good space for Baba.The week before I went to Sydney we found Mama dead in our old shed. She was lying down peacefully as though she had chosen that place. Fatty is now on his own but lots of other red-necks around.We see him every day. We were always told they are solitary, and they mostly are  although they congregate quite close to each other in some areas. Living here has shown us some different behaviours. Baba comes morning and evening and has a supplementary feed of special grain.

Baba alone

We wish we could give Baba some milk formula but there is no way  we can get close enough .The trauma of capturing Baba would be too much and we think she is doing fine and growing well. There is another red-necked female “Josie” who has a  baby in pouch ,head out grazing.Josie seems quite comfortable to have Baba sticking close by with her.

I have also read and been told that this doesn’t happen…….We think Mama was quite likely mother and grandmother to many of our resident red-necks.

Josie and Baba

Josie looking after Baba. Notice her bulging pouch. We often see head and legs sticking out!

Some time ago I applied for grant to purchase some native plants. Bird attracting shrubs which are endemic to this area and some Casuarina Trees for the endangered Casuarina Cockatoos who only eat those nuts.

casuarina cockatoos feeding on a small casuarina tree in our house paddock

I am very pleased to say I got the grant and planting will begin in the spring. The native shrubs will keep the pest flora from re growing. We are also looking at planting in some native grasses into areas as we clear them of pest flora. Scott Lily from Wollar Nursery will be supplying the plants and is also our advisor .He is also an advisor for NPWS .