Tour Stop Four
Dromornithid:
Big Bird of the Past
The Giant Bird of Waanyi Country
The Dromornithid, affectionately known as “Big Bird,” was a towering, flightless bird that roamed Waanyi lands millions of years ago. Known for its immense size and distinctive features, this ancient creature is one of the most fascinating inhabitants of Australia’s prehistoric past.
Illustration © Jane Jehne
Tour Stop Four
Dromornithid: Big Bird of the Past
The Giant Bird of Waanyi Country
The Dromornithid, affectionately known as “Big Bird,” was a towering, flightless bird that roamed Waanyi lands millions of years ago. Known for its immense size and distinctive features, this ancient creature is one of the most fascinating inhabitants of Australia’s prehistoric past.
A Prehistoric Marvel: Dromornithid Fossils
Fossils discovered at the D-Site have shed light on the life and habits of these enormous birds. Among the discoveries are gizzard stones—smooth, rounded rocks that the Dromornithid swallowed to aid digestion. These stones offer a glimpse into the daily life of this ancient bird and its unique adaptations.
Did you know?
The Dromornithid could grow up to 3.5 metres tall and weigh over 500 kilograms, making it one of the largest flightless birds to ever exist.
Many giant flightless birds belonging to the extinct family Dromornithidae, often called ‘Thunder Birds’ and known only to Australia, have been discovered in the fossil deposits at Riversleigh.
One skeleton of Dromornis murrayi was discovered at ‘D- Site’ (c.25 million years old) and nicknamed ‘Big Bird’. Some of these birds weighed around 300 kilograms and stood up to 3.5 metres tall.
Some species of Dromornithid survived on the continent until the late Pleistocene
……including the last survivor of the dromornithid lineage – Genyornis newtoni. While this species has not confidently been identified in the Riversleigh deposits, the Lake Callabonna fossil site in South Australia contains Genyornis newtoni fossils that are approximately 50,000 years old, which suggests the birds may have been known to First Nations peoples in other parts of the continent. Some have even argued that a First Nations rock art site in West Arnhem Land contains rock paintings of Genyornis newtoni.
The Waanyi name for birds in general is julaki.
Some Waanyi people have stories about their encounters with strange ‘big birds’ in the bush at night – be careful when camping on Waanyi Country!
Next Stop: Riversleigh Station
From ancient fossils to colonial footprints
Learn how Riversleigh Station became a pivital place in both the history of the Waanyi People and the development of theregion during colonial settlement.