Having exchanged niceties with the Muttaburrasaurus, who I must say was being particularly stoic when faced with the indignity of having young children climbing all over her, I continued my exploration of the park.

Hmmm what is that I see in the distance?

Could it be?

Yes it is, a group of Bullockornis grazing in the picnic area of Kings Park, Perth.

Bullockornis are large flightless birds that derrive their name from Bullock Creek where their fossilised remains were first discovered.

Let's see if we can get a better look.

Can't get too close though, these birds are carnivorous. Their relatives lived in the Perth area around 15 million years ago and they are believed to be ancestors of the Cape Baron Goose. Here is a fossil skull that shows the massive beak that these birds used to carve up their prey.