Black-Cockatoos
We have a dead tree in our backyard which Andy has threatened a number of times to cut down “it’s jarrah, good firewood” he says, but I won’t let him. “It’s the Cockie tree” I say to him. Sometimes we have the odd Galah land there and a couple of other species but it’s by far utilised the most by the Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos. They sit there and shriek, preen and mate (as I witnessed for the first time yesterday). They also roost for many months of the year in the Red Gums just beyond our fence line. Our area is full of Red Gums or Marri trees which grow these big nuts, we call them honky nuts, anyway, the Black Cockatoos love them. As do the Red Capped Parrots and the Ringneck Parrots (28’s).
The birds discard the nuts after eating the large seed from inside, by discard I mean throw on the ground for us to trip and slip on. We’ve even had one put a hole through one of our front windows when Andy was mowing. At the moment it must be peak honky nut season as our driveway is just a layer of honky nuts.
Forest Red-Tailed Black-Cockatoos
I believe that the subspecies that can be found here are listed as vulnerable. This is due to destruction of woodlands and forests and also competition for nesting hollows. These birds spend a lot of time in our neck of the woods. A good supply of food and nesting hollows in the old trees keep them coming back year after year. For more information on these birds head on over to the WA Museum website.
White-tailed Black-Cockatoos
Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos AKA Long-billed Black-Cockatoos
These beautiful birds have started to visit our backyard over the last week or two. The way I see it, that means there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that I get to see them daily. Then the bad news. They must have lost more of their habitat/food source and they have to venture further afield. More info here.
Female
Male
White-tailed Black-Cockatoos
Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos AKA Long-billed Black-Cockatoos
Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos AKA Short-billed Black-Cockatoo
While the Carnaby’s are so very similar to the Baudin’s their beaks are the decider. The Carnaby’s is wider and shorter tipped. They also are listed as Endangered. I usually find it hard to tell them apart unless they are in flocks together. There’s some images and more info at this link. I’ve only just realised that I don’t yet have a photo of a Carnaby, I’ll have to rectify that very soon.
Honky nuts on a Red Gum Tree
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