Yellow-Tail Black Cockatoos

I am lucky to live in a place where I get to see parrots in abundance every single day. I know this is not the case for many, so I would like to share some photos and I honestly can't think of a better bunch of folks to share them with. These particular photos are of Yellow-Tail Black Cockatoos that have been hanging around for the last few months, I took these photos from my front doorstep. Sorry if the photos aren't that great, they are awfully hard to capture as they only pass by a few times a day at random. Occasionally they settle for short periods in the tree out front, but I often miss them. I have left my camera sitting by the front door for about a month and every time I hear them coming, I rush down and burst out the door hoping to capture them.

I find the Black Cockatoos to be so mysterious. They don't show up every year and when they do, they don't stay for very long. Their calls are so beautiful and unique and when they flock outside the house, the noise can be so deafening. Anyway, here are a few snapshots i managed to get for you.



They travel in smaller groups, but I estimate there to be at least 100 in the entire flock:



Chilling in the trees:



Flying through the valley:

I love all the black cockatoos of Oz, yellow tails, red tails, palms and my favorite the gang gang, Thanks for sharing Ben!....and yes you are lucky as am I to live in places with such abundant and wonderful wildlife

Of the Black Too's, the palm has to be my favourite, although I have never had the priveledge of seeing one in the wild. Most people never will as they are confined to a very small area.

I have been blessed enough to hold a white-tail (short billed) before, they are very big birds! Unfortunately black too's are not as abundant as the white too's and they are under threat from habitat destruction

Aussie Ben said:

Of the Black Too's, the palm has to be my favourite, although I have never had the priveledge of seeing one in the wild. Most people never will as they are confined to a very small area.

I have been blessed enough to hold a white-tail (short billed) before, they are very big birds! Unfortunately black too's are not as abundant as the white too's and they are under threat from habitat destruction

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After you posted the pics I had to go get my gang gang fix by searching out some pics of them, found an interesting fact about the Palm Cockatoo, not only do they have a very small home range as you mentioned, but they
only lay one egg every second year and have one of the lowest breeding success rates reported for any species of parrot, I guess its a good thing they have a long life span.......

Bobby34231 said:

Aussie Ben said:

Of the Black Too's, the palm has to be my favourite, although I have never had the priveledge of seeing one in the wild. Most people never will as they are confined to a very small area.

I have been blessed enough to hold a white-tail (short billed) before, they are very big birds! Unfortunately black too's are not as abundant as the white too's and they are under threat from habitat destruction

Click to expand...

After you posted the pics I had to go get my gang gang fix by searching out some pics of them, found an interesting fact about the Palm Cockatoo, not only do they have a very small home range as you mentioned, but they
only lay one egg every second year and have one of the lowest breeding success rates reported for any species of parrot, I guess its a good thing they have a long life span.......

Click to expand...

HAHA you need a Gang Gang patch!

Those egg numbers are SCARY Bobby!:scared01:It makes me shudder.

I fell in love with the Palm cockatoo when I saw the documentary "Australia-Land of parrots", there was a segment on the Palm...Just fascinating (and they're kinda cute)

Thanks for sharing, Ben! Great photos of a stunning bird. You're so very fortunate to see these birds as often as you do. The wildlife in Oz is truly amazing!

I would love to see a Palm cockatoo in person. They're adorable, aren't they? Gotta love those innocent little eyes.

ETA: A little off-topic; I just noticed how beautiful your neighborhood is. Large properties, rich green landscaping, what a nice place to live. How have the prices been for houses over there these days? I might want to move there.

I don't know of any word's that can do justice in describing this magnificent gentle giant

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eicdz4eKcjU&NR=1"]YouTube - Parrots in the Land of Oz: Hello, Palm Cockatoo![/ame]

HAHA yea thats the doco (although it has been re-dubbed), how funny are they?!?... "HAWO!"

I hope it doesn't look like I'm hijacking your thread Ben, but you started one that I'm really passionate about and it gets me excited...lol

parrotqueen said:

ETA: A little off-topic; I just noticed how beautiful your neighborhood is. Large properties, rich green landscaping, what a nice place to live. How have the prices been for houses over there these days? I might want to move there.

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It is a wonderful area, its fair to say the prices have risen. Its the sort of location where many people build homes that they plan to stay in for a long time, 'dream homes' I guess, so it is fairly pricey, but not ridiculous (at least by todays standards). The area sits around the middle of the market. We built here many years ago so land was more available, now, most plots are taken up and prices have risen a bit. Most of the area is a giant reserve that bleeds into the hills, which is why wildlife is so abundant. Plenty of places where I live with similar landscapes and lower prices. When I move out I certainly won't be able to afford a place round here for a while It is so peacfull.....well, till Eddie decides otherwise

Bobby34231 said:

I hope it doesn't look like I'm hijacking your thread Ben, but you started one that I'm really passionate about and it gets me excited...lol

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No your not, please keep it up, I enjoy topics that develop and go places. Who could blame you for getting excited?... These birds rock! Every time I hear them coming I get goosebumps, it's such a special thing.

Ben I couldn't help laughing at you rushing out the door to get photos and missing the opportunity. I do the same thing, and the few times I've taken the shot the settings are wrong

The Palms are beautiiful birds!! I read somewhere the other day the even Sulfur Crested are hard to breed - not sure if this is true. I must admit I do have a huge soft spot for the Galahs and I think the Major Mitchells are stunning

Thanks so much for sharing the photos

Mel said:

I must admit I do have a huge soft spot for the Galahs and I think the Major Mitchells are stunning

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I think God made the Galahs so cute so we didn't wind up stragling the little buggers..... lol, if you've ever been owned by one like Mel and I have you'll understand exactly what I'm saying

Bobby34231 said:

Mel said:

I must admit I do have a huge soft spot for the Galahs and I think the Major Mitchells are stunning

Click to expand...

I think God made the Galahs so cute so we didn't wind up stragling the little buggers..... lol, if you've ever been owned by one like Mel and I have you'll understand exactly what I'm saying

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lol, should I be glad or sad that I don't have a Galah?!

Aussie Ben said:

Bobby34231 said:

Mel said:

I must admit I do have a huge soft spot for the Galahs and I think the Major Mitchells are stunning

Click to expand...

I think God made the Galahs so cute so we didn't wind up stragling the little buggers..... lol, if you've ever been owned by one like Mel and I have you'll understand exactly what I'm saying

Click to expand...

lol, should I be glad or sad that I don't have a Galah?!

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Ummmm maybe the word should be "thankful"