Flock of gang gang cockatoo4/22/2024 ![]() ![]() ![]() While a substantial population of gang-gang cockatoos in the area is promising, Mr Whelan is concerned that additional development could threaten the species. “An analysis based on expert elicitation estimated an overall population decline at one-year post-fire of 21 per cent, and that three generations post-fire the population would still be 29 per cent lower than the pre-fire population size, and possibly as much as 52 per cent lower,” the Department wrote in its Conservation Advice for the species. ![]() It’s a fantastic sign, I’m not aware of those sort of numbers being recorded here previously, though I can’t say for certain.”Īccording to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, there are around 25,300 mature gang-gang cockatoos in the wild, but the population of the gang-gang cockatoo declined by approximately 69 per cent from the period from 1999 to 2019, and was also hit hard by the 2019 – 20 bushfires. A photographer friend of mine is aware of some others near Gordon, I don’t think they’re the same population I saw in the Bolwarrah area. “They’re such iconic birds of the Australian bush. Even if they’re resident locally and haven’t moved from the fire-damaged areas, it’s still pretty significant,” Mr Whelan told the Moorabool News. I haven’t seen many of them here in the past, and to see a flock of 130 to 150 is pretty significant. “It’s great to see gang-gang cockatoos here, it’s really remarkable. The gang-gang cockatoo, which is the faunal emblem of the ACT, has recently been spotted in the area by local wildlife photographer David Whelan, who is excited by the appearance of over 100 of the birds. It’s known as more of a New South Wales and ACT bird, but an endangered cockatoo species has been spotted making its home here in Moorabool. And juveniles sit begging - constantly and loudly – making no apparent attempt to feed for themselves.Endangered gang-gang cockatoos have been sighted in the Gordon and Bolwarrah areas. Feeding birds may be at any level in the vegetation, even at ground level. This apparently destructive behaviour is due to their determined searching for wood-boring grubs of moths or beetles.Ī feeding flock often involves some birds sitting high in the trees, calling an alarm if approached. They are also famous for tearing into the bark and branches of various trees, often dropping branches or snapping small saplings. For example, they take the woody fruit of Eucalyptus, Hakea, Banksia and a variety of introduced trees, including plantation pine trees. They feed in a wide variety of trees and may be found in woodland, parks, coastal heath or forest. In flight their long-tails, dark colour, and loud calls are distinctive. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos may be seen flying in small or large flocks. Where to look for Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos Juveniles have colouration like female, but are best recognised by their continual, rasping begging calls.Adult male has red skin surrounding eye.Yellow cheek patch, larger and brighter in adult female than in the male.Pale yellow tail panels, variously mottled with black in both males and females.Large, slender bird with long tail and long wings.Some features to look for in recognising Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos the scattering of torn Allocasuarina fruit on the forest floor is quite diagnostic. Such feasting also leaves tell-tale evidence long after they've gone. In fact the squeaking and cracking of their feeding is often the first indication of their presence. Small groups will sit quietly, chewing on the fruit, sometimes remaining in the same tree for hours. Glossy Blacks feed almost exclusively on Allocasuarina fruit (often called 'she-oak cones'). Soft, wavering call in flight - again, very different to the Yellow-tailed black call.Short tail, clearly shorter than Yellow-tailed blacks when seen in flight.Females have variable amounts of yellow on the head and neck.Males have bright red panels in their tails, while females and juveniles have orange-red panels with varying amounts of black barring. considerably smaller than Yellow-tailed blacks. Some features to look for in recognising Glossy Black-Cockatoos ![]()
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