That's interesting, Peter. My office window overlooks part of Albert Park,
just off St Kilda Road in Melbourne. I hadn't noticed YTBCs until
immediately after the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. In the weeks after
that event, I started noticing flocks of YTBCs in the afternoon, flying in a
northerly direction from Albert Park towards, presumably, Fawkner Park, and
possibly then towards the Royal Botanical Gardens. Flocks were initially a
few birds, then tens, then ultimately more than 200 birds. I started
noticing them flying in the opposite direction early in the mornings. The
birds continued to be present in large numbers throughout 2009 and into
2010. Sometime in 2010 the numbers decreased, and ultimately the birds
disappeared by about April of that year. Over recent weeks, I have noticed
the birds again - in small flocks only (no more than ten birds).
I must admit that I assumed that the sudden appearance of these birds was to
do with the bushfires. I hadn't realised that the number of sightings, and
the quantity of birds was on the increase in Melbourne prior to that time.
Paul Dodd
Docklands, Victoria
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of
Sent: Wednesday, 22 June 2011 3:38 PM
To: BIRDING-AUS
Subject: Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos in Collingwood
McComus Taylor asked whether there was any data on Yellow-tailed
Black-Cockatoos in Collingwood.
I'm not sure what sort of data you had in mind McComus, but this species
has been steadily increasing its winter usage of urban parks along the
Yarra Valley and elsewhere in Melbourne, and even in the CBD, over the
last decade or more. It is being recorded with increasing regularity and
in increasing numbers visiting pinus trees and other conifers across
Melbourne. I've seen them in the Fitzroy gardens on the edge of the CBD.
Some people have suggested that this is a response to the large areas of
forest burnt over recent years, but its occurrence in Melb predates the
fires. I suggest it is another example of an adaptable species occupying a
vacant niche and increasing its population as a consequence, just like the
Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Long-billed Corella and Little Corella
the before it. I can now routinely see 6 species of cockatoo in my local
area (Heidelberg-Templestowe) in winter (Gang Gang is the other).
Peter Menkhorst
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