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During the past two weeks there appears to be remarkably larger
numbers than usual of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos in the general vicinity of our
house in Holt. Over the past week they've homed in on a large White Cedar tree,
feasting on the berries which are just starting to turn yellow. The tree's still
in full, green leaf. The leaves won't fall until after a couple of heavy frosts,
then it's out with rake and barrow.
The cockatoos snip off a spray of berries, take it in their left foot
and eat. A wise old birder once told me Canberra cockies (birds, not farmers)
always put food in their mouths using the left foot. However, an ever-vigilant
brat, hovering behind me, says that S-c Cockatoos, feeding on paddocks
around Wagga, always use their right foot. I have watched Crimson Rosellas
feeding on our Silver Birch fruit, and they all appear to be right-footed
feeders.
Perhaps these observations may not be considered by editors of a future
edition of HANZAB , nonetheless, I thought they may be of interest.
Certainly, they ignite after-dinner discussion/fun with self-styled polymath,
birding bratz.
John K. Layton
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