|
Hi Peter, Philip and other COG
members.
Re the insect diet of parrot species,
I can add that Gang-Gang Cockatoos adore
chewing on "Spitfires" (Saw Fly Larvae).
A friend of mine injected a Street
tree (a Eucalypt) in Torrens with "Rogor" to remove a bad infestation of
"Spitfires" high in the tree. The next day he saw a Gang-Gang eating the
Spitfires in that tree, and later that day it was dead on the ground, under
the tree. He has never used a systemic chemical in his garden again
!
Re Glossy Black Cockatoos, in the Kangaroo
Valley and in the Mittagong area (Boxvale Track) they feed on
Allocasuarina littoralis, the "Black Sheoak", so your observation of
their preference for A. verticilliata is a
"local" phenomenon, reflecting the available species. Mind you, I am not
aware that they ever go for Casuarina cunninghamiana, which has a very
wide distribution in the ACT and NSW. I would note that these Allocasuarinas
have much larger seed capsules than C. cunninghamiana.
My memory is that when Birds in the
High Country was being written Glossy Blacks had not yet been recorded in the
ACT. No doubt Philip or someone else has the first reports to the Rarities panel
available.
Cheers
| 