Cockatoos trying to pick up monitor by tail

[Philip Veerman <>]

Years ago I published an article in CBN: “Misidentified as dangerous” about finding a large mob of birds (not cockatoos or parrots) harassing what I wondered as I approached (walking all the way across the Chifley sports ground) if it was a snake or lizard. It turned out to be a baseball glove lying fingers up. A baseball glove with all the stitching does look quite reptilian.

 

From: Denise Kay [
Sent: Monday, 21 October, 2019 7:51 AM
To: Robin Hide
Cc: Canberra Birds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Cockatoos trying to pick up monitor by tail

 

Most reptiles are threats to birds & eggs especially those that nest in tree hollows.

 

Having said that I have seen a SCC attack a feral pigeon in a bird feeder drawing blood on one wing & dispatched to the ground , the feral put up a good fight though 

 

 

Denise Kay

Flying Fox Coordinator

ACT Wildlife

 

 

On 21 Oct 2019, at 7:38 am, Robin Hide <> wrote:

 

Like David, I recently saw a group of about 20 S-C Cockatoos surrounding a Bearded Dragon on the ground (lower west slopes of Mt Ainslie).

My attention was caught by the sight of the birds with their crests up, clustered on the ground.  

I approached to  about 10m and then saw the Dragon “at bay” amongst the birds.

Watched for 5 mins thinking they were intending to harm it, and when that did’nt happen, walked off (and saw the cockatoos beginning to disperse).

Robin

 

From: David Rees [m("gmail.com","dprbirdlist");">] 
Sent: Sunday, 20 October 2019 10:53 PM
To: Philip Veerman; m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Cockatoos trying to pick up monitor by tail

 

Maybe , but my one was just like Kym's, on the ground. They were curious and were 'playing' with it.

 

On 20/10/2019 10:40 pm, Philip Veerman wrote:

It is known in the situation of them trying to stop a goanna climbing up to a nest. For a bearded dragon, presumably it is mistaken identity (?)

 

From: David Rees [m("gmail.com","dprbirdlist");">] 
Sent: Sunday, 20 October, 2019 10:24 PM
To: kym bradley; m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Cockatoos trying to pick up monitor by tail

 

Kym

 

I've seen cockies do something similar with Bearded dragons, crests up and all...   They are great images,  because they capture something special, not simply just another perfect bird on a twig with bokeh done in the 'politically correct' way. 

 

David

 

 

On 20/10/2019 7:37 pm, kym bradley wrote:

Three cockatoos  tried to pick up the monitor by the tail numerous times the monitor would rare back   each time they grabbed it

 

NOT quality images I was too far away

 

Funny they did not do it with the red belly x 2

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lubba/?

 

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