Further to this, I looked again as I walked past this morning, the “young tree” is not a native and is probably old, it is about 2 metres high. Rotting on the
main trunk and virtually falling apart. Very likely has grubs inside which would have interested the YTBC. They likely have contributed to its demise by their digging.
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Thursday, 17 September, 2020 8:46 PM
To: 'Alison Rowell'; 'mariko buszynski'; 'canberrabirds'
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
I have had a pair at my home several times over the last few weeks. They have taken to biting into a little tree, less than a metre tall, right beside the driveway
entrance. They also walk around on the ground looking up at where to start climbing the tree. My neighbour has his / her parents in law / parents were visiting from Ukraine and are very impressed to have big dramatic looking birds walking around the neighbour’s
driveway. Why they have taken to trying to find something interesting in the one young tree is strange. And for what it is worth I have 2 Hakeas (although one has just died and I have sawn it off down to a multi stump) but the other full of cones but I have
not seen the YTBC in there. Though of course I could have missed it.
Philip
From: Alison Rowell [
Sent: Wednesday, 16 September, 2020 11:03 AM
To: 'mariko buszynski'; 'canberrabirds'
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
There have been a number of reports this year of small groups flying low over the suburbs and feeding in gardens. I have seen groups feeding on Hakea seeds in an Ainslie garden and at the Botanic Gardens. It is possible that some birds
are ranging more widely to forage this year after much of their habitat in the ACT and south-eastern NSW was burnt in the summer fires.
They are expert at extracting seed from the woody Hakea fruits – grasp, twist and pull to get the fruit off the tree, hold it in one foot, take one bite to crack the capsule then quick manipulation to extract and shell the seed, then on
to the next fruit.
Alison R
From: mariko buszynski <>
Sent: Tuesday, 15 September 2020 4:52 PM
To: canberrabirds <>
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
Yesterday one bird spent nearly one hour in our garden munching on Hakea's fruits. When I went to collect washing he glanced at me but continued to munch. I sometimes see them flying over our house but this is the first time one came
down to find food. Is there any food shortage?
