Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos

[Anthony Overs via Canberrabirds <>]

Hi all

Yesterday morning, I was in my car waiting at the lights to turn right onto Lady Denman Drive from Cotter Rd. I could hear a couple of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos calling in the mature pine trees on the north-west corner of the intersection. I pulled over just past the trees at the entrance to what is now called the Curtin woodyard, got out and was pleasantly surprised to see a few cockies and hear several of last season's dependent young calling. I estimated that there were at least 20 birds. I wasn't surprised to see them at this spot as I see them in the area often - if someone asked me to find a YTBC for them I'd go straight to the pines along the Cotter Road and Dalgety Street area in north Curtin and Yarralumla.

However, yesterday was a little different due to the high number of birds. Normally there would be a pair or trio present feeding on the pine seeds. After thinking there were perhaps 20 birds present, they all took off and flew around in circles above the trees and the intersection, revealing their true number of at least 90-100 birds. At this point, they were joined by another 20-30 birds that had been in the pines across the road in the golf course. It was total chaos as they wheeled about above me, all calling. I don't know what set them off. After about five minutes they had calmed down, many returned to the old pines and some birds headed east. Despite taking photos and video with my phone, it was very difficult to count them. I'm going with 120 birds. It would be handy if they all left in one direction in an orderly fashion!

Cheers

Anthony

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