Down here in Bayside, Melbourne (not the Brisbane version!) we
have few breeding pairs of sulphur-crested cockatoos. 3 or 4
compared with 85,000 humans.
The Council, quite rightly, is trying to rejuvenate a lake
(artificial?) and wants to remove a willow in which cockies
probably nested in 1995-1999. Question! Should I do all I can
to protect the tree or go along with the proposal to fell the
willow and put up some cockie nesting boxes in the area ? A
bizarre additional fact: cockies have not been recorded there
this year until just before my on-site meeting with officials.
One was chased through the area by little ravens.
(I think I'm doing quite well on other fauna aspects of the
project so I don't want to waste political credit on something
about nest site fidelity which is mistaken).
Other interesting local facts for those still with me.
On nest site fidelity: Common Bronzewings have nested in
Cheltenham Park at the same nest they used twice earlier this
year.
On the Landcox Park lake: long-necked tortoises are numerous
(some rescued together with eels and to be returned in January
or so). Carp and goldfish are numerous and there is no sign of
frogs or even YABBIES. The public's perception that this lake
was OK was because they could feeding the ducks.
So I'm glad it is being managed. I'd just like to keep
Cockatoos as part of the local wildlife (as well as the raptors
which visit - I fear (but am not sure) the Collared Sparrowhawks
have given up their nesting attempt and I even recorded a single
house sparrow there today!).
Michael Norris
Bayside Friends of Native Wildlife
Melbourne
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