YTBs

15 posts / 0 new
Last post
Bridges
Bridges's picture
YTBs

Just had over 50 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos over our home.  Started wondering where they go in the winter.  Found Araminta's photo of the one with the grub.  No wonder we have them in the garden - plenty of borer available.  Can someone tell me where they go in the winter.  We have them here all summer but I reckon they are gathering getting ready to leave.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

I found this story about the Yellow-tailed Black -Cockatoos on line, written by Daphne and Dominic, there was no last name, and I hope they don't mind me using their story here?

Aiyyyyyaa, Aiyyyyyaa”, we could hear the haunting, distinctive call over the sounds of the dog wash machine near the toilet block and the cars on Grand Drive in Centennial Park. We saw them first in the Pine Forest, their big black wings edged with yellow silhouetted against the grey clouds. They were flying from tree to tree, looking for the best cones, their wing beats, slow, smooth, and deep.

The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos have come for their winter visit to Centennial Park. The attraction is the pine forest with its crisp cones, the banksia’s dried seed pods and, for something juicy, the figs

We need to care for these gorgeous birds as their numbers are going down. Let’s keep growing the trees they feed on.

And please, please if you care for them, do not feed the birds!! 

So, some moust go there? Holly would know, it's close to where she workswink





We need to care for these gorgeous birds as their numbers are going down. Let’s keep growing the trees they feed on.

And please, please if you care for them, do not feed the birds!! 

 

M-L

Bridges
Bridges's picture

They are my favourites.  We have cut down all their native food, now their non-native because it is exotic.  Where do they go from there?  So do they not go north for the winter?

Bridges

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Sorry, but I have no idea either, but like you, I hope someone can tell us? I tried to google, but couldn't find much, only that

there is evidence that birds on the New South Wales south coast move from elevated areas to lower lying areas towards the coast in winter. 

Other than that, I didn't find anything. Waiting for someone else to tell us.

M-L

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

Just an observation from me, i have only seen the blacks (red and yellow) during the colder months here in Canberra. The pines are just starting to form the new cones as we speak. So maybe they come here to eat them during winter and also the pollies are on a winter break so they might like the quiet while the children are away?

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

Woko
Woko's picture

My first edition of The Atlas of Australian Birds reports that the yellow-tailed black cockatoo has regional & seasonal movements. In s.e. Australia they move to the ranges to breed in northern parts of the south east region. (Perhaps that's where the trees with suitable hollows are, humans who tend to inhabit lower lying areas having a fetish with removing trees with valuable nesting hollows.)

At my place they usually appear about late October, early November, disappear in late January, February. I understand from local folk that they're in other parts of the area in which I live. I also understand that on the Fleurieu Peninsula they move around over quite a large area. I would think food availability would, to some extent, determine their movements as would the availability of suitable nesting hollows in breeding season.

GregL
GregL's picture

When I lived in the upper Blue Mts they were year-round residents, feeding mainly on the radiata pines. I think you can see quite large flocks in the pine plantations. Last year they came to my place for the first time, feeding in the pine trees.

Bridges
Bridges's picture

Well, they are certainly with us all summer then leave about now.  I think, reading all comments, they must go northish.  They feed on our pines, banksias and hakeas - natural pruning.  They are fantastic birds, and yes, do need protecting. 

Bridges

Woko
Woko's picture

To protect yellow-tailed black cockatoos one of the most important things we can do is protect their breeding sites. They breed in old Eucalypts with deep hollows, the sort of trees that many people believe blight our landscapes with their "untidiness", the sort of trees developers love to nuzzle their bulldozers against. We need a massive education program to teach people the connection between bird species survival &  Australian habitats.

Bridges
Bridges's picture

Down our way developers and builders don't want a tree in sight, this then gets approved by our council.  How do you possibly persuade these people to keep a few trees.

Bridges

Woko
Woko's picture

What have you tried so far, Bridges, & what were the results?

Bridges
Bridges's picture

It's like banging your head against a brick wall!  And especially since the 2010 act allowing Powercor to cut everything within an inch of its life!  We just concentrate on our garden now.  We have in fact recorded 60 species of birds in the garden.

Bridges

Woko
Woko's picture

I can understand your concentration on you own garden, Bridges. That's what you do have control over so that's where you can feel satisfied that you're achieving something, especially with 60 species on the tally sheet! Banging your head against a brick wall is painful, time consuming & a waste of energy.

Have you thought about producing a neighbourhood newsletter based on your garden & the wildlife it attracts? Even if you just dropped it in local letter boxes you might get people thinking about & looking at what's around them. From little things big things grow.

Has Powercor ever been informed that their environmental credentials will be significantly enhanced if they plant indigenous vegetation to replace the stuff they cut back?

Bridges
Bridges's picture

Hi Woko  Have been away - up in Narooma.  Great birding.  With regard our garden, we have had an open weekend with aog and will be having another one in September.  On those days I do have a collection of photos of birds, all taken on site.  It was fairly well received.   As for Powercor, I think their only interest is to keep litigations at bay!  I think they are owned by a foreign company?  Anyway, thanks for your interest.  

Bridges

Woko
Woko's picture

It's amazing the number of people who don't make a connection between the type of vegetation in their gardens & the bird life they do or don't attract. So your idea of open garden events with bird photos taken on site should enable some people to make the connection. I like it.

 and   @birdsinbackyards
                 Subscribe to me on YouTube