I live in Leura, and we get Yellow-Tails regularly. However, today we were spoilt with a flock of between 50-60, certainly the biggest flock I've ever seen.
Is there any relevance to such a large group (time of year etc)?
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Sherro, I'm not sure if they migrate locally or are just in a big winter flock. I never see them around Melbourne anymore and it's a shame to not have them around because I enjoyed seeing them.
Cheers, Owen.
I've seen a flock of about 70 yellow-tailed black cockatoos over Belair National Park near Adelaide.
Here on the southeastern slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges we've been seeing this species for about the last 4 years, a flock of 28 was seen one day last summer. They are far more prevalent from about November to March.
Last week I spotted a flock passing by South Granville. Very extraordinary because it is my first time ever seeing them anywhere near the Sydney metropolitan area.
Taz
About 2 weeks ago I heard them about 7am,as we sometimes do,so went outside expecting to see 2 or 3 but a flock of at least 25 was passing! Unbelievably beautiful start to the day.
We have them visit generally around sunset to nibble on Banksia integrifolia Tree's. They love the seed pods. There are generally about three or four that visit regularly.
They sure love those banksia seeds, NepeanBirdWatcher. Not to mention Pinus radiata & hakea seeds. I hope to remove the Pinus radiata trees we have but I need to establish more hakeas. As well, & according to the Complete Book of Australian Birds, they eat wood-boring insects in eucalypts, banksias, acacias & xanthorrhoeas. I need to invite a flock in to take care of my lounge suite.
We have a large flock fly over our house most evenings heading who knows where. They will sometimes stop here to feed on whatever is flowering and then they go on their way. You can hear them coming long before you see them.
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is alive & well in our neck of the woods. A flock of about 50 passed through late today. Spectacular!!
We had a small flock (maybe 10 birds) visit our area yesterday. I havent seen them before, would they be passing through on migration by any chance?
Vanessa
Hodgson Vale (Toowoomba)
Hi Vanessa. That's an interesting question. I understand seasonal & local migrations of this species have been observed in various places.
Where I live (s.e. slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges in SA) yellow-tailed black cockatoos appear around late October or November to feast on the seeds of mature Banksias & feral pines. I've had reports from people about 5 km away of yellow-tailed black cockatoos being in their location at other times so it appears that the birds I see roam around the area seeking good food supplies. I believe the same is the case for this species in parts of the Fleurieu Peninsula.