One of my study birds has flown a massive 170km within a 5 day period! He is now in the vicinity of Arrowsmith, between Leeman and Dongara. Not a bad marathon effort.
Well done to the Perth Zoo staff and Native Animal Rescue vollies that took care of this birds' wing injury (microchip 6F2672C if you want to look him up on your records). They have done a great job with this cockatoo. He has certainly demonstrated that he now has no problems flying!
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Monday, 9 July 2012
Latest sightings
On Saturday morning I followed a large flock of Carnaby's into Koondoola bushland. It was a cold misty morning as shown in the photo below. Amongst the mist and as the sun began to warm the air I managed to find and photograph two of my study birds!
The first one I encountered was "Blue L" who was busy cleaning his toes and preening his tail feathers trying to dry off. It was a very wet afternoon the day before and would've been a cold night. I watched carefully as he used his beak to run along his outer tail feathers. He didn't pay any attention at all to the tracking device on his central tail feathers.
The second study bird I encountered had a very faded green tail. I managed to photograph the leg band. Most shots showed the join in the band!...but as he reached up to scratch his cheek I snapped a shot that showed one of the numbers. From that one number I was able to identify him as "Green V". He was released at Perry Lakes back in April. A different green tailed individual was also recently seen in Underwood Avenue bushland.
The second study bird I encountered had a very faded green tail. I managed to photograph the leg band. Most shots showed the join in the band!...but as he reached up to scratch his cheek I snapped a shot that showed one of the numbers. From that one number I was able to identify him as "Green V". He was released at Perry Lakes back in April. A different green tailed individual was also recently seen in Underwood Avenue bushland.
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Will they stay or will they go?
July is when most Carnaby's cockatoos migrate away from the Swan Coastal Plain to breed. I am keenly watching the location fixes of my study birds to see when they decide to go or if they decide to stay. Hopefully the batteries in the tracking devices last long enough!!
Earlier this week I found "Blue L" amongst a flock feeding on the seeds and nectar of Banksia menziesii in Whiteman Park. He definately has lots of 'friends' as I managed to count 174 in his flock when they all took flight together.
Earlier this week I found "Blue L" amongst a flock feeding on the seeds and nectar of Banksia menziesii in Whiteman Park. He definately has lots of 'friends' as I managed to count 174 in his flock when they all took flight together.
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| "Blue L" flying over Whiteman Park. You can just see a hint of blue and the tip of the tracking device's aerial |
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| A flock of 174 Carnaby's cockatoos. Blue L is in there somewhere. |
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