Flying around

Both my study birds and I have been flying around the countryside these last couple of weeks. I have been participating as a counter for the annual aerial kangaroo surveys. We flew over where some of my study birds have been hanging out which gave me an interesting perspective of their habitat.


Blue X has visited the Clackline area

 

Blue E has spent a lot of time in pine plantations near Lake Preston

 Four of my study birds have flown inland in the last couple of weeks. Our long distance traveller, Pink S, (who was released at Yanchep, travelled up to near Lancelin, then further up the coast to Arrowsmith, back down to Jurien, then near Cervantes)...has now travelled 100 km inland to near New Norcia! I can't keep up!!

Others have moved inland to Bindoon, Morangup and Clackline.

Cheeky Chasey

During our lunch break from fitting tracking devices to Baudin's cockatoos we had the opportunity to meet Chasey. He was hit by a car when he was very young and is now one of the cockatoos used for education by the Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre.

He isn't always well behaved as the photo below shows. He is very skilled at button removal!

Lian Yeap and Chasey (with button in his beak!)

Great Cocky Count results for 2012

The results of the 2012 Great Cocky Count have been released. The report is available from the BirdLife Australia website.

Satellite tracking Baudin's cockatoos

Last week I helped attach satellite tracking devices to two Baudin's cockatoos. We used the same devices and methodology I used on my study birds with the hope that it would work just as well. They were released on Friday evening and so far so good.

Murdoch University released a media statement today that summarises their movements for the first few days and other details.



Baudin's cockatoo has a much longer bill than Carnaby's cockatoo

Louise Hopper and Anna Le Souef releasing the two Baudin's cockatoos at Rushton Park, Kelmscott