Reading about tracking Peregrine Falcons

I have just finished reading a book about radio-tracking Peregrine Falcons. The book is called "On the Wing: to the Edge of the Earth with the Peregrine Falcon" by Alan Tennant. The author has a webpage where you can find out more about his book.

I'm glad my cockatoos don't cross several country borders and that the data comes via satellite and doesn't require me to follow them in a light aircraft. I can definately relate to the sense of attachment to my study birds that is described in the book. It is something special to have a window into the life of a wild bird and try to understand its movements by what you see.

Bird spotting

I have encountered many other birds whilst I have been following flocks of Carnaby's cockatoo for my research. Some of them were kind enough to pause long enough for me to take their portraits. I thought you might like to see a selection.

Black faced cuckoo shrike

Pacific black duck

Little pied cormorant

Laughing turtle-dove

Pink and grey galah

Splendid fairy wren

New Holland honeyeater

Rainbow bee eater and chick

Forest red-tailed black cockatoo

Rainbow bee eater

Rainbow lorikeet

Rainbow bee eater chick

Scarlet robin

Yellow-billed spoonbill

Yellow rumped thornbill

Varied sitella

Wattlebird

Australian raven

     

Thirsty cockatoos

There is a large flock of 200+ Carnaby's enjoying the Pingle (Banksia squarrosa) in Morangup Nature Reserve at the moment. I took this photograph on Monday as some of them came to drink from a puddle on a track.

At least one of my study birds is with the flock based on fixes from its tracking device. It is one of two remaining tracking devices that are still functioning. The other is flying around the Moore River near Woodridge.

Feather hunt

Carnaby's cockatoos are returning to the Swan Coastal Plain from their breeding areas and it is this time of year that they moult. It is possible that the coloured tail feathers of my study birds might be found if there are some intrepid feather hunters (aka treasure hunters) out their looking for them. Although the colour is faded it is still possible to distinguish their non-white tail feather panels.

If you happen to find a moulted coloured Carnaby's cockatoo tail feather please collect it, note the details of where and when, and contact me.

Carnaby's cockatoo tail feathers are about 30cm long with black colouring at the base, end and often a narrow strip along one side. The middle of the feather is white, occasionally with black bars. The racime (central support) is also black. The two central tail feathers are completely black. They can be distinguished from raven feathers by being duller.