The Bodgie Boys are Back!

[Scribbly Gum]

We never tire of birdsong here in beautiful Telegraph Point.
Occasionally, however, we get unwelcome visitors.


These blokes are so cool and casual - never in a hurry to go anywhere - and even when they cruise past, they do so on lazy wings that seem to beat to a somnolent rhythm.

Yellow tailed black cockatoos are the vandals of the bush.
They hang in gangs and feed on grubs that they can hear inside the branches. I'm not sure what the grubs are doing to make all the noise - maybe choir practice - but once detected they are cockatoo meat!

The birds have beaks that are the equivalent of the jaws of life - only, in this case quite the opposite.
They tear the branches apart piece by piece to access the grub a-la-cart.
This would be fine if that was the end of it, but for days afterwards the trees drop weakened branches - some up to two and three inches thick.
Ouch!

Over the last few years we have noticed a change in the migratory patterns of these birds.
Where, once before, they appeared in two and threes, now they are here in twenties and thirties.
I know these cool dudes have to eat - but, jeez fellas - clean up after yourselves!


Curses - the bower birds are raiding the grapes again.
Oh, the trials of living in paradise!

More on my blog.
Cheers
SG

[FenceFurniture]

SG, I was once treated to a flock of (I estimated) about 80 cruising over Menai (SW Sydney) at about 500' up. Their commulative whistling and screeching sounded fantastic.

[NCArcher]

Ahh the trials of paradise. We have a slightly less life threatening but no less annoying problem. About 15 magpies who constantly steal the cat food. What sort of cats would allow that I hear you ask. Well one is old and blind and the other two were raised with a pet magpie and have been trained not to attack black and white birds. Who knew that would come back to bite me.

[underfoot]

and even when they cruise past, they do so on lazy wings

Great shots Scribbly.. and yes, these guys have to be the laziest fliers out...(efficient) just enough energy to keep them in the air ....and a little left to squark on the down beat..

[Rattrap]

Excellent pics Scribbly!
We have the same cockatoos come thru here regularly, its always a sign of a change coming - or going. But damn they make a hell of a racket & you are sure right they are destructive as hell! They just love to tear the hell out of pine cones & chew up the tops of the silver wattles.

[wheelinround]

Nice pics Tom

Uncle had 2 of these for years screech all day n night some times but they were the best alarm clock come sunrise.

[tea lady]

I never thought they screeched! They always sound mornful to me! We get then down here too! Heard this chrunching sound from the other side of the house! And I mean loud. What the? Walk around to discover a pair cracking open the hakea seed pods. Must be the only thing that can!

As for getting the grubs in branches, I'd call that "tip pruning". Natures secateurs.

[artme]

Great shots SG!!

I don't see them as vandals. They just want a feed!

Went past TP the other day but had no time to drop in and have a yarn. Pity.

[Scribbly Gum]

Great shots SG!!

I don't see them as vandals. They just want a feed!

Went past TP the other day but had no time to drop in and have a yarn. Pity.

Thanks everyone for the comments.
Any time send me a PM - be glad to have a chat and a cuppa.
Cheers
SG

[Bushmiller]

Scribbly Gum

I suspect everything has it's place in nature, although I confess there are a few creatures I struggle with. We just have the white cockies and they too shred folliage and they make the most ear slitting screech. The bird books normally desribe them as a large white bird with a powerful beak and a raucous voice.

I guess we all know the ubiquitous white cocky. Where we used to live in NSW we often used to wake to a couple of hundred of them in the yard (no I didn't count them).

Just returning to the de-foliation I think it serves a purpose to keep plants growing. For example if you keep a wattle heavily pruned it will last longer than the 10 to 15 years life expectancy.

As for clearing up, no animal or child throughout time has ever cleared up after itself.

Regards
Paul

[Terry B]

Nice pics.
I nearly hit one on the weekend as it swooped down in front of my car on my driveway. I was only doing about 40km/h but had to hit the breaks hard and just missed it.
I didn't realise they damaged things. I only see them occasionally in the stringybarks trees and I couldn't tell if they were more damaged than usual.