Urban Cockatoos, Sydney
By Charlie • August 18, 2009 • 19 commentsEarlier in the year we featured parrots in a themed series of posts on 10,000 Birds (the posts can all be found via the Parrot Month tag). Part of my own motivation for actually running a Parrot Month was an earlier realisation that despite my extensive travelling over the last twenty years I’ve hardly seen any wild parrots at all. A few species in Brazil and in Venezuala (often rocketing overhead and only glimpsed through the forest canopy), a handful in India and Africa, with a fair selection in Australia.
In fact probably the majority of the parrots I have seen have been on short(ish) trips to Australia. It’s a vast country, of course, and many species are restricted to areas or habitats most of us (me included) will never get to, but a remarkable variety of species can be found in or around Australia’s major cities. And in good numbers too…
I’m just back from a very short trip to Sydney, with very little time to go birding. Fortunately though I had a few hours in the morning before the flight home and I wandered down to the Botanic Gardens before breakfast. The local Sulphur-crested Cockatoos had beaten me to it and were already up and about by the time I got there, sitting on the ledges of the huge Public Library in Macquarie Street (like some sort of large white ‘city pigeons’) and flying down to a fountain by the entrance of the Botanic Gardens to drink.
Seeing these wild, powerful (and very noisy) birds milling around against a backdrop of city streets and tall buildings was quite an experience. I don’t suppose Sydney’s residents even notice them anymore, but they certainly made an impression on me…
All photographs copyright Charlie Moores 2009
I’ve seen 7 species in the wild plus one established in Germany and consider myself lucky. What are you complaining about
Those flight shots are great.
Absolutely amazing flight shots. I love the one where the bird’s eye is visible through its primaries
I like the second flight shot from above (third picture) the most.
One of the joys of living in Australia is parrots. I see Sulphur-crests, Galahs, Adelaide Rosellas, Eastern Rosellas and Rainbow Lorikeets everyday in an urban environment. There is even a small flock of Red-rumped Parrots that live in the central mainstreet and square of the city of Adelaide. The Cockatoos are truly magnificent and such characters.
Once in the space of a single hour in Canberra I saw six species of parrot - Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Gang-gang Cockatoos, Crimson Rosellas, Eastern Rosellas, Galahs and King Parrots.
As for getting used to them, unlikely. A friend of my Grandmother in Sydney can’t hang her washing out on her balcony high up in her flat because the cockies come and pull all the pegs off, sending her clothes flying over north Sydney!
Great photos, Charlie.
I do have to say I’m having trouble getting my mind around the idea of a trip to Sydney being “short.”
Brenton: I’ve not been to Adelaide for years but I do remember a very green city with plenty of parks etc, but - still - that’s a lot of parrots!
Duncan: Ha, lovely story! I guess ‘used to’ is too strong. What really struck me though was the way the Sydneysiders were hurrying past on their way to work without even looking around them, while me and a few tourists were goggle-eyed at seeing the Cockatoos so close. Maybe ‘local residents perhaps just see them as part of the background’ is more accurate?
Wren: you and me both! We used to get a few days in Sydney, but now our schedule means that we arrive at 06:00 in the morning after an all night flight from either Bangkok or Singapore then fly out the next afternoon back to where we just came from. It’s exhausting frankly. (Working on that NBN interview now by the way.)
I guess it may be. Some people just flat out aren’t interested - they probably never notice them unless they are sitting right in front of them. But if you live in Sydney you need to occasionally not look at the wildlife if you want to get anything done!
Hi Charlie,
Wow, what fantastic photos of the cockatoos. I went to Australia in June/July and I saw them in the Botanic gardens, too. But, how could you go there and not take photos of the fruit bats? I tried with my cheap and cheerful camera and got virtually nothing but I’m sure you could have got some fantastic shots. Also, the best for cockatoos was at a campsite I stayed on in Hervey Bay, right on the sand. Every evening they came in huge noisy flocks and roosted over our heads. It was fantastic. By the way, I did not see one single budgie!
Ann
Hi Ann,
You have to go to the more arid areas of Australia to see the budgerigar. Also, they are nomadic so you have to be in the right place at the right time!
These are great pics, thanx
Hi, great to find this blog. If I didn’t see the author, I would have thought my husband started a blog behind my back:) He’s a bird freak and has worked on many projects throughout Central America identifying and counting birds.
The pics are amazing, especially the ones in flight. Could not believe it is possible to do something like this with the camera!
Marina: And we’re happy you found us! If your husband ever wanted to contribute a guest post on his travels abroad let us know wonl’t you. Cheers.
Lena: Thankyou that’s very kind. Modern cameras are pretty amazing. Add in good light, some great birds, and just a little know-how and the results can be really spectacular!
Hi!
I will take you up on it:) I’ll talk to him! Thanks
WOW - such incredible photos!! i love the ones of them drinking from the water fountain…
Thanks Jessie!
Very cool photos. So crisp and clean. I wish I could takes pictures like that. What kind of camera do you use?