Glossy Black Cockatoo

[Alan]

Returning from an Australia Day Ceremony, I spotted 3 of these feeding in some Casuarinas. I slowly approached, but they flew off quickly and only one of 4 of the photos which I took was in focus - and very noisy - but I can live with that as it's my first photo of these birds



D7000 Tamron 16-300m @210mm f/6.3 1/6400 3200 ISO, hand held, as these were the settings I was using earlier in the hall. Cloned out/erased lots of branches in front of the bird



Calyptorhynchus lathami.


"The Glossy Black-Cockatoo is the smallest of the five black-cockatoos. It feeds almost exclusively on Allocasuarina seeds in a particular area. Birds may feed only on a single species. It may also sometimes eat wood-boring larvae. Feeds in threes, less commonly in pairs or small groups or in large flocks of up to 60 birds." BIB

[P Plates]

Good capture with it in flight and with food as well. They are amazing birds and whilst I know they are around here we see them rarely. At least they always let us know when they are around - not the quietest of birds. We were just setting the van up in Corrimal and a few flew within a few metres of me., 200 would have been plenty of reach. Waited in hope for it to happen again but alas it didn't. Did find some others later but feeding in a tree so impossible to get clear shots of them.

[seaslug]

Lovely colour display in the tail.

[Isac]

Lovely capture Alan, She is a beautiful bird and you've got the colours pretty spot on. We are currently in the process of giving the interactive aviary a bit of a makeover and planting a dead sheoak tree as an extra perch for them. Their favourite food (only as a treat) is almonds in the shell. It's like a chocolate one might give a poodle for being extra good.