Baudin's Black Cockatoo

[Isac]

While I was a volunteer at Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre in the hills south east of Perth, I was lucky enough to be able to take hundreds of photos of our endemic black cockatoos - Forrest Red Tail, Carnaby's and Baudin's. The Red Tails are listed as Vulnerable and the Carnaby's and Baudin's are now listed as Endangered. I used to go into the pre-release flight aviary and photograph these magnificent birds in flight before they were released back into the wild, mostly in the same spot where they were found either injured or in stress.
This is a rarer Baudin's Cockatoo. They have a very long sharp beak, which they use to scoop out the seeds in honkey nuts that grow in the gum trees. They are also called the Long-Billed Black Cockatoo.

#1 - Baudin's Black Cockatoo

#2 - Honkey Nuts - for our international friends.

[Grumpy John]

Great images and a very interesting story Isac. I had never heard of Baudin's Cockatoo, so I am more the wiser now.

[Isac]

Cheers mate. I'll post some more soon. The Red Tails and Carnaby's have a much wider and shorter beak and just smash the nuts to get the seeds. You can always tell by the honkey nuts on the ground which variety has been feeding.

[Ironwood]

That’s an exceptionally good photo Isac.

[Isac]

Thanks Brad. They all gather on a branch at one end and then on command fly to the other end to another branch - it's a 60 metre flight. It's crazy in the aviary - you feel the wind when they fly past you,

[AlfandBen]

brilliant first shot and thanks for the picture of Honkey nuts. I thought perhaps you had mis-spelt monkey nuts.

[Isac]

That's what we call them. I presume monkey belong to monkeys but is there something else known by that name?

[AlfandBen]

Monkey nuts is just another name for peanuts in their shells.

[Isac]

Thanks for that. Now that you mention it I do recall them being called that.

[avkomp]

heard of these but not seen before.
head on image is a good capture also. well done

[Phill104]

Great shot Isac. What is causing their decline? I can only guess some invasive species are causing havoc. Those bloody can toads are certainly a nuisance but I would also guess rats and mice.

[Isac]

heard of these but not seen before.
head on image is a good capture also. well done

They are only in Southwest WA so not seen in the East. It's rather special to be allowed into the flight aviary to take photos.

Great shot Isac. What is causing their decline? I can only guess some invasive species are causing havoc. Those bloody can toads are certainly a nuisance but I would also guess rats and mice.

Cheers Phill. Their main decline is habitat removal by humans, the rest makes interesting but5 very sad reading.
https://blackcockatoorecovery.com/co...katoo-threats/

[Phill104]

Thanks for the link. As you say, very interesting reading. Amazing how even in such a sparsely populated country as Aus, so much habitat is lost.

[Isac]

I think most people are aware now of damage done by earlier settlers and a lot are trying to repair that damage. It's the good folks at places like Kaarakin that are making a difference.

[dolina]

I could imagine image #1 would look awesome on an ultra wide billboard

[Isac]

Thanks for that. I might do a mockup.

[Isac]

Mockups as suggested by dolina. This is all just for fun to keep the grey matter ticking over and is a great way to de-stress

#1

#2

#3

#4

[dolina]

I wish I was the CEO of Baudin's Airways so I'd give you the contract!

[Isac]

HaHa - thanks dolina.
I've been creating mockups for Photoshop for a long time. It's paid well and it's also very stimulating and rewarding to make them.

[AlfandBen]

They are really cool.

[Isac]

Cheers A&B. Done with mockups in Photoshop.

[Isac]

If anyone is interested in how to create a mockup in Photoshop, I did a tutorial way back HERE