Residents of Narrabeen have been expressing their delight in encountering a flock of around 20 black cockatoos at North Narrabeen this week. The birds have been seen in the sand dunes at North Narrabeen feasting on wattle seeds or in people's backyards feasting on banksia. Other residents report they nest in trees at Cromer. A great reason to look after our coastal sand dunes and retain decent size trees for them to roost and breed in.
These photos from an earlier edition of Pittwater Online were taken by Kevin Murray and Joe Mills when they spotted some over at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and overlooking Lovett Bay in 2020. The rise of their numbers in our area is an indication they have come seeking food trees and feasting after the devastating bushfires of the 2019-2020 Summer and the ongoing clearing of their habitat and food trees continues elsewhere. Although we have had these wonderful birds as residents for generations, their flocks and where they are seems to be increasing and spreading across our area.
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus funereus, is a large cockatoo native to the south-east of Australia measuring 55–65 cm (22–26 in) in length. It has a short crest on the top of its head. Its plumage is mostly brownish black and it has prominent yellow cheek patches and a yellow tail band.
BirdLife Australia states that while black-cockatoos will take grubs and nectar, most of their diet is seed. Native seeds of Eucalypt trees like marri and jarrah, of trees and shrubs of banksia and hakea species are all important food sources for black-cockatoos. They will also feed on the seeds of some ground plants. Eating mostly seed, black-cockatoos need to drink regularly.
Further, BirdLife Australia stated prior to those fires :
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos were once content to feed on the seeds of native shrubs and trees, especially banksias, hakeas and casuarinas, as well as extracting the insect larvae that bore into the branches of wattles. Now, after the establishment of extensive plantations of exotic Monterey Pines, the cockatoos may feed more often by tearing open pine cones to extract the seeds. The population on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is now reliant on the seeds of the Aleppo Pine, a noxious weed, as its preferred habitat, Sugar Gum woodlands, has become extensively fragmented.Research featured in the 'State of Australia's Birds 2015' headline and regional reports indicates a significant decline for the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (and some other parrot species) in the East Coast.
The State of the Environment Report 2021, released this week, underlines we all need to take care right now, and for the long-term foreseeable future, to ensure we remain mindful that we are visitors to their homes when we encounter local wildlife - especially species that are in decline elsewhere and have been found here due to what is happening elsewhere. For example, after those terrible fires wildlife watchers saw species that normally live in other habitats appearing here. That trend seems set to continue.
The Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo inhabits a variety of habitat types, but favours eucalypt woodland.
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos have a long breeding season, which varies throughout their range. The breeding season varies according to latitude, taking place from April to July in Queensland, January to May in northern New South Wales, December to February in southern New South Wales, and October to February in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. The male yellow-tailed black cockatoo courts by puffing up his crest and spreading his tail feathers to display his yellow plumage. Softly growling, he approaches the female and bows to her three or four times. His eye ring may also flush a deeper pink.
Both sexes construct the nest, which is a large tree hollow, lined with wood chips. The female alone incubates the eggs, while the male supplies her with food. Usually only one chick survives, and this will stay in the care of its parents for about six months. The same tree hollow will be used for successive breeding seasons.
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo was first described in 1794 by the English naturalist George Shaw as Psittacus funereus, its specific name funereus relating to its dark and sombre plumage, as if dressed for a funeral. The French zoologist Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest reclassified it in the new genus Calyptorhynchus in 1826.
Much of their diet comprises seeds of native trees, particularly she-oaks (Allocasuarina and Casuarina, including A. torulosa and A. verticillata), but also Eucalyptus (including E. maculata flowers and E. nitida seeds), Acacia (including gum exudate and galls), Banksia (including the green seed pods and seeds of B. serrata, B. integrifolia, and B. marginata), and Hakea species (including H. gibbosa, H. rugosa, H. nodosa, H. sericea, H. cycloptera, and H. dactyloides). So if you're inclined to plant some of these food trees in your garden you may get a visit from these other residents.
Tree Day 2022 happens next Sunday, July 31st - details on what's happening in our rea below.
National Tree Day 2022: July 31
Established in 1996 by Planet Ark, National Tree Day has grown into Australia's largest community tree-planting event. The initiative encourages everyone to volunteer their time, get their hands dirty and get involved in tree-planting community events, greening our city along the way.
In 2022, Schools Tree Day events will be held on Friday 29 July and community events on Sunday 31 July to celebrate National Tree Day.
Local events include:
Warriewood Wetlands
Nareen Parade, North Narrabeen
Sunday, 31 July 2022; 9:00am to 1:00pm
Site Organiser; Michael Kneipp
RSVP Contact; Michael Kneipp, 1300 434 434
Duffys Forest Residents Association
Volunteers propose to plant 500 indigenous native tube stock in degraded area of the park to create additional canopy species, establish ground cover, reduce weed invasion and to improve biodiversity & wildlife habitat.
13 Namba Road, Duffys Forest
Sunday, 31 July 2022; 9:00am to 2:00pm
Site Organiser; Jennifer Harris
RSVP Contact; Jennifer Harris, 0408 512 060
Mosman Municipal Council
Revegetation of area to improve the biodiversity and fill in open space areas.
Little Ashton Park, Mosman
Sunday, 31 July 2022; 8:30am to 12:30pm
Site Organiser; Benjamin Wyllie
RSVP Contact; Benjamin Wyllie, 9978 4038
North Sydney Council National Tree Day Community Planting Event
This planting project seeks to build habitat and provide a protective buffer along the edge of a very special bushland remnant in Forsyth Park - the only bushland that remains in Neutral Bay. We will plant a mix of locally-occurring native species, including ground covers, grasses, shrubs and canopy. In time, the relatively dense planting approach will develop in to a fantastic habitat haven for local wildlife, providing shelter and a natural food source adjoining the larger bushland remnant.
Montpelier Street, Neutral Bay
Sunday, 31 July 2022; 9:30am to 11:00am
Site Organiser; Gareth Debney
RSVP Contact; Gareth Debney, 9936 8224
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