cockatoo

Mr Crowe the Bird Dealer! Aaark aark!

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are common and abundant in the wild in eastern Australia. Thousands of them are also kept as pets, both in Australia and throughout the world. They are fully protected by law in eastern Australian states. Only captive-bred birds raised by licensed breeders can legally be kept or sold. Parrots in general are intelligent birds and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, in particular, have adapted well to human encroachment on their natural habitat. They become quite tame around people and have learned to live in farmlands and suburban areas. In eastern Australia, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos can cause extensive damage to vine and grain crops in the southern parts of their range. They can cause havoc in young tree plantations and on managed areas of grass such as golf courses and cricket grounds. They have also been known to damage houses and other structures, by chewing on soft timber. Anyone who keeps a Cockatoo as a pet knows how destructive they can be, chewing through wire cages and wooden perches. The very features that make Cockatoos adaptable to new situations in the wild- their intelligence, natural curiosity and adaptability- also make them appealing as pets. They are lively, entertaining birds, who become very devoted to their owners. They can learn to mimic human speech, and apply it in appropriate situations; for example, they will greet visitors with “Hello” and call “Bye Bye!” when they leave. But the decision to keep a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo as a pet should not be taken lightly. They can live to be well over 50 years, so a healthy bird can easily out-live its owner. They need a very large, strong cage, preferably made of metal and with a sturdy latch. Cockatoos easily learn how to open flimsy cage doors. They have a very powerful beak, and will bite hard if annoyed. They are also extremely loud, and will call for hours in their cage if feeling lonely or bored. Their natural curiosity and agility means that they need very large enclosures and lots of stimulation to keep them healthy. In the wild, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos live in large flocks, so it is unnatural for them to be kept without the company of other birds. Birds that are kept in small cages, with no distractions such as toys to play with, and without the company of other birds or of people will often pluck their own feathers until they are completely naked. Source: www.billabongsanctuary.com.au/sulphur-crested-cockatoo/#:

I presume these are sulphur-crested cockies - but the crests look bizarrely dark...?

That middle one looks like the Evil Overlord of Cockatoos, quite frankly.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called **3some (post 1-awards 3)**, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

lovely shot !! -- Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)

It's gourges! Beautifull picture...