cockatoo

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/#:

There is a reverse (aft?, stern?) view of the 'Royal Art[hur]', unidentified. Is it Sutherland Dock on Cockatoo Island? Should be relatively easy to get a date via Trove.



[edited] Now also on Flickr -

Numerous other photographs available, and also a couple of paintings by Julian Rossi Ashton -




(Australian War Memorial)

Trove shows several times the 'Royal Arthur' was at Sutherland Dock - August 1898 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14158207?searchTerm=roya... October 1898 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14152336?searchTerm=roya... May 1899 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14213815?searchTerm=roya... April 1900 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14304537?searchTerm=roya... Hmm?

David Bromage beachcomber australia Thanks for all this extra information; we've updated the date from "No date" to "c.1900". 12 JULY 2011: We've also updated the caption to include "Sutherland Dock". AB

Its definitely Sutherland Dock as is the one from beachcomberaustralia and well before WWI from the lack of buildings to the left of the ship.

excellent presentation

The photographer Beaufoy Merlin's own description of this photo is well worth a read - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70480518 Edit - the article includes an engraving of this photo.

"This is the first ironclad that has been docked in the Southern hemisphere ..." and it was a tight fit - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162655942