What a beak!
Jan 4th, 2008 by Duncan
We’ve been hearing and seeing a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo occasionally during the last couple of days, and this morning we looked out to see it investigating the trunk of the old Acacia floribunda by the fence. It was very interested in the trunk low down, and it wasn’t long before we heard its powerful beak ripping off pieces of bark and wood. Anyone who’s ever cut wattle wood knows how tough it is, but these cockatoos go through it like cheese, it would be interesting to know the force applied by that powerful beak. Out in the bush I’ve often seen wattle saplings felled by the birds in their quest for witchetty grubs, a favourite food. They’re good bush tucker for humans too, after the sawdust filled gut has been removed and the grub has been gently cooked. When we were at the Cabbage Palms Reserve at Marlo many years ago, we heard a cracking noise and looked up to see two YTB’s ripping into the top of an old dead hard as iron Mahogany Gum, and the noise was clearly audible from forty metres away. Although this morning’s bird was in deep shade I took a few pictures, here it is clinging to the trunk, with added support from its tail. Click to enlarge.
Here’s a shot of its work site, it’s opened up a good sized witchetty tunnel.
The wattles are thirty odd years old now, and on their last legs, there’s sawdust showing from lots of places so I think the cocky will be a return visitor. I also think I’d better get some replacement trees growing, garden birds don’t come any better than these magnificent cockatoos.