Mt Dare Visitors - Red Tailed Black Cockatoos
Submitted: Monday, May 29, 2006 at 09:12
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Member - Ian S (NT)
Hi All,
At Mt Dare at the moment there are over 600 Red Tailed Black Cockatoos in residence overnight. They go off each day to feed but have been returning each night for over 10 days.
Last season we felt lucky if we saw up to 2 dozen at any one time but while the country is so dry they have chosen Mt Dare as their oasis. Splendid sight.
Regards
Ian at Mt Dare
Reply By: Laura B - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 09:20
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 09:20
Keep 'em there for us and we'll see them in a few months....
enjoy!!
Laura
AnswerID:
175307
Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 11:40
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 11:40
Great Ian. They are the birds that we were told in Victoria were endangered. There are only about 200 in Victoria hence Karak the Commonwealth Games mascot. I have only seen the red tailed ones once I can remember in recent years. Apparently thousands elsewhere up North....
AnswerID:
175332
Reply By: porl - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 11:41
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 11:41
Amazing when they take off hey. Do they head off one by one in an amazing rising line of red tails as i've seen them do ?
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175333
Follow Up By: Member - Ian S (NT) - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 12:27
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 12:27
porl,
Superb at sunset with flocks of 300 or more, but even better on landing in the trees around the
homestead. Normally they are quite shy birds in small numbers and keep their distance from the hotel activity but in the massive numbers at present they are in and about the trees close to the hotel as
well as making the most of water leaking from a nearby
water tank.
I've found a couple of
bright red and black tail feathers for my hat!
Regards
Ian at Mt Dare
FollowupID:
431429
Reply By: Member - bushfix - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 11:56
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 11:56
G'day Ian,
this is good news to hear. i believe their numbers are going down in sou' west WA due to the European bee. the bees are taking over the nesting spots and killing the
young cockies. terrible state of affairs. they are a grand bird.
AnswerID:
175335
Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 14:47
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 14:47
Lovely!
We have up to 60 here, but usually much smaller groups. We now see lots more of them than the smaller white tails. Years ago, the white tails were in huge numbers, and it was always a delight when a small group of red tails took up residence.
Mind you, when i was picking apples some years back the white tails were a pest, and would even destroy the apples in the crate after I'd picked them before i had a chance to drive in to get the crates.
When my Dad was a boy, there was a bounty on the white tails - he made good pocket money shooting them (something he would never do after he got past those teenage years). Now they are endangered and not all that common.
AnswerID:
175377
Reply By: Member - vivien C (VIC) - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 19:52
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 19:52
Ian,
What a wonderful sight. They are my absolute favourite bird...just so beautiful when they take off and the magnificent red in their tail feathers flares out!! We have spent many hours trying to get the perfect photo but they are just too quick for me. Still trying though.
They are endangered here in Vic as mentioned. Thankfully they seem to be thriving up there.
I envy you. Enjoy.
Viv
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Brew69(SA) - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 20:18
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 20:18
First thing that comes to mind is.............Are they as noisey as the rotton Sulpher crests and galahs and corellas? If so, let me know when they have gone lol
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175487
Follow Up By: Member - Ian S (NT) - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 20:46
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 20:46
Brewman,
Nothing around here is as noisy as the corella's. The Blacks have a distinctive hoarse cry that is unique and certainly different from other cockatoos. When we were heading for
Cooktown before the cyclone we stopped just north of
Townsville at
Balgal Beach (good place to
free camp with its own pub - time limited though) when we heard the distinctive call and then found 6 Red Tailed Black Cookatoos on the beach. Graceful in flight, timid in nature.
Cheers from Mt dare
FollowupID:
431550
Reply By: atoyot - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 20:54
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 20:54
Ian,
Hows "Lady" coping with all the visitors? Wish we were there to see them. They are beautiful birds; we videoed a heap of them in and around N'Dhala
Gorge a few years ago. Enjoy them while they are around,
regards
Andrew
AnswerID:
175506
Follow Up By: Member - Ian S (NT) - Monday, May 29, 2006 at 21:18
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 21:18
Hi Andrew,
Lady isn't bothered but Chester (the dog) usually barks when they arrive. This time there are so many he does't even bother.
Lady remains fine as long as you don't try to touch her face, then the ears go back. A unique personality that horse. Always enjoys a campfire.
Regards
Ian at Mt Dare
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431567
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 19:20
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 19:20
Gday Ian,
Sounds great. We'll be passing thru Mt Dare to top up fuel early next week. Are your supplies of Diesel and ULP OK?
Cheers
phil
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Follow Up By: Member - Ian S (NT) - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 21:27
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 21:27
Hi Phil,
No problems with fuel, Diesel 1.88 ULP 1.83
It'll be nice to see your vehicle in the flesh having followed the construction and other questions on troopyoz and lcool over a period of time. I don't post as I have lost my password for access so have become an email reader.
I keep expecting the cockatoos to move on as they do normally but they keep returning each afternoon from further up Abminga Creek.
Regards
Ian at Mt Dare
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 22:56
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 22:56
Hi Ian,
Good news. We'll keep an eye out for the cockatoos as we'll be coming through via Eringa.
We have 6 in our group and three are traytops with custom stuff on the back. Setting them up is all good fun, and using them is even more fun.
It will be great to catch up - probably Monday.
Cheers
phil
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