Photo/s of the day.

[moonvoice]

So I've been doing this thing, since gemfyre put me onto it, which is lodging information about where Carnaby cockatoos are about nearby, how many, what directions they flew in and out from, and so on. It is an Endangered bird. Yup. Totally Endangered. So when you look at my photos, think 'this bird is kind of on its way out to extinction if we don't figure out what its habits are, what it needs, and what's going on.' Also, I love them. Also, they sound awesome.

We hope we can fly in your skies forever.






I am eating a Banksia cone, go away.





I just am such a sucker for spread wing shots. I really am. Look at that beak. You wouldn't wanna get bitten by that beak. Just saying.





Same bird!





I really do like flying shots. No lie.





I love the one in the background with its beak a little open, because it's looking like it's saying 'heyyyyy dudes, come join me for some wicked awesome Banksia, duuuuuuude.' Yes, black cockatoos are stoners.





More 'toos.





Pretty tail!





These guys look like the Carnaby's black-cockatoo mafia.





They are judging you.





Let's ditch this joint!





Duuuuuudes. (yeah, okay? I know the captions are CRAP. It's early in the morning and I didn't sleep well. If you think you can do better, you come to my place and take the photos at 7.20 in the morning, mmkay? I'll lend you my camera and everything.)

Comments

[flyingfluff.livejournal.com]

wow, they are definitely gorgeous birds. I hope they can eventually come off the endangered list.

[lupabitch.livejournal.com]

I love the composition of the third to last pic.

[amethyst-clan.livejournal.com]

Cockatoooooos. ♥

[paka.livejournal.com]

So pretty! Thank you for sharing them!

[maenad-au.livejournal.com]

I love those cockatoos and I always wondered what they were. Thanks for posting this.

When I was a kid I saw a flock fly overhead. Because of the tailfeathers my brain assumed they were big magpies then I saw the heads and I got a shock because I thought they were little human heads!! I didn't see another flock of them again for more than 10 years.

I love things that freak me out so from that first sighting onwards they've been my favourite native birds.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I love things that freak me out too. Aren't the calls intense? :D

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

They are gorgeous birds. I love the white on their tails, and the subtle gradation of colour in their wings. I'll have to see if I can't hunt up a video or recording of their call online, just to better appreciate them.

By the way, on my way out to walk the dog I found a dropped crow feather this afternoon. The iridescence on it is beautiful, and it also made me think of you. :)

Edited to add: They have very sweet voices for cockatoos. Then again, the popular pet species here aren't exactly known for being melodious.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

You can listen here: http://cockatoo.csse.uwa.edu.au/picture.php

There is an MP3 at the beginning. They are very loud, but I LOVE their calls. So much. They are so vocal, too, when flying in groups, and sometimes while feeding. :)

Hee, that's awesome regarding the crow feather! :)

[white9-fox.livejournal.com]

Naw, I think I'm gonna pass on the caption/photo making offer :P Yours are good enough, lol.

Mafia and stoner birds? Talk about multi-tasking XD

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that they are Endangered because the galahs are also mafia, and there is a big mafia war.

That or the galahs are controlling how much weed the cockatoos have access to.

[earthguardian.livejournal.com]

Are these animals often kept as pets where you live?

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Often? No. Not very often at all. They are huge birds, bigger than our crows and ravens, and their beaks have the power to cut through bone. So only enthusiasts who have the right equipment for them, tend to keep them.

[earthguardian.livejournal.com]

Oh wow o.o;; Alrighty then. They just looked so cute and cuddly that I thought people were like:

LET'S CATCH EM! *pokeball*

[jet-ski.livejournal.com]

It's illegal to keep native birds unless you have a license to do so. In the case of endangered birds like these guys, it is impossible to get a license.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

You can keep Carnabys with a licence, actually, in some areas (and they're not that impossible to get), because aviculture is considered quite important in the keeping diverse gene pools of the birds alive in case great numbers die from heat or cold, or habitat destruction.

As long as the birds aren't stolen from the nest, and purchased by a reputable breeder (of which there are quite a few now, usually through zoos and wildlife parks, but also cockatoo enthusiasts), and the environments are enriching enough, it's permitted.

But no, it's not like 'let's go to the pet store and get a big, black cockatoo!'

[erynn999.livejournal.com]

Those are some really awesome pics. I'd never seen this bird before. How cool that they live near you!

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I love them very much. They have been a special bird to me, and I look forward to hearing them in the sky more than any other bird in the state.

[minxee.livejournal.com]

I loooooove hearing the black cockatoos when they're visiting near my place - they're soooooooo cool.

Love your photos - thanks for posting them :-D

[tigerweave.livejournal.com]

I love the idea of the cockatoo mafia *grins*

We don't get those here (well duh! otherwise they probably wouldn't be endangered) but we get the black cockatoos with the red tails. I love those *smiles*

I love in the last one how their tails look blue in the early light :-)

[sheistheweather]

The birds are gorgeous, and your captions made me giggle outloud, so thank you for that. <3