Imagine sitting on dewy lake-side grass as the sun rises, imagine the bird you are photographing coming closer and closer until your 1.8m minimum focussing distance is compromised and you resort to using your phone to get shots of him nibbling your favourite hiking boots. Every time I shuffled back the cocky came with me, weaving across the oval for almost an hour; I could have touched him.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) – male
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/2500, f5.6, ISO 400, focal length 400mm
I had returned to the lake that morning hoping to find the Red-rumped Parrots that had let me creep up to them the evening before, but they were flighty and preferred the tree tops to the wet grass. Instead, this cocky landed nearby and initially stayed briefly. I took several images, mainly trying to set the exposure to keep some detail in his white feathers.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – male
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/1600, f5.6, ISO 400, focal length 400mm
I believe it’s a male as his eye is dark, unlike the lighter reddish-brown eye of the female. He flew away after a couple of minutes but the parrots didn’t come down and like some kind of crazy bird-woman I started talking to the out-of-sight cocky, asking him to come back … and he did.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – male
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/1000, f5.6, ISO 100, focal length 260mm
He landed nearby and I sat on the grass to get a more intimate angle for my shots. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos have been known to live for eighty years in captivity. Perhaps this bird out-lived his ‘owners’ and was released, although his ability to fly is excellent which is not the case with birds that have been held in cages and aviaries where they have been unable to maintain muscle tone. I think his foot looks remarkably reptilian.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – male
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/640, f5.6, ISO 200, focal length 400mm
The cocky was too close for anything other than portraits and smiles.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – male
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/800, f5.6, ISO 200, focal length 400mm
I marvelled at the amount of effort it would take for him to get enough food by eating tiny seeds. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos weigh about 800g and are up to 50cm in length. They are large, intelligent birds with an incredibly loud screeching call that often wakes me in the morning as the local flock leaves its roosting site. They sometimes use their powerful bills to cause extensive damage to timber homes and window frames; not everyone likes them as much as I do.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – male
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/1250, f8.0, ISO 400, focal length 400mm
For almost an hour this handsome bird followed me as I shuffled across the wet grass trying to maintain 1.8m between us. I tried to capture different backgrounds, including green grasses close to the lake and brown patches of dry earth.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – male
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/1250, f8.0, ISO 400, focal length 285mm
I like the warmth of the background in the image above, and the detail of his feathers and bill. The catchlight in all the shots is of the sun rising above a bank of clouds on the horizon.
Years ago a local pet shop had a cocky in a tiny cage, it’s tail feathers had been cut to make it look like a young bird. I paid $95 for ‘Barney’ and peppered the shop owners with so many questions about where they obtained him that they never sold another. At the time I had a small wildlife shelter and was able to rehabilitate Barney and release him with the local cockies who welcomed him into their group.
More recently I was distressed to see a lonely cocky caged in a small, dark aviary at Churchill Island. ‘Charlie’ had apparently been willed to the tourist attraction but had started to land on people’s heads and peck them so had been confined to the cage. As I looked into his blank eyes I promised that I would do my best to get him out of there. Eventually, thanks to an understanding environmental manager, a new home has been found for Charlie where he has companionship and stimulation – he had been confined for too long to regain muscle tone.
Thinking of Barney and Charlie reminds me of the words William Blake wrote 200 years ago: A robin redbreast in a cage puts all heaven in a rage. The cocky in today’s images touched my heart, I miss him and whether or not he has always been a wild bird I hope he continues to enjoy his freedom.
Happy birding, Kim
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Beautiful writing and photos.
Thanks heaps Carolyn
[…] visit to harvest my apples and apricots. They are a magnificent species and I often think about The Bird that Touched my Heart that I wrote about in an earlier […]
As a parrot lover for years I enjoyed this post and especially loved the shot of him reaching for the yellow flowers! Nice!
He was such a character Sherry, I’m glad you liked the post 🙂
Great story with wonderful images, Kim. What an experience that must have been to spend such intimate time with this handsome bird.
Wild animals should remain free, not caged for the fickle and fleeting amusement of humans.
It was an incredible experience Julie and he really was handsome. I totally agree with you about wild animals being free.
Wonderful photos and post. I enjoyed your marvelous morning very much – vicariously.
It was a marvellous morning Dave, I’m glad you enjoyed it too. I smile whenever I think of the bird that turned the tables and followed me around.
What a cool sighting and I enjoyed your story.. I feel sorry for the wild parrots that are caught to be sold as pets..
Your photos are just amazing, it is a beautiful bird. Have a happy weekend!
Thank you Eileen. I agree, capturing wild birds for the pet trade is a horrid practice. Have a great weekend!
Thanks for your heartfelt story this week Kim. The snippet of poem is very stirring.
I’m sure the polite and respectful way you would have shared your knowledge, about how we need to ensurie caged birds have adequate room to maintain good health and vigour, would have made a big impact on those involved in their care.
Amazing images as always !! Thanks for sharing !
I’m glad you enjoyed the post and images – thanks for your lovely comments. I initially offered to rehabilitate Charlie and I put a plan together to facilitate his eventual release or semi-release but his muscle tone was too poor to make flying viable. I’m glad he’s been rehomed and isn’t staring at tourists with blank eyes any more.
Very sweet. I like the last one best. Also, I think you said Barney when you meant Charlie in the second last para ☺️
I like that shot too. You’re right, I did mean Charlie, I’ve corrected it now, thank you! Funny that their names are similar and nice to think of them both happier than they were.
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Awww he is gorgeous – what a special experience! Great portraits too 🙂
Thank you Alyssa. It was a beautiful experience!
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Do you mean Charlie got rehomed? That’s great
Yes, I meant Charlie, sorry about that. I’ve corrected the paragraph. Thank you for telling me about him in the first place.
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Barney and Charlie touched my heart. Just reading your story sent shivers down my spine and tears down my cheeks.
I share your sentiments about caged and mistreated birds, and want to free them and stop their exploitation for the sake of providing entertainment of tourists. (like at Grant’s Picnic Grounds in Sherbrook)
As always your photos are simply stunning. But these ones accompanied by your lovely story, they express even more love and passion.
Aw Marie-Louise, you are lovely! I wonder if there’s anything that can be done about Grant’s Picnic Grounds? I know they have a crazily long lease but maybe something could be done to improve things for the birds – you’ve got me thinking …
He is beautiful. And how right you are about not everyone liking them. Some years ago a neighbour ran accross our lawn bashing on a metal garbage bin to scare them off. It worked – for about ten minutes.
That would have been a crazy sight to see!
Bath time for my upside down Galahs in this rain. 🙂
🙂
I think due to their lifespan it would be odds on that he had spent some time with a human? Maybe. PS I have a flock that visit & feed on the chook food and seeds.
I think you’re right John, he was amazingly friendly. It must be lovely to have a flock visiting so often.