Councils go Crazy about our Australian Icon, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.
Sulphur-crested cockatoos are an iconic parrot. They are part of the Australian identity in both the city and the bush. Yet why are they getting a BAD WRAP?
Sulphur-crested cockatoos have learnt how to open garbage bins. Then they teach and share the information with other cockatoos. Councils are out in arms trying to stop the cockatoos opening bins. They are angry. Neighbours are angry. Sulphur-Crested cockatoos also nibble our wood balconies and dive bomb cereal and fruit crops. They play across the sky and cause mischief.
But Sulphur-crested cockatoos are smart, naughty, enjoy playing tricks, are flashy, very loud, and love affection. They’re fast and funny and ‘rock and roll’ to a rhythm. The challenge is, how do we live
together?
This is the time for young investigators to find solutions. The goal is to live in harmony with humanity and Sulphur-crested cockatoos.
What to do? Retain old trees around your property, as only the old trees develop the hollows which are required for nesting. Write to Councils to plant trees that are native to your area and grow native trees in parks and verges for a natural food source. Do not feed cockatoos, otherwise they do not feed in trees and grasses. Plant onion grass as they love to peck on this. That will get rid of the onion grass for certain. They are serious weed killers. Cockatoos are wary of birds of prey. Scare them by building kites that look like predators. In bushy areas, avoid using wood for balconies and windows and similar. Bird netting reduces the loss of fruit and branch structure by cockatoos. But birds peck fruit! So, then do we get rid of ALL birds including sulphur-crested cockatoos? That can’t be an option.
Kids watch the sulphur-crested cockatoos as they play tricks, squawk, flash their combs, love their community, are loyal to their partners, give affection. A special aspect, is their support mental health through watching them fly, play and frolic.
There’s so much to think about as we enjoy the antics of Sulphur-crested cockatoos. There are some answers in Who’s The Gang on Our Street picture book. As an educational consultant and children’s author, it’s an opportunity to support, encourage and inform, children and adults through Who’s the Gang on Our Street. It is a narrative non-fiction with backup facts. Written to delight young people, it celebrates the ‘gang’ of sulphur-crested cockatoos and the ‘gang’ of children. Creative imagery and information meets the K-3 Australian national curriculum on Australian birds. It also links into the social and emotional module where the sulphur- crested cockatoos have a social structure that embrace equality, inclusion, no bullying, loyalty and values that relate to the best of what we seek to teach children and us.
In some areas and States permission has been granted to SHOOT OR POISON Sulphur-Crested cockatoos. This is despite the WILDLIFE Protection Act 1975. There are other ways to work together because we love our Australian icon, Sulphur-crested cockatoos.
Support research to manage cockatoos in flocks and groups. There is the Taronga Clever Cockie Project and others.
Where to find answers on Bird Watching?
Birdlife a charity, which over the past decade had developed conservation programs, restores habitats and recovery of threatened species.
Susanne LOVES Sulphur Crested Cockatoos – https://sgervay.com/whos-the-gang-on-our-street/
Susanne Gervay OAM awarded the International Literature Prize for children’s books, supports our wildlife due to her commitment to environmental diversity and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.
Key Facts:
How can we live with Sulphur Crested cockatoos?
Support research of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos with Taronga Park Zoo
Birdlife is a charity that has developed conservation programs
