Bird Life with Tony Wellington
Glossy Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhyncus lathami) are not glossy at all. They are predominantly brown-black with bright tail panels.
Glossy Black Cockatoos are also extremely fussy eaters, feeding on the seeds of very specific types of Casuarina tree. They have one of the most specialised diets among the world’s birds, spending much of their time crushing the small, hard cones to extract the tiny seeds.
Habitat clearing and bushfires can have an enormous impact on Glossy Black Cockatoos. We’re lucky to have them here because they are classified as vulnerable in Queensland. I found this one feeding in the Eumundi Forest Reserve.
Glossy Blacks are quiet, unassuming cockatoos, particularly when compared with their noisy parrot cousins. Indeed, these wild birds are remarkably tame, and you can get quite close to them when they are feeding.
Tony has worked as a filmmaker, artist, author, photographer and media lecturer. He has also been a Councillor on both the Sunshine Coast and Noosa Councils, as well as Mayor of Noosa.
