I went looking for Koalas again this morning. I'm sure I don't need to point out that I was unsuccessful but come on, these guys are an AMAZING substitute! I had actually stomped around the Dharawal National Park looking for interesting critters and could hear these guys calling somewhere in the distance but it wasn't until I drove out that I spotted these Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos just to the side of the road.
Cue frantic looking for somewhere to pull over and even though I considered a private driveway, the huge, hand painted and somewhat menacing PRIVATE KEEP OUT sign (yes, I watch too many horror movies) coupled with the fact that I'm trying to be a better human meant I pulled over down the road and did that head down, don't make eye contact with the bird sideways fast walk that you do when you don't want them to know you're there. Spoiler alert: they totally knew I was there.
Still, I was happy to get some time with them as they ripped back the bark on the branches looking for grubs. There was a fair amount of calling from one bird in particular to the rest of the flock that was in a tree further down in a paddock across the road, the temptation to be together too strong and after a couple of minutes I was left there alone, just their eerie call hanging in the air and the obvious zombies/monsters/chainsaw murderers that surely were lurking nearby.
Note to self: only comedy based movies for me tonight!
Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo
Wedderburn
