Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos

on the seat near the pond

These huge gracious cockatoos are often seen around Dadirri, flying over with lazy wing strokes, calling raucously to each other. Traditionally their appearance is taken as a sign of rain, but that is not always so. Aboriginal women in some areas cover their breasts, believing the slow down-strokes of the cocktoos’ wings will cause their breasts to droop. Regardless of what their presence signifies, I have been trying to photograph them for ages, but they are usually high in a tree, with the glare of the sky making exposure very difficult for an amateur like me. This morning at 7am I heard them coming down to the lily pond to drink. Once again the low morning sun was behind them, but without leaving the cover of the house I was able to capture a few decent images.

in nearby tree, keeping watch

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos are very cautious, one bird always stays on watch high in a tree while the others slowly make their way lower towards the drinking water. The watch is relieved when another bird has quenched his thirst. These birds are very beautiful, so we all stop what we are doing and follow their movements when they are near. I was just on my way out the door for the Saturday markets, but I let my husband go alone so I could stay with the birds, that is how special they are!