Bottlebrush (forum)

Cathy starts with ...
Can anyone identify this bird?
It has been breaking off my bottle brush flowers leaving them scattered on the front lawn. I've tried hanging bird seed in my garden but the birds seem to take little notice of it - they continue to break the bottle brush flowers off.
Without harming them, is there any way to deter them from damaging my bottlebrush tree?
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Time: 20th April 2009 4:57pm

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About the Author Dilly
Perth
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peter says...
whenever you see them throw a handfull
of stones at them, they will soon get
the idea that it is a dangerous area.
it will even happen quickly if your a
good shot.

Time: 20th April 2009 6:08pm

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About the Author peter30001
adelaide
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Firefly says...
Going only by my copy of Birds of Australia, it looks like a Short-billed Black Cockatoo. No idea how to deter them.

Time: 20th April 2009 6:09pm

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Penrith NSW
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Cathy says...
Thanks guys.
Don't think I'll go with Peter's idea since I don't want to harm them !

Time: 20th April 2009 6:41pm

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About the Author Dilly
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Phil. says...
You're lucky to have them. Also known as Carnaby's white-tailed black cockatoo, they're currently under serious threat from habitat loss in WA, especially in the wheatbelt.

Time: 20th April 2009 6:54pm

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Dekka says...
It's either Carnaby's or maybe Baudin's White-tailed Black Cockatoo. Phil's right...seriously threatened so just leave it alone and enjoy it while you have it. The majority of the population of these birds lives in or near urbanised areas so if everyone pelts them with rocks as Peter suggests then what hope have they? Cathy, Your Callistemon won't be harmed nor will your lawn. As far as feeding wild birds with seed goes, in the long term, it will probably reduce their population more effectively than shooting them with a shotgun so if you really don't want to harm them just leave to themselves.

Time: 20th April 2009 7:57pm

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About the Author Dekka
Newcastle
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Tecko says...
I have the same problem with them too.They come in a big swarm. They seem to like to peck off the bottlebrushes flowers, selectively eat a bit of it, then throw the rest of it on to the lawn, literally littering the whole lawn. How can we stop this mischief? Any suggestions (gentler approach to shoo them away)? would be appreciated.

Time: 1st May 2009 4:11pm

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About the Author tecko1
SoR, Perth
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jj says...
tecko, that's happened to me too. they stopped after a while. guess you just leave them to themselves.

Time: 2nd May 2009 12:10am

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