Monday, April 17, 2006

A Sad End

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I was cutting back the lavender in the front garden this afternoon when I heard what sounded like someone blowing loud ‘raspberries’ nearby. I looked around as 5 white cockatoos flew overhead, shrieking. I could hear the sound of sparks and looked up at the power pole across the road. A cockatoo had somehow landed on the wrong part of the power lines and had just been electrocuted. The five birds that had flown away landed in a nearby dead tree and continued shrieking while one solitary bird sat silently on the wires directly above the dead bird. No doubt, its lifelong mate. After about 20 minutes the 5 cockatoos flew back and collected their grieving mate and flew away. I think it’s the only time I’ve ever felt sorry for a white cockatoo.

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8 comments:

lindsaylobe said...

Yes,they mate for LIfe and a very sad occassion. Did You know it's thought Birds evolved from the Dinasours?,as as consequence of climatic changes.

Best wishes

Kerri said...

This is my second attempt. Blogger is really giving me a hard time tonight!
That's such a sad story. Poor bird and poor mate. Hope it finds another one. There are certainly plenty of cockeys out there!
They're such pretty birds. I like your pic of the telephone lines. Pretty sky.

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Aaawww, poor bird. That is so sad. You know, as much as they are a darned nuisance, I just love the white cockatoos ... they are such a handsome bird. We get lots of them down here in Victoria, particularly at Bonnie Doon (where we regularly holiday), and on the Murray (where we also regularly holiday!).
Take care, Meow

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Hi Alice, thanks for your comments on my Easter holiday. Did you also see the post from last week all about Bonnie Doon ... wow, I did 2 Bonnie Doon posts in a week !!! It's a lovely part of the world ... I could go there every weekend, if I had the chance.
Hope all is well with you. Take care, Meow

Val said...

I have always loved the cockatoos, such larrikins they are. And they look so cheeky when they land and their yellow crests go up. They can live to be more than 100 years old, so hopefully the widowed bird will find another mate soon.

Miss Robyn said...

it is sad Alice, but am I the only one that can totally relate to you about white cockatoos? They are so destructive.

Erica said...

that is so sad, I really enjoy watching cockatoos, as Val said, they are larrikins, but then I'm a city girl and never had to cope with their destructive habits

Ms. Conduct said...

Awww, that's sad. But even I can relate to your general displeasure with these birds from way over here in the US. After only 3 days on Hamilton Island of these things squawking at 5 a.m. and sneaking into our room for food, I was ready to get away from them! Doesn't help that people feed them from their balconies and encourage that stalking behavior... Anyway, still very sad for the lonely mate.