PINK COCKATOOS AT BOWRA SANCTUARY

BY BEVERLEY

​I was so chuffed to find these pink cockatoos - also known as Major Mitchell cockatoos - late in the day recently at Bowra Sanctuary in Queensland. The light was poor, except the setting sun came out just briefly and highlighted their cones. It was such a delightful experience.

I've been wanting to get to Bowra Sanctuary ear Cunnamulla in Queensland for quite some time, but a four-wheel drive was required. Now the Troopy is in full swing, I was rearing to go. I'll write more extensively about the Boawra experience shortly - for now, I want to focus on a signature experience there: finding four pink cockatoos late in the day, displaying and preening...

I'd been for drive to the far end of the property - it's called the Tablelands Track - and found a few small bush birds. There's plenty to see at Bowra, including the bush itself. I found the colours riveting ...

Anyway, I was driving towards camp, the sun was fading fast (even though it was only just gone 5.40 pm), and I had the window down to enjoy the evening air, and to listen to the sounds of Bowra. Some pretty raucous squeaking caught my attention, and I glanced to my right, I saw my four new best friends carrying on in the trees about fifty metres across the clearing.

I leapt out, camera in hand, and made for the party - looking calm but really I was very excited! I photographed and filmed as best I could, given that the light was poor. There was definitely some shaky camera and blurry bits in my videography but I thought them worth keeping and sharing just to show these lovely birds displaying their cones, and preening. All part of the mating process, I presume. 

Even better, the setting sun shone through for just the briefest time, and my cockatoos, high in the tree, caught that golden hour light in their cones. Magic!

Here is a synopsis of my experience, shaky camera and blurry bits included. Enjoy!