Yes, my Tippi Hendren moment. I stepped onto the balcony, checking left to see if next door's window was open. It wasn't until I sat down that I notice this cockatoo sitting on the balcony railing. Blog fodder! But it will fly away if I go inside to get my phone. It didn't. I moved close to it and it didn't move.
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I fled inside, but I remember that didn't do Tippi much good.
The problem is that birds around here, aside from the Indian mynah birds I target with a spray jet to deter them from nesting, have lost their fear of humans. Just yesterday I was sitting outside at the cafe opposite having my afternoon double espresso, when a mudlark landed on my table. I shoed it away but I had to get my hand very close to it. It soon bounced back and I shoed it away again, and then again. There wasn't anything obvious on the table for it to eat. This is quite recent bird behaviour. I know someone in the apartment building next door was feeding cockatoos on her balcony. She stopped as she discovered how pushy they could be. I think the cockatoos have learnt that if there is a human on a balcony, there could be food for them.
The Vandals, as EC calls them, smashed up the plant pots at the apartment next to neighbour HH. The owners are overseas and HH called their son, who came and cleaned up the mess. Many years ago, they smashed up one of our balcony pots. They will just pull away at a plant, the pot moves and falls off whatever it was sitting on.
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Oh, that film was very scary.
ReplyDeleteWe have a similar problem here with seagulls. Just sit on a bench and they start circling overhead, waiting for something edible to appear. Heaven help you if you decide to eat a sandwich or an ice cream...you'd probably lose a few fingers.
JayCee, I experienced them in Blackpool. Ours are smaller, not as aggressive and more just opportunistic. As long as you keep an eye on ours, you'll be ok.
DeleteIt's so weird that a species that's a very expensive specialized pet in the US is a great big nuisance in Australia. I believe they ravage crops in no time.
ReplyDeleteBoud, they do make a delightful pet, and yes, along with other similar species can be a real pest for farmers.
DeleteRUN, TIPPI, RUN!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHaha.
DeleteTo an outsider like me, that sounds absolutely delightful, but I can see that too much attention from a gaggle of cockatoos could be tiresome.
ReplyDeleteJB, they are one of few species of birds that actually play for fun. Or maybe it is about mating, but it looks like they just have fun.
DeleteThey would poop like crazy on the glass fence and floors
ReplyDeleteRoentare, no, they don't crap everywhere. Leave that to pigeons. They just like to 'investigate' things, and accidently break things.
DeleteAs soon as I saw them gathering I assumed that someone was feeding them on a balcony close to you. The vandals are opportunists. I love them but...
ReplyDeleteEC, they haven't been so unafraid in the past, so I think you are absolutely correct.
DeleteAggressive birds you have there. I always think of Tippi and that movie whenever I see a large flock of black birds around.
ReplyDeleteYep Deb. Our ravens are quite harmless but en mass, they look scary.
DeleteWhy does the cockatoo have a pretty rude name? I think cockatoos should be renamed - perhaps The Australian Parrot or Andrew's Parrot - something like that.
ReplyDeleteWhat is rude about a cock a two. I've know a few, too few to remember. I think my name in Polish is Andreas. I like the Andreas cockatoo.
DeleteIt looks like a wonderfully exciting experience. Probably because I do not live in Australia, I imagine.
ReplyDeleteDebby, I am quite used to them but I still love seeing them and watching them.
DeleteLovely to look at but oh. the noise they make - you can hear them coming a mile off when they fly over in the afternoon. Seems a group aren’t called a flock but a crackle……
ReplyDeleteOh yes Cathy. Corellas are not quite as loud, and black cockatoos make a much nicer sound. A crackle of cockatoos. I never!
DeleteDriving in the scary Twilight through the masses of birds in that small sports car Ragtop has got to be one of the scariest scenes in the movies!
ReplyDeleteIndeed Cloudia, very scary.
DeleteI was in Vancouver, Granville Island which has a huge market. I bought myself a lovely cinnamon bun, walked outside to eat it, and all I saw was huge white wings and my bun was gone. Bloody gulls:)
ReplyDeletePixie, yes I've been to Granville Island. It was a cool place. At least one place here has warning signs about birds, but they are kookaburras. Did you return and buy another bun?
DeleteCockatoos here will pull at the shiny pegs upstairs neighbour uses on her clothes rack on her tiny balcony, they drop them on the ground and she never retrieves them so now I toss them in my bin if I find any. I miss feeding them but I know it's bad for them and bad for my wallet.
ReplyDeleteRiver, yes, feeding them isn't a good idea, no matter what amusement they might give you initially. I hope you put the plastic pegs in the recycling.
DeleteThat would be a bit unnerving. First you look one way and there's one bird. Then you look back and there's 3 birds, then more. I"d run for it.
ReplyDeleteThat's what it was like Strayer, but they are just fruit and seed eating birds, not flesh eating.
DeleteLovely parrots yet so destructive at times. They really get rather tame when people feed them, in this case that person stopped but the parrots are still hoping someone will give them something to eat.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I think that is the case. Someone was feeding them and stopped but the birds are still hopeful.
DeleteThe condo rules forbid feeding the birds, even then the small birds nest in the railings, and make a mess on cars parked below.
ReplyDeleteSame rules here TP, along with "kindly remove any nesting material" too.
DeleteTippi Hendren reference was a good one!
ReplyDeleteHere some people put a sort of net on the balcony to prevent them from perching on the rails and dirtying the place or even quietly building a nest in a corner!
Pradeep, I've seen that in other countries, but it wouldn't be allowed here, like no washing drying on your balcony.
DeleteThat was one scary movie, Andrew. I saw it a few times!
ReplyDeletePat, it was. I saw it after I saw The Exorcist, which was shocking, but it didn't have the suspense feeling of The Birds.
DeleteI have noticed birds don't fear people. That was a scary movie.
ReplyDeleteSami, generally they used to didn't they?
DeleteThat looks so cute, first one and then more visitors. Why don't you let them sit there and admire you ? Maybe you should take a cat !
ReplyDeleteIngrid, I didn't chase them away. I am happy for them to sit there if that is all they do, but you give them one inch, and they will take a mile.
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