The Little Corella, Cacatua sanguinea, is a small white cockatoo that can grow to a length of around 40 centimetres. They prefer arid deserts and open coastal plains to thick bushland. They are regular residents of both urban and rural areas.
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Little Corellas usually mate for life, nesting in tree hollows, or tunnels in termite mounds lined with wood shavings. Rangers saw this little chap in the photo sitting at the entrance to what is probably a nesting hollow in a huge Boab in Judbarra/ Gregory National Park.
Egg incubation lasts around 24 days and chicks take a month and a half to reach fledgling stage. Young birds aren’t sent packing immediately. Parents keep them close for a number of months while they are taught to be self-sufficient.
During the breeding season birds disperse into breeding flocks. Large numbers of birds may gather in areas with enough food. Birds flying over an area will change course to join other birds on the ground in a process known as local enhancement. Little Corellas can see the white feathers of their friends a kilometre away and use this as a signal that there is food available.
Little Corellas like to talk to each other, a lot and very loudly, and often early in the day. If the ‘tweeting’ of a thousand little birds isn’t the sort of thing that you want to wake up to in the morning there are a couple of things you can try.
Large trees provide roosting space to large numbers of Little Corellas. If this has been a problem in the past now might be a great time to call in the tree loppers before a flock moves into your yard.
Little Corellas can be scared off with loud noises, particularly if you get in before the flock has grown to a record size. Be wary of using the same noises all the time as birds can quickly become accustomed to the disturbance while your neighbours never will. Flashing lights and moving objects may also frighten birds away from your trees.
Little Corellas are beautiful, intelligent, noisy clowns that can be troublesome at times. They are also a protected wildlife species and must not be harmed.