Costa the Black Cockatoo 

Costa the Black Cockatoo sat quietly in the top of the Casuarina tree as the day was about to break. He looked down below him and saw a strange little creature sitting by itself. It was a Bee. Costa did his squawk ERRRR quiet loudly.

What in heaven was that? the Bee said.

Its me Costa the Black Cockatoo I’m saying Good Morning. Who are you?

I’m Brontee Bee, Hi Costa.

Why are you here Costa said?

Well, I’m travelling around trying to speak to the birds and insects, to have them help me. I need help to spread the word. If we want to survive we all need to work together, Humans and nature. Are you able to help me Costa?

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How?  Costa the Black Cockatoo said

Well I can see you are a very strong bird, and you are able to fly a long distance.

Of course, he squawked back. Don’t you know we travel from state to state to get the food we need?

No, Brontee Bee said. That’s Great, do you think I could travel with you? I’m trying to get to a place called Tasmania. Do you know it?

Yep, but it over a large lot of water. Why do you need to go there?

My cousins are in danger. They are destroying the Leatherwood tree they feed from.

Where is the Leatherwood going?

Humans are taking it and clearing the land for sheep and cows, it’s my cousin’s habitat. Can you please help?

Well I might be able to. I’m not sure how far it is Wilsons’ Promontory in Victoria, but we may be able to find out. This Tasmania, where is it? On that island?

Its Scamander in Tasmania. I heard this from the hive that came on the Spirit of Tasmania to the mainland. This hive had been brought by a Guardian near where I live.

Ok, how far can you fly Brontee?

Well about 5 kilometres.

We better figure out how to do this, I can travel 100 kilometres a day. Do you think you could ride in my feathers without hurting me?

I sure can, is it alright to nestle in your beard at the front. That way I get to see where we’re going.

Yes, sure thing.

By the way, not being rude or anything, I have seen birds like you before and they didn’t have beards. Are you magical like me?

How are you magical said Costa?

I was given long life with magic honey from my Queen, Queen Karlene, said Brontee

How did you get your beard?

Its magic too I guess, lucky, aren’t we?

By the way, how often do you eat and what do you eat? said Brontee

About once or twice a day. I love cones from this type of tree I’m in or banksia cones. I also love borers. I and my whole family keep forests renewed by pulling off branches to get borers. The trees grow back better that way. What do you eat?

I need to get nectar from flowers. Enough to sustain me for each day, so it will take me a couple of hours a day, is that OK?

Yes, we will be able to manage that, said Costa. Alright now, jump aboard, and get snug.

Brontee Bee crawled slowly through Costa’s thick beard and made a little opening so that she could see out, it was so comfortable and safe. She thanked Costa and next thing they were off.

Join us here and together we will see how the adventure goes

Picture of black cockatoo supplied by Jo T

Definitions

Fun facts

• Black Cockatoos live 50-80years
• Cockatoos eat fruit, nuts, seeds, insects, lava and especially love Borers
• Cockatoos screech to announce themselves first thing in the morning and again in the evening. They also screech when they find new food especially borers and when mating.
• There are six different species of Black Cockatoos in Australia
• Black Cockatoos love Casuarinas (She Oak), Hakea, Banksia, and Acacia (Wattles)
• Black Cockatoos are very sociable and enjoy hanging out in groups but often you’ll see just a couple spending time together.
• The male will often show off to his partner, fluffing his head cone feathers or nuzzling the female, even after years of togetherness this nuzzling and closeness will still happen.
• Black Cockatoos will feed on boring insect larvae which helps protect trees from being killed by these insect larvae, they help protect our forest, where they tear off the branches to get to the borers new branches will grow. They are the forest’s natural pruning system.

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