3 ms·
Not just cockatoos, but also magpies, at least that's what I've observed recently. Both are intelligent birds with not so good reputation, I'd avoid making them
by terrywang 5y ago
Not just cockatoos, but also magpies, at least that's what I've observed recently. Both are intelligent birds with not so good reputation, I'd avoid making them my enemies. Both can do significant damanages to your garden and plants. Cockatoos and magpies are intelligent enough to observe human beahviour and retaliate when those who try to offend them when they are not present at home (don't ask me how I know this...). Over time, I learned to make friends with them, make the gardens friendly and attractive to them, toys (river stones, small toys, ablone shells, etc.), clean water source and so on, I've been living with both cockatoos and magpies for years now. It seems that the magpies have a strong sense of territory, the same group returns everyday, while cockatoos visit less often, or simply randomly.
On cockatoos: One of my neighbours have been keeping a white cockatoo as pets for 10+ years, the bird start to lose feather on tis chest... The bird is kept in a large cage with a meshed window facing a park / playground, the bird says hello to pretty much everyone who waves at or greets it. Sometimes it even says "have fun" in a weird tone - it took me at least 20 times before I figured out what it was trying to say ;-)
On magpies: their beaks are not at advantage to open bin lids as cockatoos'. However, individual magpies are smart and powerful enough to open overflowed bins' lids and mess up the garbage.
- matthiasv 5y ago> On cockatoos: One of my neighbours have been keeping a white cockatoo as pets for 10+ years, the bird start to lose feather on tis chest... It's not "losing" feathers, it's likely pulling them out due to living in a confined space without appropriate social ties and thus behaving like this.
- pibechorro 5y agoDing ding ding. Dont cage birds, if you are not working from home and giving them stimulation all day everyday, its torture.
- pvaldes 5y agoCan be also Psittaccine beak and feathers disease, a relatively common and non treatable disease of cockatoos caused by (who would suspect that) a circovirus. This birds were born to be the avian version of the Jocker (and a really good one).
- anotherevan 5y agoMagpies become extra territorial during breeding season and swoop, defending their patch. They also recognise and remember individual humans, too. For some reason the ones up our street took a dislike to my son and will swoop at him every season, but never bother the other three of us. During the protracted Melbourne lock-downs last year, when you did go for a drive down to the shops for your groceries and such, you could see huge groups of cockies and galahs hanging around. Not as much fun as the small English town that got invaded by goats, but I did wonder once or twice if I was in an Alfred Hitchcock film.
- AnotherGoodName 5y agoWe should clarify that Australian Magpies are a completely different genus to other magpies. They are in their own branch genetically and there's really not much else like them. They were called magpies because they are black and white. Their behavior is equally as unique as their genome. Highly intelligent and highly territorial. They will attack humans without hesitation if they perceive a threat.