The collected works of ScottyB

Our visitiors have returned again recently.

Back in 2005 we had a squadron of Cockatoo’s that were pretty regular to the area; you’d see them all the time picking at the ground in the backyard and the unmistakable ’screeches’ would be heard all throughout the day.

We started putting seed out for them (big mistake) and they came to expect it.. so if we weren’t around when they arrived, or ran out of seed, they would start picking at the wood around the deck, cutting the clothes line, removing the caps from the pool fence and generally just destroying the area until they were fed, or got annoyed enough to leave.

Eventually my parents decided this was not good and stopped feeding them. It was chaos for a good month or so there. We would find pot plants uprooted and garden ornaments redistributed across the backyard. They got the idea and we didn’t see them again.

Until now.

A few weeks ago, a single, bold, loud Cockatoo arrived on the pool fence. Screeched a few times, got our attention - we looked out the window, pointed and laughed and admired how pretty he was and - foolishly - we put seed out for him.

He returned the next night - this time with his mate. She isn’t as bold as he is. You can virtually hand feed him - and he won’t move off the feeder while you put the seed down. He is even so bold as to chomp your finger if you take too long or tease him with it. Once the seed is out and he starts dining, she flies in, walks through the seed and eats with him. The same process every night.

Apart from the occasional screeching at 5am or the deliberate removal of items on the back deck while he waits for us to deliver their evening meal they have been pretty good.

However, last Friday, the couple were joined by their mates. All nine of them. It was like a scene out of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’.

Generally well behaved, but probably due to the fact that we put the seed out quickly..

So we find ourselves in the same position as we were back in ‘05. At the mercy of a bunch of pretty white Cockatoos.

God help us