Gang-gang Cockatoo at Yarralumla, ACT
Identification history
| Callocephalon fimbriatum | 19 Dec 2022 | Liam.m | ||
| Callocephalon fimbriatum | 19 Dec 2022 | stofbrew |
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User's notes
Looks like this fellow is at a hollow - spent some time hanging out front, but did not enter completely. Female was nearby but not pictured
4 comments
MichaelMulvaney
wrote:
20 Dec 2022
Checked out hollow today with pole camera - it was occupied by a Brushtail Possum who are the Gang=gangs biggest competitor for hollows in the Canberra area see Trichosurus vulpecula (Common Brushtail Possum)
Gangs-gangs often "growl" down hollows at Brushtail Possums who we think are a major predator of Gang-gang eggs and chicks. I also poled two suitable hollows in a neighbouring tree one was empty and one had another Brushtail Possum.
Gangs-gangs often "growl" down hollows at Brushtail Possums who we think are a major predator of Gang-gang eggs and chicks. I also poled two suitable hollows in a neighbouring tree one was empty and one had another Brushtail Possum.
stofbrew
wrote:
25 Dec 2022
Thanks Michael - That's very interesting! I've seen a kind of growling around hollows before, but had no idea about the possums.
Curious - are there any protective strategies against the possums? Eg does providing possum boxes reduce the likelihood of them colonising a hollow? Or are the possums motivated by eggs/chicks for food?
Curious - are there any protective strategies against the possums? Eg does providing possum boxes reduce the likelihood of them colonising a hollow? Or are the possums motivated by eggs/chicks for food?
MichaelMulvaney
wrote:
27 Dec 2022
We don't think hollows are a limiting factor in the Canberra area as of the now over 300 hollows poled in the Canberra area, in which Gang-gangs have shown an interest, over half are empty and of hollows known to have been used to nest in, in a previous year, only a third of these are used in any one year. Brushtail Possums are the main occupiers of hollows in which Gang-gangs have had an interest in (found in 11% of all hollows) with possum evidence - gum leaf sprays at base of hollow (in a further 5%). We find Gang-gangs in about 10% of all hollows of interest checked. Thus I don't think a possum nest box will make much difference re competition for hollows, but Brushtail Possum is the major hollow competitor.
We do suspect that the Brush Tail Possum is also the major predator of Gang-gang eggs and chicks in the Canberra area and are trying to determine just what level of predation they are having. In around 20% of active nest sites (at teh start of the season) we find Brushtail Possums in the hollow prior to the end of the breeding season. We are uncertain whether possums are the cause of the death/non hatching of eggs or chicks or whether they moved in after the loss of egg/chicks and abandonment of hollow. In a few nests we have found broken egg shell or chewed feathers so it is looking likely that possums are the cause.
We do suspect that the Brush Tail Possum is also the major predator of Gang-gang eggs and chicks in the Canberra area and are trying to determine just what level of predation they are having. In around 20% of active nest sites (at teh start of the season) we find Brushtail Possums in the hollow prior to the end of the breeding season. We are uncertain whether possums are the cause of the death/non hatching of eggs or chicks or whether they moved in after the loss of egg/chicks and abandonment of hollow. In a few nests we have found broken egg shell or chewed feathers so it is looking likely that possums are the cause.
Location information
- Maps Gunn St Wider Blue Green Corridor
- Places Yarralumla, ACT
Sighting information
- 2 Abundance
- stofbrew Recorded by
-
Collections
stofbrew Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr ACT threatened species Callocephalon fimbriatum Parrots Birds
Additional information
- Is perched in or near the hollow Bird behaviour at hollow
- True Nesting site
Species information
- Callocephalon fimbriatum Scientific name
- Gang-gang Cockatoo Common name
- Sensitive
- Endangered *
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 5980m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes