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This is an excited Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, one of the most widespread and common cockatoos of Australia.
This bird is training to be part of the "Free Flight Parrot Show" of Healeville Sanctaury.

As you can see, the famous crest is sulphur-coloured, and hence the name!
The crest is normally held swept back - it is only upright like this when the bird is excited.

One of the most famous and certainly common Australian native parrot species is the sulphur crested cockatoo, or cockies as they are informally locally known as.
Cockies are very long-living birds, and caged birds kept as pets have been known to live as long as 80 yo.
They are highly intelligent - and VERY noisy! They are known for their very loud and harsh screeching.

These birds are quite large and robust, and can do great damage to crops, or even timber frames of old houses - they particularly love western red cedar which was a popular building material years ago.
Many a house with feature window frames made of western red cedar have been chewed to ruins!

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is similar in appearance to the three species of corella found in Australia. Corellas are smaller, however, and lack the prominent yellow crest. There are a few regional subspecies within Australia.

Typically these birds will weigh around 800 grams. In most cases, male birds can be distinguished from females with their almost black eyes, whereas the female has a more red/brown coloured eye. Their distinctive raucous call can be very loud; it is meant to travel through the forest environments in which they live, including tropical and subtropical rainforests. These birds are naturally curious creatures, as well as very intelligent. They have adapted very well to European settlement in Australia and live in many urban areas.

Scientific name: Cacatua galerita
Family: Cacatuidae
Order: Psittaciformes

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is a large white parrot. It has a dark grey-black bill, a distinctive sulphur-yellow crest and a yellow wash on the underside of the wings. Sexes are similar, although the female can be separated at close range by its red-brown eye (darker brown in the male). This is a noisy and conspicuous cockatoo, both at rest and in flight. Young Sulphur-crested Cockatoos resemble the adults.

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo's range extends throughout the northern and eastern mainland, and Tasmania. A small population has become established around Perth, Western Australia. The species also occurs in New Guinea and the Aru Islands, and has been introduced into New Zealand and Indonesia.
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo's normal diet consists of berries, seeds, nuts and roots. It also takes handouts from humans. Feeding normally takes place in small to large groups, with one or more members of the group watching for danger from a nearby perch. When not feeding, birds will bite off smaller branches and leaves from trees. These items are not eaten, however. The activity may help to keep the bill trimmed and from growing too large.

Healesville Sanctuary, Healesville, Victoria, Australia

Caption: A 76 Squadron Hawk taxies after landing at RAAF Richmond in preparation for the Defence Force Air Show.

Deep caption:
The Air Show held this past weekend celebrated the 85th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at what was formerly known as Ham Common, now RAAF Base Richmond. Originally called RAAF Station Richmond until 1952, Richmond was the second Air Force Base to be established within Australia and the first in New South Wales. Today, RAAF Base Richmond is one of the oldest surviving Air Bases in Australia, as well as the busiest due to the activities of Air Lift Group (ALG) as well as being the hub of all the RAAF and Australian Defence Force (ADF) logistics.

The Air Show featured a variety of exhibitions and ground displays to entertain the whole family. This included both of the Air Force Bands, the Air Force Balloon, Air Force Police Dogs (Military Working Dogs) and a variety of civilian exhibitors. The exhilarating flying program incorporated some of Australia's finest vintage propeller driven aircraft through to jets and helicopters in service with the ADF today.

One highlight of the show will be the first public viewing of the newest asset to the Air Force, the giant C-17 Globemaster. Over the two days the huge crowds will be entertained with a variety of aircraft including a Tigermoth through to a World War II Spitfire, a Kittyhawk and a Mustang. These aircraft will be joined by the first aircraft of the jet age, the Meteor, the Vampire and a Canberra bomber, culminating in the current breed of Air Force aircraft, the C-130J, the PC-9, the F-111 and the Hornet.

AFIR No:000-182-677
Date Taken:20/10/2006
Taking Unit: Photographic Training Flight
Photographer: Corporal Leigh M Cameron
PMKeys No: 8208246