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Black-Cockatoo

Friday, January 1, 2021

This sick juvenile Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo was found orphaned at Marrickville Park in early June, 2015 is now thriving.

Little Opal, as the chick has been nicknamed, was found on the ground weak and unable to feed itself by a member of the public who passed it onto the wildlife rescue organisation WIRES.

Angela, a carer with WIRES, said the the young cockatoo needs to be fed every three hours by a special syringe. “The poor little thing could hardly lift its head or even sit on a perch,” she said. “After treating her with fluids and feeding her over the weekend, I took Opal to the Summer Hill Vet clinic for a full examination and she was put on a course of antibiotics as well.” The bird is believed to be about three months old.

These cockatoos are an occasional visitor to the inner west area, but Marrickville doesn’t have the most viable habitat as they usually need large tree hollows for breeding.

After two weeks in care Opal began flapping her wings and looking alert. Since the rescue, an adult pair of yellow-tailed black cockatoos have been seen at Marrickville Park, and Opal will be taken out there to them to see if she is able to call for its family. Reuniting with parents is always the best option wherever possible.