Palm Cockatoo

[minibirdman]

I live in Syndey and have a 6 year old son that is in love with all birds. For his next birthday all he wants is to see a Palm Cockatoo. I know there are some in Adelaide zoo but I am after one in NSW, within a couple of hours of Sydney would be great. Does anyone know where I could take him to see one?

Thanks

 

[Chlidonias]

Adelaide Zoo is your only option I believe

 

[zooboy28]

Here are two threads on this species in Australian zoos (or more accurately zoo):

http://www.zoochat.com/24/palm-cockatoo-p-150130/
http://www.zoochat.com/24/palm-cockatoo-hatching-192351/

I don't think there is any chance of you seeing them in NSW, if you really want to see them you might have to go to Adelaide.

 

[DavidBrown]

Palm cockatoos seem to be much more common in American zoos than Australian ones. I wonder why that is? I would expect such a charismatic native species to be more common in Aussie zoos.

 

[Chlidonias]

Palm cockatoos seem to be much more common in American zoos than Australian ones. I wonder why that is? I would expect such a charismatic native species to be more common in Aussie zoos.

palm cockatoos are a relict tropical species in Australia, found only in the very far northern tip. Their main distribution is New Guinea, which is where all the ones in America, Europe, etc originate (i.e. through massive exports over the decades, both legal and otherwise).

You might realistically expect there to be a zoo population of the local Australian bird; perhaps there is some historical reason why that is not the case.

 

[nanoboy]

I didn't state it on previous threads, but when I went last year, there was a palm cockatoo in a back of house area. I saw the bird's silhouette and suspected what kind of bird it was and thought nothing more of it, because we were sitting and eating an ice cream. A keeper passed by so I asked him if it was indeed a palm cockatoo and he was like "yeah. Do you want a closer look?". Hell yeah!! I didn't even ask to have a closer look: he volunteered.

Anyway, my wife and I got to spend at least 5 minutes with a hand raised palm cockatoo who perched on our arms, and we have tonnes of photos too! My wife has used that photo as her avatar for almost a year now thanks to the great photographer (me!).

Maybe you might have similar luck, especially if you mention your son's obsession to the right keeper on the right rounds at the right time.

 

[zooboy28]

I didn't state it on previous threads, but when I went last year, there was a palm cockatoo in a back of house area.

This is referring to a visit to Adelaide Zoo presumably?

 

[nanoboy]

This is referring to a visit to Adelaide Zoo presumably?

Correct! Don't go dobbing in the keeper, mmkay?

I also had a palm cockatoo on my shoulder at Kuala Lumpur Bird Park.