242



A. F. Moody—Birds at Lilford



males come alone to feed, later the females accompany them again,

but often with soiled plumage. Usually from one to three young

are reared. These can be distinguished when flying by their shorter

tails.


In a recent number of this Magazine mention has already been

made of the domestic affairs of our Macaws. These continue very

fit, and are incubating again this year. A Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

which had been at liberty for some years is now confined on

suspicion of interfering with the nesting Macaws. At large, this

bird was very noisy, flopped about like a great Snowy Owl, and

was much respected by others of the group at liberty.


Another bird now perfectly contented in a large aviary is a

pink-breasted Australian Galah. This example was well known

in the district, being at liberty for about fifteen years. Occasionally

it wandered as far as 4 miles away, but invariably returned

each morning and evening to be fed. Once it went down a chimney,

but was safely retrieved, and later, when disturbed from roost by

a falling bough during a gale, almost came to grief in the lights

of a passing car.


Referring to the wing power of Parrots at liberty, each species,

of course, like our native birds, has its own mode of flight. The

Macaws, when taking long flights, sail along with laboured wing

beats, the blue and yellow probably making fewer beats to the

minute than the red. On fine summer evenings I have observed the

always active Ring-necks frequently indulge in high aerial exercise.

At these times they fly in wide circles, pack like Sand Grouse, and

turn and twist with amazing rapidity. The Galahs, which are fine

movers, indulge in grand circling sweeps, uttering their fine call

at the time. To those people, also, whose acquaintance with the

African Red-tail is confined to the monkey-on-a-stick-like behaviour

when caged, it is a revelation to view' the activity of the bird as it

whips along with a woodcock-like flight, cleverly missing timber at

every twist.


A real tragedy during the period covered by these notes was the

loss by escape of a beautiful pair of Hyacinthine Macaws. These,

possessed of most formidable bills and the Macaw family predilection



