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INTRODUCTION from A Birdkeeper's Guide to Cockatoos by David Alderton Sponsored by: Cockatoos, with their distinctive crests, are probably the most easily identifiable of all parrots. This crest can be raised or lowered at will and varies in size and shape depending on the species. The 17 recognized species include several that are very scarce in aviculture and may be seen only as part of major parrot collections, as well as the popular Galah, Citron and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. In the wild, they are found predominantly on islands to the north of Australia, from Indonesia to the Solomons, with a number also occurring in Australia itself. The decision to buy a cockatoo is not one to be taken lightly; they are expensive birds to purchase and owning one may well be a lifelong commitment as few birds are as long-lived. The oldest known individual was a Greater Sulphur-crested cock bird called "Cocky", who was given to London Zoo in 1925. He had been with his previous owners since 1900 and so must have been at least 82 years old when he died in 1982. But another Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, affectionately known as Cocky Bennett, is believed to have lived to the grand old age of 120. Cocky spent his early years sailing the South Pacific with his first owner, a Captain George Ellis, gaining a strong nautical vocabulary, He was then retired ashore into the care of Mrs. Sarah Bennett, and lived at her hotel near Sydney for a further 26 years. Cockatoos are lively, active birds, but can be very destructive and need to be kept in suitably robust accommodation. Be prepared, too, for quite a lot of noise at times! Particularly when kept as pets, however, young cockatoos should develop into very tame companions and although they are less talented mimics than some parrots, most will learn a few words. In aviary surroundings, pairs will often nest successfully' and in recent years, a better understanding of the reproductive cycle and nutritional needs of these birds has resulted in an increasing number of cockatoos being bred by aviculturists. The Author David Alderton has kept and bred a wide variety of birds for nearly 30 years and has travelled extensively in pursuit of this interest, visiting other enthusiasts in various parts of the world. He has written a number of books on avicultural subjects, and contributes regularly to general and specialist publications in the UK and overseas. David studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge University, and now, in addition to writing, runs a highly respected international service that offers advice on the needs of animals kept in both domestic and commercial environments. He is presently both a Council Member of the Avicultural Society and the Chairman of the National Council for Aviculture - the umbrella organization for birdkeeping societies in the UK. The Photographer Cyril Laubscher has been interested in aviculture and ornithology for more than 35 years and has travelled extensively in Europe, Australia and Southern Africa photographing wildlife. When he left England for Australia in 1966 as an enthusiastic birdkeeper, this fascination found expression as he began to photograph birds. Since then, special techniques have been developed by him for photographing birds and animals under studio conditions-to augment his photography in the wild - and his photographs have met with considerable international acclaim. Solo photographic exhibitions of his work at the NEC in Birmingham, England, have further enhanced his reputation. During the last five years, Cyril has completed 12 books as sole photographer and has been a major contributor to many others.

Order Book Table of Contents Related Articles Introduction Choosing a Cockatoo Leadbeater's Cockatoo Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Related Books A Birdkeeper's Guide to Cockatoos Parrots A Petkeepers Guide to Hamsters & Gerbils Turtles Successful Iguana Keeping Book Credits: Editor: Anne McDowall Designer: Rod Teasdale Colour reproductions: Bantam Litho Ltd. Filmset: Flair plan Phototypesetting Ltd. Printed in Hong Kong by Proost International Book Production