Long-billed Corella

It seems that originally, the Long-billed Corella was a fairly widespread bird across Victoria, NSW and South Australia. Because they were viewed as a pest species to farmers, many of their populations were culled and their ultimate stronghold became south-west Victoria. Many field guides even today do not show this bird east of Melbourne. As recently as last year, 50-60 birds were poisoned – “Bird rescuers said it was like “something out of a horror movie” as dozens of birds fell, bleeding from their eyes and beaks at One Tree Hill near Adelaide.” (LINK)

'Corella' is believed to be derived from the indigenous 'garala'

 

However, they appear to be expanding their range again and isolated populations occur up the east coast and in a few places inland. One theory is that these new populations might be the result of deliberate or accidental aviary releases – the Long-billed Corella is a popular pet bird.

Credit: australian.musuem

We Gippslanders are familiar with the Little Corella, which long-time bird watchers will recall beginning to settle in this corner of the country about a decade or more back. It now seems its long-billed cousin is beginning to join it. There have been several sightings of Long-billed Corellas among the flocks of Little Corellas in Drouin of recent times.

 Little Corella                                             Long-billed Corella

After a heads up of a sighting at Lardner Park (thanks to Will and Dianne), I managed to catch up with a pair recently.

Long-billed Corellas feed mostly on the ground and they use their long bill to dig for roots, bulbs and corms of grasses and herbs. Onion weed is a favourite food source, as well as grain crops and sometimes orchard fruit.

They inhabit open forest and woodland near areas of grassland. Like all our cockatoos, Long-billed Corellas use tree hollows for nesting, a resource that is disappearing, putting their survival under some pressure – a familiar story.