A couple of years ago I first heard the familiar sounds of Little Corellas calling while flying overhead here in Traralgon. I knew their calls from having heard them every year on summer holidays as a kid along the riverbanks of the Murray, when we would stop over at Echuca en route to Bright, in the North-East of Victoria. Never had I known them to be this far South though, and over the last few years their numbers have increased here in Central Gippsland.
It was a surprise however, to find a large flock of Little Corellas happily grazing on the ground at Traralgon Railway Conservation Reserve this evening. I have observed them in much smaller numbers previously at this location, but they had always seemed somewhat intimidated by the resident Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. Not tonight though! Not only did they seem quite at home there, but they remained quite approachable while preparing to settle down to roost.
It was a great pleasure to watch the playful antics of pairs before they began mutual preening of one another, and the affection they displayed to each other was captivating.
Eventually as the light faded, they bunkered down for the evening, while the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were doing likewise on the opposite side of the Southern Reservoir, albeit with a lot more raucous screeching than the milder-mannered Little Corellas. I wonder if the Little Corellas will become permanent residents there too?
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| Little Corella awakening from a midday siesta. shot taken about a year ago |
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| Sleepy summers: snoozing during the heat of the day, shot taken about a year ago |
It was a surprise however, to find a large flock of Little Corellas happily grazing on the ground at Traralgon Railway Conservation Reserve this evening. I have observed them in much smaller numbers previously at this location, but they had always seemed somewhat intimidated by the resident Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. Not tonight though! Not only did they seem quite at home there, but they remained quite approachable while preparing to settle down to roost.
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| Some of the flock grazing |
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| A playful partnership... |
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| round 1 begins! |
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| Let's play! |
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| aerial acrobatics |
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| awww...love is grand |
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| Tuckered out for the day |
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| A fine pair |
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| Hello there! |
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| Ready to roost |
Eventually as the light faded, they bunkered down for the evening, while the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were doing likewise on the opposite side of the Southern Reservoir, albeit with a lot more raucous screeching than the milder-mannered Little Corellas. I wonder if the Little Corellas will become permanent residents there too?
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