Cockatoos cleaning out a tree hollow

Two Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were very busy cleaning out a hollow in a tree trunk when I walked past them today. The tree is in Manly Dam National Park. I often see cockatoos strutting up and down this tree trunk, raising their crests and squawking, and flying from tree to tree. The area is where they hang out. It’s a cockatoo playground.

In this video, one of the cockatoos gets into the cleaning in a big way, disappearing into the hollow and kicking out chunks of debris. The other cockatoo watches from above, then goes down to join the fun:

It seems an odd time of year to be preparing to build a nest. I’ve seen a few swarms of bees in this particular hollow from time to time over the years. I wonder if the cockatoos are looking for left over honeycomb?

Common name: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Scientific name: Cacatua galerita

Approximate length: 50 cm

Date spotted: 10 March 2019 (late summer)

Location: Manly Dam National Reserve, near Sydney: 33°46’50.5″S 151°14’51.1″E