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voice when in close contact with into the front of the flight. He had Feeding each other (when preening each been chewing his own flight feathers. My basic Gang Gang feed consists other or just being close together on a In my case, the introduction of a new of small seeds which include millets, perch). bird had caused problems. Up until panicum, canary seed with sunflower The begging sound emitted by the then, the hen had been in perfect and oats added in the colder months young is very similar to that heard by feather. to give the birds extra energy. a great many of us on a summer's Even though "feather plucking" The reason for feeding small seed: afternoon wherever Galahs are feed­ was a problem, this pair remained it is another anti-boredom ploy. The ing their young. very devoted to each other and in idea was put forward to me by a lead­ Range and Habitat good condition by adhering to the ing black cockatoo aviculturist from The basic range of these birds is following. Sydney. The basic diet of Gang Gangs Southeastern Australia, from mid Overcoming Feather Plucking in the wild state is small seed. I men­ New South Wales coastal to south­ "Feather plucking" can be reme­ tioned those earlier as wild foods, eastern south Australia, as well as died by relieving boredom. I feel eucalyptus and so forth. So, if you northern Tasmania. They seem to be when these cockatoos get bored, they can supply birds with seeds that are confined to the coastal areas and turn to self mutilation as a form of small in size, you can stop them from inland to the higher ranges of the anti-boredom. thinking about other things. Blue Mountains. The Gang Gang Cockatoo is a natu­ The combinations I've outlined I imagine their original habitat ral chewer, spending much of his idle have, indeed, helped rid my birds of would have been the thicker eucalyp­ time in his native habitat stripping their feather plucking problem. I can­ tus forest areas. Now, much of this leaves, buds, bark and branchlets not see why it should not work with type of habitat has been replaced as a from trees. If you are to keep them in other Gang Gangs, if similar problems result of clearing for the pastoral good feather condition, you should, occur. industry or for complete forest as a prerequisite, supply them with Other Foods changes, i.e. Pinus plantations for fresh, natural hardwood perches with In addition to the basic food mix­ associated industries. branches and, if possible, with seed ture mentioned, I occasionally supply Aviary Notes pods. The birds love eucalyptus, espe­ fresh fruit in the form of apples, The Gang Gang Cockatoo is a very cially String Bark (Eucalyptus which are torn open for the seeds. desirable aviary bird, although not macrorhyncha) and other subspecies. Oranges are supplied and the birds eat readily available in good feather con­ The Gang Gangs relish Acacia, Teatree skin, flesh, seeds and all. My birds dition. If they are in peak feather con­ and the branches of Pinus subspecies also get a variety of nuts, such as pea­ dition, they can command premium (with smaller nuts). I make a special nuts, almonds, walnuts and acorns. I prices here in New South Wales. Then effort to obtain Hawthorn branches in feed pits of peaches and apricots, again, Gang Gangs do not come on the autumn when this introduced tree which are basically a nut anyway. The the market all that regularly from pri­ is in "full berry:' It is a favorite food birds will eat and enjoy dog nuts, vate aviculturists. Dealers seem to get replacement for Gang Gangs in the especially the smaller round ones first "crack" at these birds, for several wild. The birds really enjoy these which are made of wholemeal bread reasons. First, the dealer seems to be branches. They search them for (multi-grained type). My birds also get "in the know" and snaps up any insects and seed pods and finally strip paddie melons, a wild type of melon. available birds. People may keep Gang the branch of its leaves and bark. In These grow on vines like watermelon Gangs for several years, not breed the end, a branch that will fill the in paddocks along creeks and in culti­ them and when they see another bird bulk of the aviary flight is reduced to vated paddocks. They are usually species they fancy that will breed a heap of splinters, leaves and chewed about four inches in diameter, look­ readily and raise quick cash, the Gang seed pods by the next day. ing very much like the cultivated jam Gangs end up at the dealers. Also, the My pair is like two little kids about melons and the seeds are the same as birds may start feather plucking, a to receive a bag full of new toys. such. The birds enjoy these seeds. My "scourge" of this species. Again, this When I arrive outside their aviary birds enjoy these melons so much, may cause the owner to give up and with a new branch, they bounce back that at the time I had only the hen I sell the birds. and forward from the front perch to rolled a paddie melon in on the aviary Feather Plucking the flight front, calling and head bob­ floor in the off chance she would be With regard to feather plucking. bing excitedly. interested. These melons have formed This problem came to light with the Why I Use Branches a regular part of my other cockatoos' pair I have as follows: I had my hen I would like to support my ideas of winter diet. The next morning that bird for approximately two years supplying branches having leaves, particular melon was desiccated. This prior to obtaining a cock bird for her. pods and so forth. In my younger was very unusual as the paddie melon Things were great at first. "Love at days, when the road to town was lit­ is not a part of a Gang Gang's normal first sight" so to speak, with mutual tered with eucalyptus leaves and diet. Besides, as far as I was aware, preening from the onset. Several small branchlets, I knew this was a this particular hen had never before weeks later, when their annual end of good indication that Gang Gangs seen the cultivating of a paddie the summer molt had finished the were about. This "mat" of litter was melon. I also give my birds fresh corn hen's crest feathers did not reappear. an indication to me that these birds on the cob when in season (autumn). It was obvious at that time, the cock were great chewers. I use the litter on The Gang Gang is an arboreal bird was paying too much attention to the road as an example, because the feeder and it normally only comes to the spouse. Shortly after this, I best strands of Stringy Bark were the the ground to drink. entered the flight and the cock bird ones dropped on the road by the Special Feed Tray hurtled past me and sort of crashed Gang Gangs. Because the Gang Gang Cockatoo is 42 February I March 1991 an arboreal feeder and since that first spend almost all their time in trees. his pair of Gang Gangs. Several inter­ feeding of the paddie melon, I have They should feel more secure off the esting facts have emerged from the constructed a mesh "green feed tray:' ground. The normal end of a flight breeding ofthis pair. It is used to hold food items adjacent pattern is to sweep up to perch. The first year, they bred in a log to the perch at the rear of the aviary Height would then give them a about six feet high, one end sitting on in the shelter. At the same time the chance to loop down and back up to the earthen floor of his aviary. Prior seed mixture is supplied in a feeder alight. to a successful mating and raising of consisting ofan old metal garbage can Although I have not bred these young, they evicted a pair of Major lid that is placed upside down on a birds, I am hopeful of doing so, given Mitchell's from this log. They had pipe stand 48 inches above the floor a flight of either type mentioned been, up until then, successfully shar­ ofthe shelter. above to give them privacy. To get ing the aviary with the Mitchell's. My birds have grit available all the them to accept a suitable box or log, I The second year, they deserted time. This is supplied on the floor by have supplied them with more than their original log and opted for a four means of a shovel full of sand/gravel. one choice in various locations. foot suspended log. They are still They get cuttlefish (bone) as often as I have a friend who has bred from using this log. possible. The birds are provided with water in an enamel dish (due to the cockatoo's chewing abilities). Housing Housing for the Gang Gangs should be steel framed aviaries, covered in a heavy fabricated mesh. Dimensions of my aviaries are ten feet long, four feet wide and seven feet high with a perch at either end. The aviary is _.~ covered six feet in from the rear with corrugated iron; the flight faces north. The aviary is housed in a group of six cockatoo flights, all having the same dimensions.

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