isn't she gorgeous?...

...and this beautiful Red Tailed Black Cockatoo  (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso)...the banksii bit for English botanist Joseph Banks... was so busy looking after a juvenile squeaking in a lower branch that she decided to hang around while Astro and I clattered around below the tree.

We are so lucky to have these birds flying wild and free in our neigbourhood.
The cocky is protected under the Wildlife Act and its level of endangered  status varies from state to state, the 'naso' considered to be Near Theatened.
The annual  Great Cocky Count keeps track of their numbers, roosting spots and breeding pairs and judging by the numbers that 'prune' the eucalypts in our street they are doing very well here thank you very much!!