A lifetime study of the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

Professor Dominique Homberger in Bourke with her husband Ravi Rau.. Photo TWH

The red-tailed black cockatoo is a familiar sight around Bourke, but there is more to this iconic bird than meets the eye.

A world-renowned professor from the United States has made the Calyptorhynchus banksii parrot part of her life’s work and she’s uncovered some surprising facts. Swiss-born Professor Dominique Homberger is from the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and has been visiting Bourke since 1987, studying the habitat and feeding habits of the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.

“There are two things I have learned which led me to this work,” Professor Homberger said.

“One – parrots don’t belong in cages or aviaries.

“The second is that the red-tailed black cockatoo occurs only in Australia and is somewhat different to all other cockatoos.

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