This gorgeous pair of red tailed black cockatoos was photographed at the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary in the Yarra Valley in Victoria Australia during our February trip.
There are five sub-species of red tailed black cockatoos in Australia, with two sub-species under serious threat.
Healesville Sanctuary is dedicated to the recovery of 27 threatened native Australian species.
It’s animal hospital treats over 1500 sick or injured native animals each year, and it has an active breeding program for threatened species.
Although I was able to photograph other black cockatoos in the wild during our February trip, these were the only red tails I was lucky enough to see.
Cheers to you from Australia’s iconic red tailed black cockatoos~
For more on Healesville’s important work see:
https://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/habitats/main-track/australian-wildlife-health-centre/
Outstanding portraits of the cockatoo, Cindy!
I totally agree with that, Peter. Kudos to Cindy!
Thank you, much appreciated & cheers to both of you დ
They make me want to stop and be curious about their thoughts. They appear to have something to say.
I think you are right! Cockatoos are highly intelligent, vocal and sociable birds. these two are deep in thought! დ
Intelligence is easy to spot these days. When you see it. 🙂 I see it there!
Yes intelligence gets easier to spot the less we see of it! 😉
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Very pretty color tones – from the picture it looks like dark blue (very dark) and yellow dots on the upper body and with red stripes on the tail feathers. Awesome!!
They are striking creatures aren’t they, with such unique color combinations! დ
Thank you Cindy for sharing these beautiful shots. 🙂
Thank you more for appreciating them & cheers to you my friend დ
They are very beautiful birds Cindy…and big 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
So happy you enjoyed them Mark & thank you დ
Thank you for sharing! Very lovely photos of cocatoos. They are really Black Beauties 🦜
Thank you! Black is beautiful დ
Beautifully captured – especially because I didn’t know anything about them. Thank you!
So happy to be able to make the introduction! დ
They truly are gorgeous! 😊
The first time I went to Oz, I heard this sound like many crying cats. I went out to explore and found a bush full of black cockatoos. It was love at first sight დ
Wow! That’s crazy! They are incredible birds x
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Wow!! What gorgeous creatures! I’ve run out of superlatives!!!
Your kindness is much appreciated Lize. Take good care დ
You, too, Cindy.
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O my goodness! Their coloring is incredible, like a night sky with stars. I have never seen the black ones before and am so delighted, thank you!
Your delight is delightful to me, so visa versa 2UX2! დ
Cindy, these Cockatoos are stunning. So much richness to one species.
Thanks for sharing.
miriam
They are visual feasts aren’t they! Very pleased you enjoyed & cheers დ
What beautiful creatures!
All creatures, great and small, wise and wonderful! დ
Cindy, what magnificent birds and photos you were able to capture. So colorful too. We have mainly sparrows, robins, cardinals and hummingbirds which are fun to observe. Lucky you on your vacation! oxox
Aww, thank you so much Mary Ann. I have been home at The Holler since March. But thankfully, Australia, yields limitless photographic opportunities. დ
Cindy, Australia has long been on the bucket list. My parents got there. I have not. Looks like an awesome venue for photography.
It certainly is. I wonder if it would be possible to take a day off from photography in Oz….
Cindy, a day off? What is that in the BiG scheme of life? Haha. Keep taking photos.
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Such wild beauty. How wonderful that you bring all of it to me so that I can see it. Thank you.
You are a joy to share with my friend. Take good care დ
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Some pictures taken by Cindy Knoke of gorgeous Red-tailed Black Cockatoos in the Yatta Valley in Victoria Australia.
The birdies and I, so appreciate your thoughtfulness Patricia დ
Such a magnificent beauty with velvety appearance (red tailed one) in nature’s lap👏👏👌👌👌👌beautifully captured 👍😍
Your very kind comment makes me smile დ
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Such gorgeous birds. Thanks for the pictures. xo
Thank you much more for appreciating them Darlene & cheers დ
Lovely photos Cindy, you captured them in all their glory.
Leslie xoxo
They are glorious creatures aren’t they! დ
They really are!
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They are beautiful.
Bright, sociable and outgoing too დ
Wow. Such incredible birds!
Aren’t they stunning! დ
Oh, Cindy, they are stunning. I’ve forwarded the post to a dear friend back in Sacramento. It will give her something amazing to look at as things are not well there and in many other parts of the country. Rita will appreciate your skill both as an artist and an amateur photographer.
Yes, things are a sorry mess in California. I hope the birdies lift her spirits & cheers to you Lea დ
Alas, not just in California. My father’s cousin lives in Portland OR so you can imagine. She is in her 80’s and afraid to go anywhere. 💜
I did love those birds and Rita will as well. Thank you for sharing them.
Yes, It is terrible in so many places, with Trump’s gestapo and covid19 marching around like death squads of yesteryear.
Cindy, please take care of yourself. For those in your life who live abroad, stay in touch as we worry with what is going on. You are right, I can hear the old goose-stepping… How long before other countries begin offering asylum to Americans?
Thank you Lea. People are closing their borders to us and I understand all the reasons why დ
Oh, wow, Cindy … just WOW! What gorgeous birds! Their feathers almost look like they’re covered in gold stars! Glad to hear somebody’s trying to save the species.
I love that imagery Debbie. Sprinkled with gold dust is what the are. The females are the ones with the goldust! დ
As they should be!!
Yes, I love it! დ
Oh my – too many words for these pictures!
Merci beaucoup mon ami დ
Fabulous!
Grazie mille Jim დ
Absolutely breathtaking! 😍
Thanks for capturing these beauties.
I am just very pleased you like them & thank you! დ
Absolutely breathtaking! 😍
Thanks for capturing these beauties.
Thank you more for appreciating them & cheers to you დ
Oh what a delight that you were able to see two of this rare cockatoo, and get up so close to record their utter beauty. Thanks for sharing the successes and great work of this Sanctuary, Cindy.
I have been to Healesville twice and each time I left so impressed. This last visit they were busy with wildfire patients. დ
The colours are really rich. Love the bits of yellow for accents on the dark blue. What a beautiful bird. Nice sharp photos!
They are striking aren’t they. So pleased you enjoyed them დ
I was thinking I’d love to have a dress or a blouse of that design and colour.
It would be stunning. Women have often emulated birds, worn their feathers, copied their colors. We can see why დ
Makes me want to go shopping (and I’m not a big shopper).
And of course that shopper reticence is no surprise to me vis a vis you. Shopping is what people do, when they have nothing better to do დ
I agree 100%.
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The colours are really rich. Love the bits of yellow for accents on the dark blue. What a beautiful bird. Nice sharp photos!
I enjoy that you have introduced us to these wonderful looking birds.
I so appreciate your kind appreciation Anne დ
Wow they look so majestic. I have seen many white ones here but never this kind with the red tail!
I would love to come back someday and see them in the wild დ
Excellent.
Grazie mille დ
Beautiful birds Cindy… they have a royal touch! Excellent shots. What a treat!
Thank you very much. They do look rather regal don’t they! დ
These cockatoo birds are breathtakingly beautiful! Thank you very much for having them shown to us! All the best Martina
They are amazing aren’t they! So happy you enjoyed them & cheers დ
Wow! These pollysaturdated beauties can cause an abnormal heartbeat. Specktacular shots as always, my dear friend.♥*♡∞:｡.｡♥♡♥(ꈍᴗꈍ)ε｀*)♥♡♥｡.｡:∞♡*♥
Laughing…..Your comments are priceless smile inducers! დ
Why, thank you! (๑ˊ͈ ॢꇴ ˋ͈)〜♡॰
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fabulous birds and what colours!
Indeed & thank you! They are such striking creatures დ
beautiful
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What utterly spectacular birds. Thanks!
Thank you more for appreciating our feathered friends Margaret! დ
The blue and yellow ones remind me of a starry night. Beautiful!
Ah, yes! Van Gogh’s ‘Starry, Starry Night!” Perfect! დ
What stunning birds!
They are intelligent and sociable too! დ
I love this color! They are so smart and are like children. Have a great day.
Yes. They have outsize personalities and are very intelligent დ
What beautiful shots of this incredible bird! I must go back now and look at other photos from your trip!
I love looking at your photos, so we are even! დ
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What gorgeous birds and beautiful photos! Thank goodness for people and organizations who are dedicated to the welfare of wild animals… they need our support.
Yes they do. So many of these gorgeous creatures would be gone forever without the efforts of non-profit sanctuaries and rescue organizations დ
I have never seen these birds before. They are beautiful, so majestic. xxx
They are a thrilling sight and I am happy to introduce you დ
What gorgeous birds – the first one looks sprinkled with stardust! <3
She does indeed! For once it is the female who is sprinkled with stardust დ
Wow!
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The coloration of the (I assume) male is simply stunning! It looks like a starry sky above a brilliant sunset tail…and, yes, I started singing “Starry, Starry Night.” 🙂 Such beauty for sore eyes (or sore arm), Cindy! <3
For a rarity, it is the female that is bedazzled and star dusted, and the male who is plain but lovely! And yes, she is a splendid “Starry, Starry Night!”
That is unusual! And what fun!
Stunners!
Happy you like them! დ
Gorgeous birds.
They are incredible aren’t they! დ
Stunning bird, and thanks for the pics, Cindy.
You know, I decided I hated zoos when I was 10. We went on a school field trip to the Winnipeg Zoo.
Back then there were no real “habitats” for the animals. It was all cages, cages & cages.
There were 2 beaver in a pond, smaller than the cement wading pool for kids at a park. Of course, it was deeper. There was a bunch of tree stuff at one end. One beaver was busy, busy, busy gathering, chewing building. The other beaver stood at the edge of the cage, staring out. It’s like (s)he’s in jail, I thought. At that moment, I saw the zoo as an animal jail.
I find it a sick irony that now these zoos, which are somewhat improved in areas, much more in other areas are sanctuaries and breeding areas for animals. The main reason we need to sanctuary them and help their species survive, is because we have destroyed the very environments that are necessary for them. It is an ill irony that now their prisons are their hope.
Yes. Exactly. It is still a sad thing to see captive wild creatures. Some of the species in places like Healesville have no hope for survival without captive breeding. We are such an arrogant species. We think we can survive as we make our planet uninhabitable to all animals including ourselves. Arrogant and ignorant. Is that our species legacy? Truly terrible.
Agree!
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Gorgeous birds and as always beautifully photographed!
Thank you so much John. I was just admiring your gorgeous hummingbird captures.
Really amazing.
They are striking creatures, thank you დ
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Sorry about my confusion Nico and thank you for your kindness.
This is Nico! Blessings to you though!
Now I know your name! Thank you Nico and blessings back to you my friend დ
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Gorgeous!
Merci beaucoup Bette დ
It would be great if you once got to see these in the wild. What expressive costumes.
Yes. I hope so. We shall see what the future holds. დ
What a gorgeous deep color – regal I would call it!
Yes, people are seeing this pair as royalty. I see it too! And the Queen has the golden adornments დ
Beautiful and regal!
And in the species, the females has the gold jeweled adornments! დ
I love the faces on these birds. They’re really expressive. I’m glad you got to see them and share them with us.
Awww, thanks so much. You make me happy I posted them დ
Wow – these are awesome, Cindy – I seem to run out of adjectives for the birds you photograph!
Truly astonishing – how’s that??
Regardless, I always love your photos. Thanks!
You are an awesome friend Sheila. Love to you and Pretty and the family დ
Love these red tailed black cockatoos, Cindy. They look like Victorian kings and queens ‘surviving’ their ornate costuming…
They certainly do look regal don’t they! Love the metaphor დ
Cosmic wings, stellar maps tattooed in their bodies. I didn’t know about them, thank you for sharing their beauty n.n
I am just so glad your recognize their beauty დ
Wow. Beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like that. Nature is amazing!
Yes. Nature keeps calling on us, wanting us to see we are nature too. Stay well John. დ
Likewise. It’s survival!
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We share this world with amazing creatures. May we celebrate their lives by learning to live in harmony with nature.
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Amen. I share your prayer and your hope დ
Amen Rebecca, and may we also learn to live in harmony with each other დ
Oh my that first parrot is breathtaking
Thank you. Aren’t they stunning creatures!
Oh wow, these are incredible. What gorgeous colourings. It’s so sad to read that two subspecies are endangered. Cockatoos really are very impressive and beautiful, and you’ve got some wonderful photos!
Caz xx
Thank you very much. One sub-species has less than 1000 birds left in the wild. So sad დ
Wunderschöne Vögel !
Vielen dank mein lieber Freund დ
Stunning birds! Your photography captures them beautifully. Thank you, Cindy.
You are most welcome Jennie & thank you for all the light you shine დ
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Incredible photos and so beautiful 😍 thank you for capturing them Cindy 💕
Thank you much more for appreciating them Val & stay safe and well my friend დ
Magnificent, Cindy!
Grazie mille Pam დ
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Gorgeous birds and beautifully captured, Cindy!
Honored. Thank you Eugenia & cheers to you დ
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Aren’t they simply gorgeous! Your bird photography is stunning, Cindy and a true joy to watch. Sending you good vibes from the coast of North Norfolk. We all hope to hear some much needed good news from your part of the world. Take care. x
Thank you my friend. We are in definite need of some good news over here, but I suspect it will not be coming anytime soon. დ
What stunning colors and contrasts on these cockatoos. I love the contrast of gold specks on the body and red on the tails. Beautiful photos Cindy!
Thanks much Brad & hope all is well with you დ
Relatively OK. You’ll see what I mean on my blog.
Hang in there Brad. Don’t ever argue with a fool. They love to try and drag you down to their level. Don’t let ’em. You are awesome my friend დ
Thank you Cindy. I appreciate you and your support. Hugs!
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Stunning! Thanks for sharing Cindy 🙂
Thank you June for appreciating the birdies & cheers to you დ
They are gorgeous. And, I imagine the Australian fires did nothing to help their situation.
The fires were so terrible.
Wow, amazing.
Thank you Dani. Mother Nature gives us incredible gifts to care for. დ
Yes she does. 🙂
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That is a magnificent bird, Cindy! The speckles are like looking at a starry sky.
Yes! They are Vincent Van Gogh birds. დ
Amazing birds, Cindy! Thank you!
You are most welcome & cheers to you Fabio დ
Thanks so much, dear Cindy!
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Beauties indeed. Is that the male that was playing in the glitter?
I’m so glad these amazing birds have a sanctuary.
It is the female that is bedazzled for a change, and boy is she ever beautiful! I am glad too that people care enough to save them დ
OMG you were at Healesville!!!! I have so many memories of that place from childhood. I was born and raised in Melbourne, a real city child, but a fairly frequent summer Sunday outing was to Healesville for the day for a BBQ. It was my first introduction to real kangaroos, emus, and platypus. I’m so glad it still exists. Thank you!
Alison
It is the second time I visited. I am so impressed with the work they do. It was especially moving this time as I arrived towards the end of the fires. How wonderful that you spent Sunday picnics there as a child. What wonderful memories this must conjure up. There is so much bird and wild life in The Yarra Valley too. I want to go back one more time and visit Kakadu.
Kakadu is amazing – one of the highlights for us.
You are the person who entirely gets how I feel about your country and continent and all the critters therein. It is just so amazing to me. It is in fact Oz without the wicked witch and her flying monkeys.
PS Nice cockys 🙂
A.
Wow, spectacled with gold! Raven black…Just lovely Cindy! Thanks for sharing!💕
Thank you for appreciating the feathered ones! დ
Such majestic birds! Totally love this, Cindy.
I am so glad you do and thank you for telling me Kally დ
I don’t think I could ever find the words to describe the beauty of these birds! I’m so glad you were able to photograph them for us!
Your so lovely comment makes me very happy I posted them. Thank you sincerely Kathy & be well my friend დ
Cindy , Greetings. One of the most amazing blogs of our time. I am so happy to see many beautiful things here at one blog. Extremely beautiful. Thanks for the follow and its amazing to be on this blog. I will visit again.
It is lovely to meet you and thank you for your thoughtful comments დ
Thank you Cindy, Keep smiling. ⚘🙋♂️
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Wow
Grazie mille Barbara დ
Beautiful photographs Cindy, there is a very unique cockatoo in far north Queensland that is endangered to a certain degree called the red belly black cockatoo, a beautiful bird and highly visible when in flight, thank you for sharing your lovely post.
Oh, I would so love to see this! Thank you for telling me & cheers to you დ
You are right, Cindy. Beautiful birds! –Curt
Thank you Curt! დ
WOW!!! Those are just magnificent birds! Obviously they need sanctuary since their habitat has most likely been diminished by humans. I’m so glad someone out there is doing such good work to preserve them. Then there are the poachers. Sigh. There is so much beauty in the world for us to appreciate if we just would do that. Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos with us.
“There is so much beauty in the world for us to appreciate if we just would do that.”
Yes. Imagine if we all would just do that. And endeavor everyday, to not make things worse. But maybe just a little bit better.
Love to you Marlene დ
Such an elegant Cockatoo 🖤 Amazing pics 👌
They would put the preeners in the court of Louis XIV to shame! დ
Yes, that’s true 😀
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Regal looking birds. A beautiful contrast with the yellow on blue.
They are striking creatures aren’t they. Happy you enjoyed them & cheers to you დ
Cool. I had no idea cockatoos came in that color.
There are a variety of black cockatoos in Australia and they are all stunners! დ
What a special bird!!
Yes, they are amazing little creatures! დ
Yes, they are amazing little creatures! დ
They are so beautiful and look so fantastical! Like something from a fairy tale.
They are indeed like real life fairy tale fairies Halim დ
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Thanks so much & cheers!
It’s awesomely beautiful!
They are stunning creatures aren’t they! დ
Yes, they are! 🙂
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Great closeups!
Thanks so much! დ
Wow… beautiful, and yet so unique. Thank you, Cindy for introducing to us!
So happy to make the introduction Amy & cheers to you დ
Classy birds!
Nature rarely disappoints 🙂 Great pics!
She just doesn’t does she. She gives us all this glory and trusts us to take care of it დ
Gorgeous photos, Cindy! I love the colors.
Thank you very much Michelle & cheers to you! დ
Wow! These are cracker sharp – pun intended. Zooming in I can see you reflected in the third image cockatoo eye!
Thanks for following my blog, reciprocated – Ill definitely be back!
You are an observant person. I value this დ
Reblogged this on Spiritual Challenges.
Thank you for your kindness my friend დ
Thank you Cindy.
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Gorgeous and fascinating. I’ve so enjoyed visiting and delighting in all the latest avian beauties you have featured here. Cheers 🙂
Awww, your comment made me smile! Thank you დ
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Sincere thank you! დ
Absolutely stunning! Great shots by the way.
So thoughtful & so appreciated! Thank you დ
Fantastic pictures of these beautiful creatures
Thank you very much Keith. I am happy you like them & cheers to you დ