Gang-Gang Cockatoos

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In the wild, the Gang Gang Cockatoo is found along the eastern coast of Australia, inhabiting dense mountain forests and open woodland regions.

They are usually seen in pairs, family parties or small groups, a social characteristic that makes this bird highly demanding as a pet. Gang Gang Cockatoos form strong pair bonds with their owner and require a great deal of training and care to avoid the occurrence of behavioural problems. Feather picking as a result of boredom is a common condition seen in Gang Gangs that are deprived of the attention they require.

Gangs also love to chew things and should be provided with stimulus to keep them interested and entertained (please refer to "Foraging." Gang Gangs are not considered to be a good pet bird due to their boredom related behavioural problems.

Distribution & Habitat:

The Gang-gang Cockatoo, Callocephalon fimbriatum, is found in the cooler and wetter forests and woodlands of Australia, particularly alpine bushland.

It ranges throughout south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. Like all cockatoos, Gang-gangs nest in hollow trees.

Loss of older, hollow-bearing trees and loss of feeding habitat across south-eastern Australia through land clearing has led to a significant reduction in the numbers of this cockatoo in recent years.

Description:

Gang-gang cockatoos are one of the more distinctive and charismatic members of Australia's avifauna. These birds are primarily slate-grey, with the males easily identified by their scarlet head and wispy crest, while females have a grey head and crest and feathers edged with salmon pink on the underbelly. They range in length from 32 to 37 cm, with a wingspan of 62 to 76 cm. The call has been likened to a creaking gate or cork being pulled from a bottle. (Sources: Wikipedia.org and Copyright Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW)

Training and Behavioral Guidance:

Cockatoos certainly demand a lot of attention, but are appreciated for their exceptionally loving, devoted personality that is second to none. Cockatoos require an extremely dedicated owner who is willing to provide significant and meaningful attention to these intelligent parrots. They require consistent training from a young age to ensure potential cockatoo owners enjoy a bird free of destructive and annoying habits. Behavioral challenges that cockatoos present include:

• Excessive Chewing: Any parrot will chew. In nature, they use their beak to "customize" their favorite tree, to enlarge the size of their nest in a tree hollow. Doing this keeps their beaks in good condition. The problem is excessive and undesirable chewing. Undisciplined cockatoos will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. The owner needs to provide plenty of "healthy" chewing opportunities (bird toys, natural wood branches, etc.) and training is necessary to teach a cockatoo what is "off-limits."


• Biting: Cockatoos, as most parrots, are likely to discover their beaks as a method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage." It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. If this behavior is unchecked, the cockatoo is likely to be dominating the entire family, chasing and attacking their least favorite humans (usually the ones they deem to be a competitor for their human mate's affection). Training is vital to stop this destructive behavior.


• Screaming: Not everybody can tolerate the natural loud call of a cockatoo, and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet cockatoo.
  

Training and behavioral guidance will help your pet be the kind of companion you want it to be ...

• AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.


• If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
  
  • the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
    • Stop Biting
    • Perform Tricks &
    • Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
  • and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.

If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:

• Cockatoo General Information


• Procuring your Parrot
  • BREEDERS:
    • Bird Breeder Listings


• The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy


• Housing Your Bird


• Bird Nutrition


• Parrot Products

Taxonomy:

Genus: English: Helmed Cockatoos ... Dutch: Helmkakatoes ... German: Helmkakadus ... French: Cacatoès à tête rouge

Species: Scientific: Callocephalon fimbriatum ... English: Gang-Gang Cockato ... Dutch: Helmkakatoe, Roodkopkakatoe ...German: Helmkakadu, Rotkopfkakadu ... French: Cacatoès à tête rouge ... CITES II - Endangered Species

Distribution: South-eastern Australia, King Island, northern Tasmania

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