CAMI, a Moluccan or Salmon Crested Cockatoo, came to us at 21 years old in April 2016 from private owners who could no longer care for her. She is a beautiful, very amusing and talkative bird that loves to cuddle and interact with us and adores a game of Peek-a-Boo! She is also quite the head-banger – she loves to dance and sing to heavy metal! She lives with our other two cockatoos, Jake, an Umbrella cockatoo and Casper, a Goffin’s cockatoo. She exudes femininity and doesn’t hesitate to flirt with human men she fancies. This funny courtship starts with her acting a little shy and then finally she starts to cluck like a chicken. Her version of I Love You! The men she has chosen often can’t believe her admission of love and look a little embarrassed by her blatant behavior. Funny thing is, she lives with 2 male cockatoos and has never professed her love for either one of them. I guess we all have a type!
ORDER: Psittaciformes
FAMILY: Cacatuidae
GENUS: Cacatua
SPECIE: Moluccensis
Cockatoos live in flocks, or cackles. They are monogamous and mate for life. The name “umbrella” is due to the way the crest on their head opens. They are also called the “white cockatoo.” They can be found in Indonesia and the Australasian realm, (Australia, New Guinea, and the Indonesian archipelago). Their crest is used for communication, and their feathers are covered in a powder to help waterproof them in a tropical climate. Think of putting powder in your shoes to help keep your feet dry. Mating season is from December to March where both the male and the female share incubating duties. After approximately 30 day and laying 2 to 3 eggs, the parents choose to raise only one baby. The other eggs were made just incase the first one didn’t work out. The baby learns to fly at about 3 months old but does not sexually mature until the age of 6. Their average lifespan in the wild is 30 to 40 yrs.
Threats
The biggest threat to the white cockatoos is illegal trapping for pet trade birds. Habitat loss and hunting comes in as a close second.
Conservation Status
EN - Endangered