Two-storey tall story about Cockies' avian Air B&B

Here's a two-storey story from two Sulphur-crested Cockatoos after they triggered false fire alarm in Townsville's Town Common Conservation Park this week.

Birds were so busy cleaning out hollows in recently burned out dead tree the clouds of fine white ash particles issuing forth looked from a distance like smoke, as if fire was still smouldering within.

Cessation of the work and emergence of the somewhat dusty pair from the connected hollows told the true story. The birds may have previously bred in another tree hollow about 200 metres away. It also offered two hollows, but they appeared less closely connected. 

Makes one wonder if such a notably clever species might be getting into multiple mansions. Maybe even thinking about avian Air B&B?

Dusty pickings for magpies on dunes

Dry and dusty pickings for Black-backed Magpies on the dunes at Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park, Townsville, these recent blue-sky days.

But nearby neighbouring Sacred Kingfisher shows off probable Asian House Gecko, though perhaps the missing tail became part of a magpie's dried diet.  

Looking down is looking up with 200-800 lens

On the road with my new 200-800 lens in semi-macro mode: hairy caterpillar curled up; curl grub also curled up, naturally; processionary caterpillars; velvet slug. While birds are in low numbers this year, looking down is looking up - but looking up binomials isn't my thing.