Sam settling in at aviary

SULPHUR-CRESTED cockatoo, Samantha (aka Sam), is a welcome addition to the Kowhai Park Aviary and is settling into her new Feilding home after a noisy welcome from long-time resident, Joey.

Twenty-year-old Sam has been donated to the aviary by Val and Peter Murdie, of Ashhurst, and replaces the female cockatoo that died a year ago after being shot down in her cage by three youths.

A New Zealand wood pigeon (kereru) and a wild Muscovy duck, which lived at the park, were also killed in the shooting spree. It was the first incident of its type at the aviary since it was opened more than 30 years before.

Aviary Keeper, Brian Day, said Sam was being introduced to 46-year-old cockatoo Joey a few hours at a time each day to prevent any possible fighting and to make it easier for the two Australian natives to get used to each other.

“Joey survived the shooting,” said Mr Day, “but fretted for some time at losing his mate and wouldn’t come out of the nest. He’s now back to his noisiest best.”

Mr Day was appreciative of the Murdie’s donation as a replacement bird could cost up to $1500.

“We’re pretty lucky to get one,” he said. “The cockatoos certainly draw attention with their screeching and excitable behaviour.”

Mrs Murdie said Sam had been with the family since she was a chick, but they felt she would now be better off at the aviary and in company with another cockatoo.

“She will talk, but not loudly, and usually when she is on her own and thinks nobody is listening,” said Mrs Murdie. “Some of her favourite things are ‘put the bird to bed’, ‘let the bird out’, ‘goodnight bird’ and ‘give us a kiss’.”

In the meantime, Mr Day is expecting an excellent breeding season at the aviary with a number of birds sitting on eggs and a few chicks already “popping out”.