Tobacco accused bail bid
Noisy, handsome birds, yellow-tailed black cockatoos are again being seen and heard across Geelong's eastern suburbs.
One of about five different black cockatoo species that are found across Australia, the yellow-tailed occurs throughout south-eastern, coastal areas from south Queensland to the eastern corner of South Australia, as well as Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands.
They breed in old-growth forests for nesting, each pair using a wide, deep hollow in a eucalypt that has survived fires and forestry over the years.
Now that the arduous task of raising a family of just one or two young during spring and early summer has ended, the birds have gathered into often large flocks that move away from the forests in search of food.
In the past, this would have been found on banksias, hakeas and other native trees that hold their large seeds in hard cases, but now it is pines and other conifers planted long ago that the cockatoos rely on.
The biggest of these trees are now often found in public parks, reserves or wind-break plantations, but they are increasingly scarce.
Eastern Park is one valuable resource for black cockatoos, but there are other places that are increasingly important.
At Portarlington, there are many old coast banksias planted years ago on the bay-front and in nearby Point Richards Reserve. They have become important to the cockatoos that find the seeds held in the cones an excellent source of food.
In addition, water on adjacent farms is welcome.
So not surprisingly perhaps, flocks of these magnificent, noisy birds have been seen in eastern areas during the past month.
One flock of well more than 100 birds has been seen in East Geelong and near Moolap. On a field naturalists’ club fauna survey at Point Richards, about 60 were seen in the banksias.
What the future holds for these birds as old plantations of pines and banksias die out is unclear. Perhaps softwood plantations established to boost the timber industry will suffice, and as we move away from logging native forests, retention of the old trees will help.
It would be a tragedy indeed if we were to lose these majestic birds.
Wildlife information and questions can be sent to ppescott@gmail.com
An accused tobacco war ringleader Majid Alibadi is seeking to be released from custody days after $270,000 was allegedly delivered to his home.
Mr Alibadi, 25, has appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court for a second bail application.
Police allege he is a trusted leader of the “Hamad syndicate” in Melbourne’s north, carrying out orders from Kazem “Kaz” Hamad, who was deported in July last year.
Mr Alibadi was arrested in January and accused of orchestrating four Melbourne firebombings last year.
In court, Detective Leading Senior Constable Matthew Lindsay, of the Luna Taskforce, alleged a covert device had recorded extensive conversations with Mr Hamad on “everything from illicit tobacco importation to girlfriends”.
He further alleged a parcel with more than $270,000 was delivered to Mr Alibadi’s Epping home on April 26.
The court was told Mr Alibadi’s brother was arrested, claiming the money had come to pay “legal fees”.
Mr Alibadi is expected to return to court for the bail application next week.