Nesting season begins as corellas make Manly traffic lights their home

It’s breeding season for our bird life and it seems that even our feathered friends are looking for a spot to lockdown and nest.

It’s breeding season for our bird life and it seems that even our feathered friends are looking for a spot to lockdown and nest.

Daily Telegraph photographer John Grainger has captured a pair of corellas doing everything they can to try and make a set of traffic lights in Manly their home.

Two corellas have set up home in a set of traffic lights. Picture: John Grainger

The corellas enjoying their new digs in Manly. Picture: John Grainger

Chad Staples from Sydney’s Featherdale Wildlife Park said this was not uncommon in nesting season.

“You find a lot of animals are late winter breeders for springtime babies, so the Corella’s are probably trying to find a spot to nest,” he said.

The two corellas, who after mating will stay partners for life, may have to continue house hunting, as despite having plenty of light and being in a beachside suburb, the traffic light might not be the most suitable location for their needs.

Mr Staples said nesting in traffic light could lead to a “tough incubation period” for the chicks.

For the species, who belong to the cockatoo family, the ideal nesting spot is a large tree hollow, a piece of prime real estate becoming harder to come by as more trees are cleared – so the birds are being forced to expand their options.

“Nesting in a traffic light could be a sign of lack of good options so knocking down dead trees that they rely on and they’re finding any sort of hollow to nest.”

“It show’s that corellas are a highly intelligent bird, who are incredibly adaptive and able to make the best of a bad situation.”

“Around the world birds have nested in some pretty amazing places.”

Experts say it is nesting season for the corellas. Picture: John Grainger

The corellas stretch their wings. Picture: John Grainger