Everything you need to know about South Australia’s new cockatoo experience

An immersive cockatoo experience is waiting for you and it’s only a 20-minute drive from Adelaide’s CBD, at Cleland Wildlife Park.

It’s a great opportunity for bird and animal lovers to interact with some of South Australia’s threatened cockatoo species.

Available daily at 11am and 2.15pm, the cockatoo experience lets you get up-close with the black, white and pink cockatoos that are found in Australia.

How up-close will I get?

You’ll spend about 20 minutes in a large walkthrough aviary, with an expert cockatoo keeper and six of Cleland Wildlife Park’s resident cockatoos.

Under the supervision of the experienced keeper, the birds may fly and land on you – even spending time on your arms and shoulders – while you feed them treats. Cute!

Top tip: Don’t forget your phone or camera. Your cockatoo keeper will be happy to take lots of photos. We know that the sulphur-crested cockatoo named Lemmy loves a selfie or two.

Which cockatoo species will I get up-close with?

The aviary houses four different species of cockatoo – the sulphur-crested cockatoo, vulnerable yellow-tailed black cockatoo, endangered red-tailed black cockatoo and the rare Major Mitchell cockatoo.

So in just one encounter you’ll get up-close with half of South Australia’s eight species of cockatoo.

Where do these cockatoos come from?

Cleland’s resident cockatoos have either been rescued or hand-raised, and have an affinity towards humans.

What will I learn at the cockatoo experience?

Your cockatoo keeper will fill your knowledge-bank with some fun facts about the different resident cockatoos, including their behaviours, life span and conservation status.

You’ll also learn how you can help protect these magnificent parrots in the wild.

How do I book a cockatoo experience?

Bookings are essential, but can only be made on-the-day at the Cleland Wildlife Park ticket office.

The experience costs $15 per person, on top of your entry fee to Cleland Wildlife Park.

By participating in this experience you are helping save these beautiful birds. For every cockatoo experience ticket sold, Cleland Wildlife Park volunteers will propagate and plant a specific cockatoo habitat plant to help conserve wild populations.

To find out more visit the Cleland Wildlife Park website.

Love birds? Read about some of thetiny birdsyou might see in South Australia and thebirds of preythat call our state home, or find outwhat species has created its nestin your backyard.