imminent arrival heralded by an eerie, high-pitched

"kee-ow, kee-ow".

They are the majestic yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), one of Australia's biggest parrots at up to 65centimetres long, with yellow cheeks and tail band, body feathers edged with yellow and a short crest.

They can be heard high up in trees crunching on the seeds of native trees such as she-oaks, eucalyptus, acacia and hakea. Their strong beaks also make mincemeat of pine cones from pine and cypress trees. In the air they flap deeply and slowly with a peculiar heavy fluid motion.

Although not vulnerable in Victoria, their numbers are in rapid decline due to loss of food supply and habitat, especially tall eucalypts where they nest in hollows lined with wood chips.

The birds also make a harsh screeching alarm call and a soft, "chuckling" noise when searching for their favourite food - wood-boring grubs.

Like most parrots, they are protected by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora), an international agreement banning the trade, export and import of listed wild-caught species.

South-east and Mornington Peninsula birdwatchers say they are seen in increasing numbers at this time of year. The picture was taken in a small reserve off Settlers Way near Golf Links Road, Frankston, last week.

One theory is the cockatoos moved into the region after the Black Saturday fires destroyed their habitat.