There’s a new set of pink wings joining the skies above Adelaide Zoo, and her journey has been two years in the making.
Tauri, a Pink Cockatoo hatched right here at Adelaide Zoo, has officially taken her place in the Flying Colours Free Flight Bird Show. For the bird team, it’s a milestone moment. She is the first of her species to feature in the daily program.
But getting to this point didn’t happen overnight.
Training from Day One
For free flight birds, training begins almost as soon as life does.
From the earliest stages, keepers assess whether a young bird has the right traits to one day fly freely in an open environment. It is not just about flight. It is about confidence, awareness, and the ability to make safe decisions.
Tauri’s journey started in small, controlled aviaries, where she learned foundational behaviours. These included short flights between keepers’ hands, moving between perches, and building trust.
As those behaviours became consistent, the environment grew.
“She’s progressed through a series of increasingly complex spaces,” Keeper Amelia explains. “From quiet aviaries to larger areas with more natural elements, and eventually into environments where there are other bird species and visitors present.”
Each step is intentional. Each space introduces new challenges.
Building Confidence in a Complex World
Before stepping onto the central lawns, Tauri needed to prove she could navigate unpredictability. This includes other birds, changing sounds, and open landscapes.
Training expanded into walkthrough aviaries, where she encountered different species and practised longer, more varied flight paths. She learned to glide from tree to ground, cross open spaces, and respond to her keepers from a distance.
This is not just about performance. It is about safety.
“If a bird lands somewhere unexpected, like a tree, we need to know they have the confidence and understanding to return,” Amelia says.
That ability to choose to come back is what defines a successful free flight bird.
Overcoming Challenges
Like any young animal learning new skills, Tauri’s journey has included challenges.
From navigating energetic lorikeets in the South East Asian Aviary to adjusting to the presence of native Noisy Miners on the lawns, each new experience has tested her.
Encouragingly, her response has been exactly what the team hopes to see.
“She’s showing us all the right behaviours,” Amelia says. “When she’s unsure, she chooses to return home. That’s a really important milestone.”
A Rare Species in the Spotlight
Pink Cockatoos are not a common sight.
They are found only in small pockets of arid South Australia and Western Australia. Many bird enthusiasts spend years hoping to glimpse one in the wild.
“To see one is something special,” Amelia says. “They’re high on the list for birdwatchers.”
Now, visitors to Adelaide Zoo have the chance to witness that rarity up close, while also learning about the skill, patience, and care that goes into preparing a bird for free flight.
See Tauri in Action
Tauri is still refining her routine, but each day brings new confidence and progress.
For visitors, it is a chance to see not just a beautiful bird in flight, but a story of training, trust, and growth unfolding in real time.
Catch Tauri in the Flying Colours Free Flight Bird Show and watch her take to the skies.
