In breaking news from the frontline , it has to be reported that the mandarin war seems lost. In a desperate bid to prevent marauding Sulphur-crested Cockatoos from completely stripping citrus trees , a headless scarecrow with the body of a perishing wet set was hung on a partly netted tree in the hope that it would frighten the birds away . It failed, the birds , dodging frequent shots from a bought in Darwin water pistol , are seen here feasting on palm nuts in between raids on the mandarins .
