saving black cockatoos

THE BLACK COCKATOO MATTERS OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE

Western Australia has three species of black cockatoo: Carnaby’s cockatoo, the forest red-tailed black cockatoo and Baudin’s cockatoo. They’re all in need of help. Thanks to new funding, groundbreaking health and ecological research could help save their lives.

Words: Darcy Watt

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CLOSE-UP OF A YOUNG BAUDIN'S COCKATOO, IMAGE ANIMALINFO.

FROM LEFT: FOREST RED-TAILED COCKATOO, IMAGE: LAKEVIEW_ IMAGES; CARNABY'S COCKATOO, IMAGE: ANIMALINFO.

Major threats to the survival of Western Australia’s black cockatoo species is at the forefront of research for Murdoch’s Harry Butler Institute. The research will be conducted over a five-year period where lead research Professor Kris Warren will explore survival threats such as habitat loss, disease, climate change as well as the continued pressures from pest species.

Kris explains that urban and industrial growth in the Perth-Peel region and the south-west of WA are of major concern. Currently, Carnaby’s and Baudin’s cockatoos are listed as endangered, and the forest red-tailed black cockatoo is listed as vulnerable.

“Perth is expanding, but with the right approach it could be a strong model for how development and conservation can be managed synergistically,” says Kris.

“In addition to supporting this important research project, Main Roads is investing in creating additional black cockatoo habitat through the Wheatbelt Revegetation Bank along or adjacent to road reserves in rural WA as part of the government’s Green Jobs program, installing artificial nesting hollows and protecting existing black cockatoo habitat.”

The research team will be using GPS and satellite technology to monitor flock movements as well as behaviour. They will secure the satellite tags to some birds under anaesthesia but not all, as tagged birds will mark the activity and movement of the whole flock.

Senior Research Fellow Dr Jill Shepard says, “This will help us to determine how habitat is used and to identify threatening processes, giving us a powerful way to guide the management of sustainable landscapes into the future.

“A large part of what makes Perth special is its unique and endemic biodiversity, which we are fortunate to have in our urban areas, including our iconic black cockatoos.”

Implications of disease is also an avenue of the newly funded research, particularly in relation to the Carnaby’s cockatoo. Unfortunately, there are numerous diseases present that currently affect Carnaby’s nestlings such as Chlamydia sp., among others. Another major disease is Hindlimb Paralysis Syndrome, likely caused by agricultural chemicals. It is thought to be linked to two major mortality events in WA’s Wheatbelt breeding site which damaged 90 per cent of breeding birds in a horrific dual event. It is hoped the health research will develop a better understanding of disease management for the endangered species.

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