All three West Australian species of Black Cockatoos are in danger of becoming extinct due to loss of habitat and starvation. Lack of action to help save habitat from development and global warming will have a drastic impact on these birds. Unfortunately for the Carnaby Cockatoo it is only a matter of years before they become extinct given the rate of habitat destruction. Reports from Perth Zoo, Kaarrakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre, Carnaby’s Crusaders and WA Wildlife Hospital are all reporting emaciated cockatoos that are starving and well below their normal weight. Over the next six months the population of these cockatoos will decline sharply because food resources for these birds are already at critical levels in both urban and rural settings.
Urban populations of Carnaby’s around Perth have long relied on introduced species such as pine plantations which replaced natural food sources in the early and mid-20th century. Carnaby’s adapted to this food source and also began utilising the mature pines as roosting sites due to the lack of suitable native options. In recent months all but 1800 ha of the Gnangara pine plantation has been removed including four of the five largest Carnaby roosting sites that remained in WA. This has displaced huge numbers of Carnaby’s on the Swan Coastal Plain and also destroyed their major food source. The dramatic increase of emaciated starving cockatoo’s presenting at Perth Zoo currently can no longer find alternative food sources.
This has been exacerbated by the dwindling natural food resources along with the failure of WA’s Banksia’s to set seed this season due to extreme weather conditions. Climate change on top of scarcity of food and decline in breeding will force these beautiful birds to reach critically low levels. The Environmental Protection Authority, State and Federal Governments have not been successful in protecting native bushland from demolition, it is individuals and community groups that constantly fight to protect what little is left. Carnaby’s are the most affected of the three species because of their semi-migration patterns. While Forest Redtail’s and Baudin’s are essentially forest dwelling species, they largely exist in the remaining small but diverse forest habitats left to support them annually.
Carnaby populations north of Perth instinctually continue to return to increasingly barren landscapes that they have done for thousands of years. Dean Arthurell from Carnaby’s Crusaders Consequently, this year has seen a 90 percent drop-in breeding activity from last year.
Top Tip
Grow local species such as banksia, hakea, marri, jarrah, and nut species macadamia, pecan, hard shelled almonds and lobby local councils to plant cockatoo corridors in parks. Here is a great list.
