The Carnaby’s Cockatoo

By Eden Ayling

Introduction

Over the past term I have been researching the Carnaby’s Cockatoo. These birds are only native to the southern part of Western Australia and a large part of their population are found in the Perth region. However, these birds are under serious threat. Issues such as habitat destruction have had a massive impact on the birds’ population.

Research Questions:

What action is currently being taken in W.A. to restore the population of the Carnaby's Cockatoo?

What are the causes of habitat destruction?

What possible solutions are there to restore the Carnaby's habitat and population?

The Carnaby’s Cockatoo• Latin name: (Calyptorhynchus latirostris

).

• Appearance:

• Habitat:

• Diet:

Issues and threats

Over the past few years the Carnaby’s Cockatoo’s population has been cut in half. Issues such as logging have had devastating effects on the Carnaby's population and habitat.

Some of the other main issues threatening Carnaby’s cockatoos are:

• Illegal poaching• Forest clearing• Urban development • Agriculture• Bushfires• Mining

Action being taken In recent years, Carnaby's Cockatoo’s

numbers have rapidly diminished. Because of this, as well as government action, wildlife action groups such as the Conservation Council are beginning to make a big difference in helping the Carnaby’s Cockatoo, through repairing nesting hollows and preventing habitat destruction.

Some of the main wildlife conservation groups really making a difference in aiding the Carnaby's cockatoos are:

• The Conservation Council of W.A.• World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) • Birds Australia

Nesting hollows A large part of Carnaby's natural forest habitat is in tree

hollows. Habitat destruction has caused a large loss of nesting

hollows. Carnaby's use these tree hollows as nesting hollows,

therefore this loss has had a particularly big impact on the Carnaby's population.

How can we help?• Create artificial hollows• Repair damaged hollows• Prevent fires in bushland• Control nest competitors

Facing the facts Overall, the fact is that the Carnaby's

cockatoo is under lot of threat because of its rapidly decreasing numbers.

• Since 2010 , there has been a 40% decrease in the number of Carnaby’s Cockatoos counted.

• 37% decline In population In one year.

• Between the 1970s and 1990s one third of former habitat is no longer inhabited.

How can we help Restore the population?

• Restore and protect habitat• Protect native bushland • Make more nature/bush

reserves• Focus on areas Carnaby’s

migrate through • Plant native plants/trees to

restore damaged bushland• Create new nesting hollows

and repair old or damaged ones.

• Join local environmental groups that support the Carnaby’s cockatoo.

References:• http://cockatoosneedyou.org.au

• http://www.wwf.org.au

• http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au

• http://ccwa.org.au/

• http://www.dec.wa.gov.au