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 Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) is one of three black cockatoo’s endemic to the South West region of WA (they are found nowhere else in Australia or the world). The other two species are Baudin’s (Long-Billed White-Tailed Black) and the Forest-Red Tail. All three species are under threat.
Once numerous, the charismatic and highly mobile Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo is now listed as endangered, with populations declining due to land clearing for agriculture in regional areas and for urban development- in metropolitan coastal areas as well as competition for nesting hollows from species such as pink and grey galahs and feral bees.. The last 45 years has seen a 50% decrease in the species' range and abundance. The long-term survival and recovery of Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo is inextricably linked to the survival of its habitat - both in breeding areas in the Wheatbelt and inland South Coast and, non-breeding areas such as the Swan Coastal Plain and along the South Coast.
Because the cockatoos are long lived birds (up to 50 years) and they raise few chicks to adults it is highly likely that the birds we see today are an ageing population. Therefore protecting remaining habitat as well as the birds themselves is critical for the species survival.
Perth Volunteer Roost Surveys- we need your help
A vital component of the Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo Recovery Project is being undertaken by volunteers across the Perth region right now!
The start of 2010 saw the relaunch of volunteer surveys of Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo roosts on the Swan Coast Plain – with the aim to build on information recorded in the 2006 Swan Coastal Plain project.
The goal of this current project is to identify additional roost sites, to record the number of cockatoos using each roost and record whether the birds enter the trees in singles, pairs or triplets. This extra detail can give us important information, for example the number of breeding birds and juveniles in the flocks can be recorded, as a triplet is composed of two adults and a juvenile.
In addition to the regular monitoring of roosts a ‘snapshot’ survey will be undertaken in early autumn, where all volunteers across Perth will complete a roost survey on the same day, to provide an estimate of the total number of Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo utilising the region during the non-breeding season.
The survival of these birds relies on the efforts of passionate volunteers and we need people to assist with evening roost surveys across the Perth area and the snapshot survey. If you would like to get involved or know of a roost that could be surveyed please contact Quinton Burnham, roost survey count coordinator on email
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or phone 0428 762 292.
 Description
Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo are a large bird; they grow to 53-58cm tall. Their feathers are brownish-black, with a narrow tip of off-white, making the feathers look scalloped when viewed at close range. They have a white patch on their cheek and white panels on the tail that are visible, particularly during flight. The males are distinguished by a red eye ring and black bill, while the females have a grey/black eye ring and bone coloured bill.
Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo display very strong social bonds and pairs mate for life. Only one chick is raised each year and both parents contribute its care throughout its first year, despite this, chick mortality is extremely high and few survive to breeding age.
Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo and Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo are often mistaken for each other despite the fact they are spate species. Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo have a short wide beak and a shorter call, they primarily feed on proteaceous species and nest inland in Wandoo and Salmon Gum, while the Baudin’s Cockatoo have a longer beak and call and tend to be found in the wetter south west, nesting in and feeding on Marri. They are very difficult to tell apart and with continued habitat degradation, the increasingly, species ranges are overlapping.
Habitat
Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo have two distinct habitat requirements. They feed on the flowers and seeds of Proteaceous species such as hakea, grevillea, and banksia, as well as insect larvae associated with these plants. They have also adapted to feed on introduced species such as wild geranium (corkscrew), wild radish and nuts from pine cones.
Nesting trees require hollows large enough to fit the bird. They usually nest in Eucalypts such as Salmon Gum, Wandoo although there are other Eucalypt species they nest in too. These trees need to be at least 120 years and some suggest they need to be at least 200 years old. This is because the slow growing trees need to grow to a suitable size as well as develop a large enough hollow to fit the large hen and her chick. They will use hollows in trees that are dead or alive, hollows that have been repaired and artificial hollows (when hung in appropriate areas and with appropriate annual maintenance).
 Seasonal Movement
January - August is spent roaming coastal and higher rainfall areas in large flocks feeding on the flowers and seeds of proteaceous plant species such as hakea, grevillea and banksia as well as introduced pines. These flocks are a mix of males & females; juveniles, adults and post breeding age birds.
July – February each year Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo break into smaller nesting flocks and return to their dried inland nesting sites.
 Recovery Project
Since 2001 Birds Australia has been working with local community and landholders to protect and conserve habitat for the Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo. On ground works include fencing to protect critical nesting and feeding habitat as well as hollow repairs and artificial hollow trials.
We are supported by, and work with, diverse organisations to better manage the remnant vegetation on which Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo depend. Birds Australia, in collaboration with WWF-Australia, and with support from Natural Resource Management groups (South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc and Northern Agricultural Catchments Council, Wheatbelt NRM), the Department of Environment and Conservation and Natural Heritage Trust are facilitating landholder support and engagement programs, education campaigns, data collection and nest monitoring.
We support private landholders in preservation and restoration of remnant vegetation where Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo occur. We also fund provision of nesting boxes and weed and competitor control. We assist in grant applications and facilitate Voluntary Management Agreements and Conservation Covenants, helping to solidify commitment to conservation and secure habitat for the species into the future.
Unlike other less mobile bird species, Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo are widespread and their range covers many different land tenures and vegetation types. Support from the government, the business sector, community members, landholders and land managers is essential to securing a bright future for these beautiful birds.
 Hollow Repair Program
Damaged or degraded nesting hollows can now be repaired by the Birds Australia Hollow Repair Team or they can teach you how to do it yourself. Since 2004 this volunteer team has visited properties in throughout the Region and repaired over 150 damaged or degraded nesting trees. Due to the decrease in nesting trees available to Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo, this is a simple and inexpensive way to increase the chances of breeding and encourage the Cockatoos back to your land.
Repairs range from major works such as shoring up large ‘blow-outs’ in tree trunks, covering up large splits, and replacing the ‘mudguts’ (crumbly material in the bottom of hollows) of the tree, to minor maintenance such as removing obstructions from hollow entrances and removing remains or old eggs from inside the nesting chamber. The repairs need to be conducted during the non-nesting season so that no disruption to nesting Cockatoos occurs. Most of the materials needed for the repairs, including scrap metal and metal sheeting, can be found around properties and can be provided by farmers.
In addition to repairing the nesting hollows, monitoring of repaired hollows is carried out. During the nesting season repaired hollows are checked to see whether the Cockatoos are using the hollow or not. Since 2004 many of the repaired hollows have been confirmed as nesting hollows, hopefully resulting in the successful raising of more Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo chicks.
 How can you help?
- Protect and conserve known nesting areas by fencing or excluding stock, protecting woodlands against firewood collection, leaving old or dead trees standing and altering fire management
- Protect and conserve known feeding areas by fencing or excluding stock, controlling weeds and preventing removal of vegetation
- Revegetate around known feeding and nesting areas with appropriate local species
- Learn how to repair old and damaged nesting hollows with assistance from the Birds Australia Hollow Repair Team
- Why not become part of the Recovery Project by working on projects such as monitoring of breeding pairs and nesting activity, revegetation of feeding and nesting areas and much more
- If you would like to record sightings, please download the sightings form at the bottom of this page or email Raana Scott
Downloads
About Carnaby's Recovery Project
Carnaby's Sightings Form
Carnaby's Yearly Sightings Sheet (only to be used for recording CBC details from a specific site throughout the year)
PhD Thesis
For the first time, much of the seminal research on this species conducted by Dr. Denis Saunders, formerly Chief Scientist of the CSIRO and currently President of WWF-Australia, can be accessed online. Download a copy of Dr. Saunders' PhD thesis, The Biology of the Short-Billed Form of the White-Tailed Black Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus funereus latirostris Carnaby, 1967. (14.3mb pdf)
Masters Thesis
A new report commissioned by Birds Australia and WWF-Australia has shown that Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos have almost no impact on canola crops. Research conducted by the University of Sydney found that Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos damaged an average of 0.003% of each farmer’s crop, a total value of just $6.50 for each grower participating in the study. Download a copy of Chris Jackson's thesis,
Assessing and Quantifying Canola Crop Damage by Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris in the south-west of Western Australia, University of Sydney, 2009. (3.7mb)
 Newsletters
Cocky Notes March 2009 (1.5mb)
Cocky Notes June 2008 (1.8mb)
Cocky Notes Jan 2008
Cocky Notes Feb 2007 (2mb)
Cocky Notes Aug 2006 (2mb)
Cocky Notes Feb 2006 (1.6mb)
Cocky Notes Aug 2005 (2.3mb)
Cocky Notes Feb 2005 (3.2mb)
Cocky Notes Sep 2004 (2.4mb)
Cocky Notes Feb 2001
Cocky Notes July 2000
Symposium Proceedings
Proceedings of the Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo Conservation Symposium 2009 (1mb)
Presentations Appendix from CBC Conservation Symposium 2009 (7.8mb)
Proceedings of the Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo Conservation Symposium 2003 (2.2mb)
Contact
Project Manager,
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0427 707 047 or 08 9076 2203
Roost Survey Coordinator, Quinton Burnham 0428 762 292
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Conservation 
