Carnaby’s in the Wheatbelt – Breeding Success!

Success! We are excited to share that the checks of artificial black-cockatoo nesting tubes and natural hollows undertaken in December revealed the presence of 7 Carnaby’s chicks. It is wonderful to see that these endangered birds are adapting to the nesting tubes and using them alongside the natural hollows that are in short supply.

Whilst every successful breeding event is worth celebrating, there were many nesting tubes that did not contain evidence of use this season (only 4 out of 33 nesting tubes contained a chick). Although this can be disappointing, the fact that some of the tubes are being used successfully gives confidence that they are a viable option for the Carnaby’s and that their lack of use this year is simply due to preference, not being spotted or other external factors.

It was encouraging to locate 3 additional Carnaby’s chicks in the natural hollows surveyed. As females are known to return to the area where they were born, and pairs return to hollows where they have successfully reared young, it is hoped that these hollows will continue to support the population over the coming years.  

To aid the Carnaby’s black-cockatoo’s breeding efforts and ongoing survival, it is essential for food resources and permanent fresh water to be within close proximity to the nest site and available throughout the greater region. If your property is visited by these beautiful creatures please consider establishing or maintaining a safe watering point over the spring and summer months and taking steps to protect fodder plants (such as Hakea, Banksia and Marri) as well as mature eucalypts that can produce nesting hollows (e.g. Salmon Gum and Wandoo).

This month, you may see and hear larger flocks of Carnaby’s as they re-group and move across the Wheatbelt towards the Swan Coastal Plain and south coast where they will stay until returning to us in July.          

Special thanks go to our landholder partners for their dedicated efforts to help the Carnaby’s black-cockatoos and all our native species through feral animal control, fencing, weed management, revegetation, nest box installation and maintenance, and ongoing observational feedback.  

If you have sightings of black-cockatoos on your property or in your local area, we are keen to receive the information via our survey.

If you would like to find out more or register your interest in our new Carnaby’s black-cockatoo project reach out to Senior Project Officer Kate or complete our Expression of Interest form below.

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This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management, a member of the Regional Delivery Partners panel.