Saving our Black Cockatoos Southwest Australia's Journal

Journal archives for September 2021

September 2, 2021

Volunteers needed for spring Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo count – Greater Perth-Peel Region

Registrations are now open for our October Spring FRTBC Count scheduled to take place on the evening of Sunday 10th October. This count was started several years ago in an effort to more closely monitor the movements of Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos (FRTBCs) during the spring, given their recent influx onto the Swan Coastal Plain (SCP) during the Great Cocky Counts in autumn. We are interested to see if their movements will follow a similar seasonal pattern to Carnaby’s. This is the first year we have opened up registrations to the wider public as we look to expand the number of sites included.

To register please go to https://forms.gle/3sCSuiZZLoQouuK26

Please note only FRTBC roost sites in the Greater Perth-Peel Region (Harvey to Lancelin and inland to York) will be prioritised and included in this count. If you know of any FRTBC roost sites in this area that are occupied in Spring please let us know at greatcockycount@birdlife.org.au or in the Spring FRTBC Count registration form (link above).

Posted on September 2, 2021 06:33 AM by kezzza4 kezzza4 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

2021 Great Cocky Count from Cocky Notes (Birdlife Australia) Issue 33: August 2021

To read the latest issue of Cocky Notes (Birdlife Australia) please click on the link below:-

https://birdlife.org.au/documents/August_2021_CockyNotes_final.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BirdLife%20WA%20Cocky%20Notes%20August%202021&utm_content=BirdLife%20WA%20Cocky%20Notes%20August%202021+CID_cf33d518a70e2096a303a8f5a0fe7846&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=here

2021 GREAT COCKY COUNT

Merryn Pryor Black-Cockatoo Project Coordinator

Thank you to everyone who took part in the 2021 Great Cocky Count on the 28th March this year. It was great to resume the count again this year after it was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19. Prior to 2020, the GCC had run consecutively for ten years from 2010 to 2019. As one of the largest citizen science field surveys in WA, the GCC would not be possible without the many dedicated and passionate volunteers who give their time to help count and monitor these charismatic birds. With over 750 people registering this year, we were able to count at 462 black-cockatoo roost sites across the south west from Chapman Valley to east of Esperance. A total of 17,773 White-tailed Black-Cockatoos (WTs) were counted across 142 roost sites, with 10,307 counted in the Greater Perth-Peel Region and 7,466 in regional areas.

A total of 6,692 Forest Red tailed Black-Cockatoos (FRTs) were counted across 161 roosts, with 5,771 counted in the Greater Perth Peel Region and 921 counted within regional areas. 255 of the 462 surveyed roost sites were occupied on the Count night, with 48 of the 255 occupied roost sites recording both WTs and FRTs, 94 recording only WTs and the remaining 113 roosts with FRTs only. The maximum size of roosting flocks was 1,982 and 689 for WTs and FRTs respectively.
35 new White-tailed Black-Cockatoo roost sites and 48 new Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo roost sites were either discovered or confirmed during this year’s count. The GCC survey team at Beale Park, Spearwood.

Population trend analysis is ongoing and more details will be made available when the official Great Cocky Count 2021 report is released later in the year. The count contributes essential data to estimate and track population trends for our threatened cockies and to help identify and protect critical habitat. The next few years of the Great Cocky Count will be critical for monitoring the movements and population dynamics of Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo as the remainder of the Gnangara Pine Plantations are harvested and cleared. Over the last five years 62% to 73% of all Carnaby’s counted on the Swan Coastal Plain during the Great Cocky Counts have been counted within these pine plantations.

Posted on September 2, 2021 06:39 AM by kezzza4 kezzza4 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

2019 Great Cocky Count Report Summary of Key Findings (Birdlife Australia)

Carnaby’s population stable in the Perth region

Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo

Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo is a threatened species endemic to southwest Western Australia. In the months between January to July, most Carnaby’s move from the wheatbelt region where they breed, to coastal areas, including the Perth Metropolitan Area and other parts of the Swan Coastal Plain.
Carnaby’s are particularly vulnerable to increasing levels of clearing for forestry, urban and industrial development across the southwest. It is therefore important we understand the population size and distribution of Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo across their species range.

The Great Cocky Count

The Great Cocky Count (GCC) is an annual, citizen science survey for black-cockatoos in Western Australia. The survey occurs throughout the southwest on a single evening in April. Volunteers are allocated to known roost sites and count the number of black cockatoos that arrive at the site to roost for the night. The tenth GCC was held on Sunday 7 April 2019.

The 2019 Count: key findings In 2019 750 volunteers surveying 397 roost sites across the southwest.
2019 recorded 22,647 white-tailed black-cockatoos across the species range, which is the highest total number recorded in GCC history. A single roost in a pine plantation east of Yanchep recorded 5,145 Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos.

6,104 Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos were recorded at 119 occupied roosts.

Greater Perth-Peel Region

The Greater Perth-Peel Region consists of the Perth-Peel Coastal Plain and the Northern Darling Scarp and Plateau. The minimum population count for Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo in the Greater Perth-Peel Region was 13,984.

Trend analysis of roost counts for Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo in the Perth-Peel Coastal Plain found that in recent years (2016-2018) the population has stabilised. However since 2010 there is an overall decline of 35% (approximately 4% per year).

On the Perth-Peel Coastal Plain, the majority of Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos are restricted to few roost sites, many of which are associated with pines. Protection of these sites and associated native feeding habitat is crucial to arrest the decline of Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo and ensure its persistence in this region. Retention of Banksia woodland and revegetation of former pine stands to avoid a gap in food resources in the near future in this region should also be seen as a high priority to protect this iconic species.

White-tailed Black-Cockatoos in the Northern Darling Scarp and Plateau are declining at 13% per year. Since most of these birds are Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos it may reflect a sharp decline in this species, which many experts believe to be the most endangered of the three south-western black-cockatoo species.

2019 saw a large increase in Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos roosting on the Perth-Peel Coastal Plain. This is thought to be due to a seasonal redistribution of birds from forested areas exploiting food resources such as Cape Lilac.

Regional Areas

The 2019 GCC recorded 7,167 white-tailed black cockatoos at 60 roosts in regional areas (outside the Greater Perth-Peel Region). This figure is higher than previous years and reflects a conscientious effort to increase coverage regionally.

What does this mean for Black Cockatoos in the Perth-Peel region?

Despite a recent stabilisation of the local population, the trend since 2010 shows a 35% decline of Carnaby’s and a 13% decline per year of Baudin’s. A precautionary approach dictates that efforts be made to protect remnant vegetation of Black-Cockatoos, particularly Banksia woodlands and Marri/Jarrah forest. Revegetation of former pine plantations should be a priority to ensure no feed gap in the future.

More Information

The full 2019 Great Cocky Count Report, in addition to previous GCC reports, can be found at http://www.birdlife.org.au/projects/southwest-black cockatoo-recovery/publications-and-forms 2020 Great Cocky Count The next Great Cocky Count will take place at sunset on Sunday 5 April 2020. To register your interest for the 2020 GCC, or to report a black-cockatoo roost site near you, email greatcockycount@birdlife.org.au

Funding Partners

The Great Cocky Count is supported by the Alcoa Foundation and the State Government through the State NRM Program and Lotterywest.

2019_GCC_summary.pdf (birdlife.org.au)

http://direct.birdlife.org.au/documents/2019_GCC_summary.pdf

Posted on September 2, 2021 11:26 AM by kezzza4 kezzza4 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 15, 2021

Volunteers needed for Spring Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Count

Registrations are now open for our October Spring FRTBC Count scheduled to take place on the evening of Sunday 10th October. This count was started several years ago in an effort to more closely monitor the movements of Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos (FRTBCs) during the spring, given their recent influx onto the Swan Coastal Plain (SCP) during the Great Cocky Counts in autumn. We are interested to see if their movements will continue to follow a similar seasonal pattern to those of Carnaby’s. This is the first year we have opened up registrations to the wider public as we look to expand the number of sites included.

Click here to register. https://cm.birdlife.org.au/t/r-l-trpgkl-hkjiityhik-a/
Registrations close on Friday 24th September.

Please note only FRTBC roost sites in the Greater Perth-Peel Region (Harvey to Lancelin and inland to York) will be prioritised and included in this count. If you know of any FRTBC roost sites in this area that are occupied in spring please let us know at greatcockycount@birdlife.org.au or in the Spring FRTBC Count registration form.

2021 Spring FRTBC Count Registration Form

The 2021 Spring FRTBC Count is on Sunday October 10th at sunset (approximately 5.45 -7.00pm). Please be aware registrations close 2 weeks prior to the Count (Friday 24th September).

Started in 2018 the Spring count was introduced to monitor the activity and movements of Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos (FRTBC) after large increases in numbers of the species were recorded on the Swan Coastal Plain in recent years.

Please note that this count will only be taking place in the Greater Perth-Peel Region (Waroona in the South, to Lancelin in the North and York in the East).

The 2021 Spring FRTBC Count is funded by The Alcoa Foundation.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdD3VbIhC8qf4G20ZhkC1FuWHezTZ9H4yHrggRLKCHn18BEFQ/viewform

Birdlife WA

Posted on September 15, 2021 02:00 PM by kezzza4 kezzza4 | 0 comments | Leave a comment