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Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)

The Palm Cockatoo is a large black cockatoo associated with rainforest edges, tropical woodland and swamp woodland in Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. It is listed as Endangered in Queensland and under the EPBC Act, so clearing of hollow-bearing trees, disturbance near nest sites and changes to fire-managed woodland can affect individuals and breeding territories on development sites.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Endangered.

Breeding season

Palm Cockatoos are present in Cape York Peninsula throughout the year. They are weak seasonal breeders, with breeding possible from late July to early May and peak egg laying in September. Surveys are generally more difficult in the wet season from November to April.

Monthly categories are indicative for Cape York Peninsula. The species may breed outside the peak months, and active nests require site-specific protection.

  • Breeding, display and nest preparation: Nest preparation is usually observed from August to November. Males display at nest and hollow trees, with display activity reported to peak in June and July but occurring at other times.
  • Egg laying and active nests: Breeding can occur from late July to early May, with peak egg laying in September. Each clutch contains one egg.
  • Young in nest or dependent: Dependent young may be present during the broad breeding period from late July to early May, but the supplied documents do not give incubation, fledging or dependence durations.
  • Movement and detectability: The species is present throughout the year. Younger non-breeding birds may wander more widely, while breeding pairs generally remain within or near breeding territories. Wet season conditions from November to April can reduce detectability and site access.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing and disturbance are most likely to harm the species during the breeding period from late July to early May, with the highest concern during nest preparation and peak laying from August to November. Active nest trees should be protected whenever detected.

Identification

The Palm Cockatoo is a very large, slate-black cockatoo with a long erectile crest, massive dark bill and red bare facial skin. It is conspicuous in flight because its tail is entirely black and lacks the red or orange panels found on the tail of the red-tailed black-cockatoo.

Adults are slate-black to black, with a long, narrow crest that curves backwards. The bill is massive and dark grey, with the upper mandible projecting beyond the smaller lower mandible. The bare facial patch is red and can become bright scarlet when the bird is excited. The thighs are bare and bluish-grey, and the cere is feathered.

The Queensland guidance gives a total length of up to 56 cm, a wingspan of approximately 1.65 m and a weight of 650 to 1000 g. Other measurements give a length of 49 to 68 cm. Adult males are generally larger, weighing 882 to 1040 g, while females weigh 710 to 765 g.

Adult plumage: Slate-black or black, with a long erectile crest and entirely black tail

Facial skin: Red, becoming brighter when excited or during display

Wingspan: Approximately 1.65 m

Identification: Sex and age differences

Males have a larger bill and are heavier than females. The male's upper mandible is longer, while the female's upper mandible is more curved. The eyes of males extend more deeply into the bare red cheek patch.

Juveniles have a shorter crest, a smaller pale grey bill with a contrasting white culmen, a white eye-ring and little or no bluish-grey suffusion. Pale yellow barring is present on the abdomen, flanks and underwing coverts.

Male weight: 882 to 1040 g

Female weight: 710 to 765 g

Juvenile features: Shorter crest, pale grey bill, white eye-ring and pale yellow barring below

Identification: Field signs and behaviour

Display sites are associated with hollow-bearing trees. Males may raise the crest, spread the wings, sway, stamp, swing upside down and strike a dead trunk with a stick, stone or large seed, producing a loud resonant knocking sound. Calls include display, nesting, landing, flight and contact calls, and local call variation has been reported.

Nest trees can have piles of small dead branches at their bases. Small branches may be cleanly sheared at an angle of approximately 45 degrees near a hollow. Splintered sticks forming a platform inside a hollow are an additional nest sign.

Birds are often quiet near roosts and active nests. Early morning, within three hours after sunrise, and late afternoon, within two hours before sunset, are the most useful periods for visual and acoustic detection. Avoid close approach to roosting, feeding and nesting birds.

Recommended search period: First 2 to 3 hours after sunrise or last 2 to 3 hours before sunset

Hollow inspection height: Telescopic-pole camera recommended for hollows up to approximately 12 m high

  • Search for large hollow-bearing trees, display hollows, branch piles and cleanly cut branch ends near hollows.
  • Listen for drumming, wing-spreading sounds, foot stamping, soft clicks and display calls as well as ordinary contact and flight calls.
  • Use a video camera on a telescopic pole to inspect hollows up to approximately 12 m high where this can be done without disturbing birds.

Distribution: Australian range

In Australia, the Palm Cockatoo is restricted to far northern Queensland, where it occurs across Cape York Peninsula. The species also occurs in New Guinea, West Papua and the Aru Islands, but the Australian range is the relevant distribution for projects under Australian environmental legislation.

The Australian range extends from the tip of Cape York Peninsula south to the Edward River, west to the Archer River and east to Princess Charlotte Bay. The Queensland population is associated with lowland rainforest, woodland and wetland or swamp woodland habitats across Cape York Peninsula.

The source material does not provide a separate list of Australian bioregions. It identifies Cape York Peninsula, Iron Range and the surrounding rainforest, savannah woodland and swamp woodland as the main geographic and habitat contexts.

Australian state: Queensland only

Southern range limit: Edward River

Western range limit: Archer River

Eastern range limit: Princess Charlotte Bay

Distribution: Strongholds and population information

Iron Range National Park and surrounding Cape York habitats are identified in the source material as an important study area and a location where breeding densities have been reported. The species occurs at low densities and patchily in some parts of its range.

The documents do not provide a current national population estimate or a quantified population trend. Research gaps include the connections between subpopulations, movement between areas and the effects of habitat change.

Rainforest density near Iron Range: Fewer than 1 individual per square kilometre on average

Woodland density near Iron Range: 2 to 3 individuals per square kilometre on average

National population estimate: Not provided in the supplied documents

Population trend: Not quantified in the supplied documents

Habitat: Vegetation communities

Palm Cockatoos use tropical lowland rainforest and woodland, particularly the boundary between rainforest and open savannah woodland. They may travel through drier woodland along watercourses and use swamp woodland containing Pandanus.

The species is primarily associated with tropical lowland rainforest, adjacent eucalypt forest and rainforest edges. Important woodland may be dominated by Eucalyptus, Corymbia or Melaleuca, often with a grassy understorey.

It also occurs in swamp woodland with Pandanus. Birds may move considerable distances from rainforest through drier eucalypt woodland bordering watercourses to feed.

Preferred woodland relationship: Savannah woodland adjacent to rainforest, approximately less than 500 m from the rainforest edge

Climate setting: Warm, humid tropical lowlands of Cape York Peninsula

Elevation limits: Not specified in the supplied documents

  • Tropical lowland rainforest and dense riparian rainforest.
  • Savannah woodland adjacent to rainforest, particularly within approximately 500 m of the rainforest edge.
  • Open woodland containing large hollow-bearing Eucalyptus, Corymbia or Melaleuca trees.
  • Swamp woodland with Pandanus.

Habitat: Structural features

Large hollow-bearing trees are the main structural feature needed by the species. Nesting and display are concentrated in woodland trees adjacent to rainforest, including living Darwin stringybark Eucalyptus tetrodonta.

Fire can alter the rainforest and woodland boundary and may destroy hollow-bearing trees if managed incorrectly. Retaining mature living trees, dead trees with hollows and the surrounding woodland structure is therefore relevant when planning clearing.

  • Map and retain large hollow-bearing trees in woodland and along rainforest edges.
  • Treat trees with active nests, old nests, display activity or branch piles at their bases as habitat features requiring protection and ecological assessment.
  • Consider the effect of proposed clearing and fire regimes on the availability of future hollow-bearing trees.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Palm Cockatoos are primarily arboreal feeders that take plant foods from rainforest, woodland and swamp woodland trees. They may travel away from rainforest into adjacent drier woodland and along watercourses to find food.

The recorded diet includes kernels, fruits, berries, seeds and leaf buds. The species probably also takes insects and their larvae, although the supplied documents provide less detail on animal prey than on plant foods.

Important recorded food plants include Nonda plum Parinari nonda, brown cudgerie Canarium australasicum, tropical almond Terminalia catappa, Pandanus species, bushman's clothes-pegs Grevillea glauca and booral Persoonia falcata.

Main food types: Fruits, kernels, berries, seeds and leaf buds

Likely animal food: Insects and their larvae

Feeding height: Primarily arboreal

  • Retain fruiting and seeding trees in rainforest edges, open woodland and swamp woodland.
  • Check mature Pandanus, Parinari, Canarium, Terminalia, Grevillea and Persoonia where these occur in suitable habitat.
  • Inspect tree canopies and the ground below food trees for feeding activity, fallen fruit and seed remains.

Foraging habitat: Foraging movements

Palm Cockatoos often move considerable distances from rainforest into adjacent drier eucalypt forest, especially along watercourses, in search of food. The supplied documents do not provide a measured daily foraging distance or home range.

Food should be considered at the scale of connected rainforest edge, woodland and watercourse habitat rather than as isolated trees only.

Measured foraging range: Not provided in the supplied documents

Foraging habitat relationship: Rainforest and adjacent drier woodland, including woodland along watercourses

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Palm Cockatoos are obligate hollow nesters with a slow breeding biology. Breeding habitat is concentrated in hollow-bearing woodland trees near rainforest, and males may defend nest sites throughout the year.

The species can potentially breed through much of the year, but peak egg laying occurs in September. Nest preparation is usually observed from August to November. Only one egg is laid per clutch, so disturbance at an active nest can have a substantial effect on breeding output.

The supplied documents do not provide a confirmed age at sexual maturity, incubation period, fledging age, dependent period or reliable wild lifespan.

Breeding season: Late July to early May, with peak egg laying in September

Peak nest preparation: August to November

Clutch size: One egg

Incubation period: Not provided in the supplied documents

Age at maturity: Not provided in the supplied documents

Lifespan: Wild lifespan unknown; captive birds have been recorded at more than 50 years of age

Breeding habitat: Nest trees and breeding habitat

A study reported that 27 of 28 active nests were in savannah woodland. Birds tended to use living trees with off-vertical, skyward-facing hollows. Almost half of the active nests in that study were in Darwin stringybark Eucalyptus tetrodonta.

Recorded hollow dimensions ranged from 18.5 by 20.5 cm to 35 by 80 cm. Nests comprise a platform of splintered sticks inside the hollow. Nest trees may also contain old or inactive nests and are used by males for display.

Active nests in woodland: 27 of 28 active nests in one study

Recorded hollow size range: 18.5 by 20.5 cm to 35 by 80 cm

Nest material: Platform of splintered sticks

Territorial behaviour: Males may defend nest sites year round

  • Search woodland within approximately 500 m of rainforest edges for large living or dead hollow-bearing trees.
  • Record hollow-bearing trees with off-vertical, skyward-facing entrances and any evidence of splintered sticks or active use.
  • Avoid clearing, machinery movement and close inspection around active nests, especially from August to November and during the wider breeding period.

Sheltering habitat: Roosts and repeatedly used trees

Palm Cockatoos use rainforest, hollow-bearing trees and display or roost trees for shelter and daily activities. The supplied documents give limited information on roost structure, but they show that particular trees can be repeatedly used and that disturbance near roosts can cause problems.

Birds have been observed roosting separately in the same tree and using the same group of trees over a period of 30 months. Particular trees also serve as congregation and display sites, especially where they contain potential nesting hollows.

During the middle of the day, birds tend to retreat into rainforest, probably to shelter from heat. They may be very quiet near roost trees, so absence of calls does not show that a tree is unused.

Documented repeated use: One group of trees was used by a pair over 30 months

Midday shelter: Rainforest, including dense riparian rainforest

Roost structure: Specific roost tree dimensions are not provided

  • Retain groups of mature trees used for roosting, congregation, display or nesting.
  • Avoid close approach and unnecessary noise near suspected roost trees, particularly at dawn, dusk and during the breeding period.
  • Assess rainforest refuges and adjacent hollow-bearing woodland together because the birds use both habitat types.

Sheltering habitat: Hollows and cover

Hollow-bearing trees provide nesting and display sites and may also provide important shelter. The source material does not identify burrows, dens, ground nests or a specific ground-cover requirement for this species.

Palm Cockatoos are shy and vigilant. Construction activity, vegetation removal and close inspection around occupied trees should be planned to reduce disturbance.

  • Retain hollow-bearing trees and the surrounding canopy and woodland structure where practicable.
  • Treat old nest hollows and display trees as potential habitat even when no bird is visible.
  • Do not rely on daytime silence to exclude use of a roost or hollow.

Threats: Clearing, fragmentation and fire

The main project risks are loss of hollow-bearing trees, disturbance to active or repeatedly used nest and roost sites, and changes to the rainforest and woodland structure. PBFD is also a listed key threatening process for endangered parrots and has no effective treatment.

Clearing of woodland near rainforest edges can remove active nest trees, display trees, food trees and future hollow-bearing trees. Removal of rainforest edge and woodland along watercourses can also reduce access between shelter and foraging habitat.

Rainforest expansion into woodland can alter the habitat boundary. Conversely, poorly managed fire can destroy hollow-bearing trees and reduce hollow availability. The supplied documents identify a need to understand fire effects and use that information in fire management.

  • Survey and map hollow-bearing trees, nest signs, display sites and fruiting or seeding food trees before clearing.
  • Avoid clearing active nest trees and retain surrounding habitat on both sides of the rainforest and woodland edge.
  • Assess proposed fire regimes for their effects on hollow-bearing trees and the rainforest to woodland boundary.
  • Maintain connected woodland, rainforest edge and watercourse habitat where practicable.

Threats: Disturbance and infrastructure activity

Palm Cockatoos may be quiet around roosts and active nests, and close inspection can cause disturbance or abandonment. Machinery, vegetation clearing, access tracks and repeated human presence near hollow-bearing trees should therefore be managed carefully.

The documents do not provide species-specific road mortality rates or a measured response distance for roads, traffic or construction noise. These risks should be assessed where roads or infrastructure pass through rainforest edge, woodland or watercourse habitat.

  • Schedule searches and clearing inspections for early morning or late afternoon, while avoiding close approach to active nests and roosts.
  • Use a qualified fauna spotter catcher to check hollow-bearing trees and likely nest sites before tree removal.
  • Control unnecessary vehicle movements and machinery activity near known or suspected nest and roost trees.
  • Record and protect habitat trees that occur beside access tracks, laydown areas and utility corridors.

Threats: Disease

Psittacine beak and feather disease is a highly infectious circovirus disease of parrots. It can cause high mortality in nestlings, long-term immunological suppression, feather and beak abnormalities, and may persist in nest hollows for years.

Transmission can occur through crop sharing, fresh or dried excrement, and feather or skin particles. The Australian Government lists PBFD as a key threatening process affecting endangered psittacine species. The risk level for Palm Cockatoo is recorded as unknown because species-specific data are lacking.

PBFD status for Palm Cockatoo: Species risk level recorded as unknown

Environmental persistence: Virus can survive in nest hollows for years

Treatment: No effective treatment is available

  • Do not move contaminated nest material, feathers or other bird material between sites.
  • Apply bird hygiene and quarantine procedures to rehabilitation, handling, captive holding and any work involving contact with birds or nest hollows.
  • Seek advice from an avian veterinarian or wildlife health authority if a sick bird, abnormal feathers or beak deformity is found.
  • Do not assume that an apparently healthy parrot is free of infection, because clinically normal carriers and environmental persistence remain knowledge gaps.

Threats: Predators and hydrology

The supplied documents do not identify a quantified predator threat, road mortality rate or species-specific hydrology threat. They do show that the species uses riparian rainforest, woodland along watercourses and swamp woodland, so changes to drainage, flooding, watercourses or wetland vegetation may remove or alter habitat.

Project assessments should consider indirect effects on hollow trees, rainforest edges, Pandanus swamp woodland and food plants where drainage or watercourse works are proposed.

  • Check whether drainage, culverts, crossings or water extraction could alter riparian rainforest, swamp woodland or food-producing trees.
  • Record predator or nest failure evidence if observed, but do not attribute cause without supporting evidence.
  • Include watercourse and wetland vegetation in the habitat assessment rather than treating it as a separate feature from woodland and rainforest edge.

Survey methodology: 1. Area searches

Use quiet, systematic searches in suitable rainforest edge and savannah woodland habitat. Palm Cockatoos are shy, vigilant and often quiet near roost and nest trees, so survey timing, weather and disturbance control affect detection.

Walk quietly through suitable habitat, particularly savannah woodland within approximately 500 metres of rainforest edges and areas containing large hollow-bearing trees.

Search for birds, calls, display behaviour, feeding activity, nest trees, display hollows, piles of small dead branches and cleanly sheared branches near hollows.

Use telescopic-pole video cameras to inspect hollows up to approximately 12 metres high for eggs, chicks and splintered sticks. Use extendable ladders or single-rope methods for higher hollows only where suitably trained and authorised personnel are available.

Recommended effort: At least 4 hours of area searches per 100 hectares of suitable habitat, over a minimum of 2 days, such as 2 hours per day for 2 days.

Reported breeding density: Fewer than 1 individual per square kilometre in rainforest and 2 to 3 individuals per square kilometre in woodland around Iron Range National Park.

  • Cover the project area systematically on foot rather than relying only on vehicle observations.
  • Avoid close-range inspection of roosting, breeding and feeding birds.
  • Do not enter or disturb an active nest hollow unless the approved survey or fauna management procedure specifically permits it.

Survey methodology: 2. Dawn and dusk detection

Schedule searches to include the first or last 2 to 3 hours of daylight, when birds are more active and more readily detected around roost and nest trees.

Listen for contact, nesting and display calls, wing spreading, upside-down swinging, foot stamping, drumming and soft clicks.

Listen for falling fruit when searching feeding areas, as this may indicate a foraging bird.

Breeding period: Breeding can occur from late July to early May, with peak egg laying in September.

Preferred survey period: Early morning, within 3 hours after sunrise, and late afternoon, within 2 hours before sunset.

  • Plan searches in the months before peak breeding activity, preferably June, July and August, when detection is more favourable.
  • Do not assume that a quiet site is unoccupied, because birds can be very quiet at active nests and roost trees.

Survey methodology: 3. Weather and site conditions

Conduct searches in fine weather and avoid rain and wind, which reduce detection and make access to suitable habitat more difficult.

Treat post-cyclone areas as lower-detectability sites for up to at least a few years, because birds may call less where cyclones have created additional hollows.

Give particular attention to rainforest edges, adjacent open woodland, riparian rainforest, swamp woodland with Pandanus and woodland containing large hollow-bearing trees.

Typical habitat density reported near Iron Range: Fewer than 1 individual per square kilometre in rainforest and 2 to 3 individuals per square kilometre in woodland.

  • Record rainfall, wind, temperature, start and finish times, search route, habitat searched and visibility conditions for every survey.
  • Record all observations of birds, calls, display trees, nest hollows and signs at a mapped location.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Use a minimum of 4 hours of area searches per 100 hectares of suitable habitat over at least 2 days where suitable habitat is present.
  • Include at least one dawn or dusk period in each survey program, and survey June to August where the project schedule permits.
  • Map all suitable habitat, hollow-bearing trees, suspected nest trees, display trees, roost trees, observations and signs of use.
  • Record negative survey results, the area searched, survey effort, weather, observers and detection conditions.
  • Submit confirmed and suspected records to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and provide records required by the project approval or environmental authority.
  • Use the current scientific name, Probosciger aterrimus, and identify the relevant Australian population or subspecies where this is known.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise

Treat rainforest edge, adjacent woodland and hollow-bearing trees as high-priority habitat. The species is Endangered under the EPBC Act and in Queensland, and has a slow life history with one egg per clutch.

Redesign the work footprint to retain rainforest edges, adjacent savannah woodland, riparian rainforest, swamp woodland with Pandanus and large hollow-bearing trees.

Retain living and dead hollow-bearing trees, especially trees with off-vertical or skyward-facing hollows used for nesting and display.

Maintain connected areas of suitable rainforest and woodland habitat between retained patches where practicable, because the species uses rainforest and adjoining eucalypt, Corymbia and Melaleuca woodland.

Keep work areas and machinery away from known nest trees, display hollows and roost trees, and avoid close-range disturbance during breeding and feeding.

  • Use the documented habitat relationship of less than 500 metres from rainforest edge as a prompt to assess adjoining woodland, not as a default clearing buffer.
  • Do not clear a hollow-bearing tree until a suitably qualified ecologist has assessed it for Palm Cockatoo use and the approved fauna procedure allows removal.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and planning

Check whether the proposed action may significantly affect this EPBC listed species and obtain advice on an EPBC Act referral before work starts where required.

Check Queensland or other relevant state and territory requirements, including threatened species permits, clearing approvals, fauna handling authorities and wildlife rehabilitation arrangements.

Prepare a species-specific fauna management plan covering survey results, exclusion zones, daily pre-start checks, stop-work triggers, hollow-bearing tree procedures, animal handling and reporting.

Stage clearing so that retained habitat, nest trees and escape routes remain available while work proceeds.

Commonwealth status: Endangered under the EPBC Act.

Queensland status: Endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

  • Include a Palm Cockatoo map showing suitable habitat, rainforest edges, hollow-bearing trees, nest and display trees, exclusion areas and proposed clearing.
  • Nominate the ecologist, fauna spotter catcher, machinery supervisor, wildlife carer and veterinarian who will be contacted if a bird is found or injured.
  • Schedule clearing outside the main breeding and nesting period where practicable, with particular caution from late July to early May and around the September peak in egg laying.

Before habitat disturbance: Pre-clearance preparation

Complete a pre-clearance inspection of all proposed work areas, concentrating on rainforest edges, adjoining woodland and trees with hollows.

Mark retained hollow-bearing trees, active or suspected nest trees, display trees, roost trees and exclusion areas on the ground and in the construction plans.

Inspect hollows using a telescopic-pole camera where this can be done without disturbing birds, eggs or chicks.

Install exclusion fencing where it can prevent machinery and people entering retained habitat without blocking normal bird movement or creating a hazard.

  • Brief all workers on the species' appearance, calls, habitat, signs of nest use, reporting chain and stop-work procedure.
  • Check that the fauna spotter catcher has the required state or territory authority and that suitable transport, containment equipment, contact details and a release site plan are available.
  • Do not use close-range inspection, trapping or handling as a routine survey method.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and machinery coordination

Use a fauna spotter catcher to control the interface between machinery and habitat. Stop work when a Palm Cockatoo, active nest, egg, chick or newly exposed habitat feature requires assessment.

Complete a daily pre-start inspection of the approved clearing area, retained trees, exclusion fencing and access routes.

Have the fauna spotter catcher inspect the work area immediately before clearing and remain within the agreed observation zone while machinery is operating near habitat features.

Clear in stages and direct machinery away from retained rainforest edges, woodland habitat, hollow-bearing trees and known nest or display trees.

Use a spotter to maintain communication with the operator and stop machinery before any animal, nest, hollow or other fauna feature is approached.

  • Keep machinery speed and movement low enough for the spotter catcher to inspect the work area safely.
  • Do not allow workers to enter exclusion zones, climb nest trees or remove nest material unless authorised under the fauna management plan.
  • Suspend work during rain, strong wind or other conditions that prevent safe observation where the approved method depends on visual detection.

During habitat disturbance: Habitat features and clearing

Treat hollow-bearing trees as potential Palm Cockatoo nest or display trees and retain them wherever possible.

Before removing a hollow-bearing tree, inspect accessible hollows for birds, eggs, chicks, splintered sticks and other evidence of use.

Retain piles of small dead branches at the base of trees and cleanly sheared branches near hollows as evidence to be assessed before clearing.

Keep felled timber, logs and branches that are retained for habitat in locations that do not obstruct fauna movement, machinery access or fire controls.

  • Do not fell a tree containing a bird, egg or chick until the fauna spotter catcher and supervising ecologist have applied the approved procedure.
  • If a tree must be removed, use the approved staged-felling and fauna inspection method, and retain suitable hollow material or install an approved replacement only where directed by the ecologist.
  • Do not fill, burn or remove a suspected nest hollow during active works without approval from the responsible wildlife authority.

During habitat disturbance: Animal found, injury and stop-work response

Stop work immediately if a Palm Cockatoo is found inside the work area, if an active nest or chick is identified, or if clearing damages a known nest or hollow.

Keep people and machinery back and allow the bird to move to retained habitat where it can do so safely.

Only an appropriately authorised fauna handler should capture, restrain, transport or relocate the bird.

Relocate a healthy bird only under the approved fauna management plan, to nearby retained habitat that provides suitable rainforest edge or woodland conditions and is clear of active works.

Take an injured bird promptly to an avian veterinarian or authorised wildlife carer, following the relevant state or territory requirements.

  • Do not chase, corner, feed or handle a healthy bird unless capture is necessary to prevent immediate harm and the handler is authorised.
  • Do not disturb an active nest to obtain access or confirm occupancy where a non-invasive inspection is sufficient.
  • Record the location, time, condition, action taken, release or treatment location, people involved and approval or permit details.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Confirm that clearing controls worked and that retained habitat remains suitable. Continue checking known nest, display and roost trees after machinery leaves.

Inspect the cleared footprint and retained edges for injured or trapped birds, damaged hollow-bearing trees, exposed nests and blocked movement routes.

Complete a final inspection of retained nest and display trees for damage, vibration effects, debris and unauthorised access.

Remove temporary hazards, waste and fencing that could entangle birds, while retaining approved exclusion fencing around areas still requiring protection.

  • Record all fauna interactions, near misses, injuries, mortalities, nest findings, tree removals and departures from the approved method.
  • Report any death, injury, active nest disturbance or unexpected Palm Cockatoo record to the project environmental officer and the relevant authority within the required timeframe.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and controls

Monitor retained rainforest edge, adjacent woodland and hollow-bearing trees during the project and after completion, using quiet dawn or dusk searches where monitoring is required.

Check for Palm Cockatoo calls, birds, display activity, foraging, nest use, piles of small branches and cleanly sheared branches near hollows.

Maintain fencing, signage and machinery exclusion areas until the environmental officer confirms that they are no longer required.

Suggested survey benchmark: 4 hours per 100 hectares over at least 2 days, including dawn or dusk coverage.

  • Repeat the documented minimum survey effort where post-construction monitoring is intended to compare detection with pre-clearance conditions.
  • Use the same mapped search areas, timing and weather records where possible so changes in detection can be assessed.

After habitat disturbance: Reporting and offsets

Provide the completion report to the approval holder and relevant regulator, including maps, survey effort, habitat retained and cleared, hollow-bearing tree outcomes, fauna incidents and monitoring results.

Update state wildlife databases with verified records and submit any EPBC Act reporting required by the approval.

Apply approved offsets or environmental compensation measures where impacts cannot be avoided or mitigated, with measures directed to protecting and restoring Palm Cockatoo habitat.

  • Keep photographic evidence and location data for retained and removed hollow-bearing trees.
  • Document any replacement hollow, nest box or habitat restoration action and its inspection schedule.

Rehabilitation actions: Habitat restoration

Rehabilitation should restore the rainforest edge and open woodland structure used by Palm Cockatoos, while protecting hollow-bearing trees and improving the supply of future nest trees.

Re-establish native rainforest edge and adjacent open woodland vegetation appropriate to the local Cape York site.

Plant or protect food trees recorded in the species' diet, including Nonda plum, Parinari nonda, brown cudgerie, Canarium australasicum, tropical almond, Terminalia catappa, Pandanus, bushman’s clothes-pegs, Grevillea glauca and booral, Persoonia falcata.

Retain existing living and dead hollow-bearing trees and protect young trees that can develop future hollows.

Reinstate suitable fallen timber and branch material where this does not create a fire, access or safety hazard.

  • Use local provenance native plants suited to the site's rainforest, woodland or swamp woodland community.
  • Control weeds so planted and naturally regenerating native plants can develop into connected habitat around retained trees and rainforest edges.

Rehabilitation actions: Hollows, nests and fire

Where approved by the ecologist, provide replacement nest structures that reflect the species' need for large hollows and allow safe inspection and maintenance.

Use natural or artificial structures only where their placement, height, orientation and protection have been assessed for the local Palm Cockatoo population.

Manage fire so that hollow-bearing trees and regenerating woodland are not unnecessarily damaged, because inappropriate fire can destroy hollow-bearing trees and reduce hollow availability.

Protect nest trees from repeated disturbance, unauthorised access and machinery impact.

Observed nest hollow dimensions: Reported active hollows ranged from 18.5 by 20.5 centimetres to 35 by 80 centimetres.

Reported nest preparation period: Usually August to November, during the peak breeding period.

  • Do not claim a replacement nest structure as successful until monitoring confirms use by Palm Cockatoos or the approved success measure has been met.
  • Record the location, design, installation date, inspection results and condition of every replacement hollow or nest box.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

Monitor rehabilitated rainforest edges, woodland, food plantings, hollow-bearing trees and replacement nest structures during dawn or dusk periods.

Search for Palm Cockatoos, calls, feeding activity, display behaviour, nest use, splintered sticks, branch piles and cleanly sheared branches near hollows.

Use the pre-clearance survey route and methods where possible, with at least 4 hours per 100 hectares over 2 days when the rehabilitation area is large enough to apply that benchmark.

Species reproduction: The species lays a single egg per clutch and has a slow life history.

  • Measure survival and growth of planted native species, weed cover, condition of retained trees, stability of replacement structures and evidence of Palm Cockatoo use.
  • Investigate failed plantings, erosion, fire damage, weed invasion, predator access or loss of hollow-bearing trees and repair the cause.
  • Continue monitoring until the approval holder and relevant authority accept that the agreed habitat and fauna outcomes have been achieved.

Sources