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Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii)

The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is a large Australian cockatoo that occurs in several regional forms, from the south-west forests of Western Australia to woodlands and semi-arid country in eastern and northern Australia. Clearing can remove feeding trees, old nest hollows and movement links, with the south-eastern subspecies particularly dependent on Stringybark and Buloke seed resources.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Critically endangered.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Endangered.

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Endangered.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Northern Territory, Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976: Near threatened.

Breeding season

Breeding timing varies between regional forms. The calendar below combines the documented periods and highlights the months when clearing is most likely to affect eggs, nestlings or dependent young.

For a project, use the breeding period of the regional form present at the site. Inland and Northern forms have different breeding periods, and successful nesting may occur outside the usual period.

  • Breeding: South-eastern birds commonly breed from September to December. Forest birds lay mainly in October and November, while inland and northern forms may breed earlier or across a wider period.
  • Young: Nestlings remain in the nest for about 75 to 85 days in the Forest form, followed by three to four months of post-fledging parental care. The exact timing varies between regional forms.
  • Movement and feeding shifts: The south-eastern form moves in response to Stringybark and Buloke seed availability rather than making annual migrations. Forest birds switch between Marri, Jarrah and other foods when crops change, including around March and June.
  • Highest clearing risk: Risk is highest from September to December in the south-eastern and Forest forms because eggs, nestlings and dependent young may be present. Clearing can damage habitat in any month, including food trees and future nest trees.

Identification

Red-tailed Black Cockatoos are large, conspicuous black cockatoos with a crest, heavy bill and coloured tail panels. Identification should consider regional form, sex and age because plumage varies across Australia.

Adults are 53 to 60 cm long. The body is mostly black and the tail is about half the body length. Males have glossy black plumage, a dark grey bill and broad red to orange tail panels. Females are browner and have yellow to whitish spotting on the head, neck and wings, pale fringing on the underparts, and barred yellow, orange or red tail feathers.

Juveniles resemble females but are duller. Young males take about four to five years to develop full adult plumage.

Length: 53 to 60 cm

Weight: 565 to 730 g in the general Western Australian account; 570 to 870 g in the broader species account

Call: A metallic, rolling, far-carrying call described as karee or krar-raak, with additional harsh chet and nasal wheezing calls

Identification: Distinguishing regional forms

The south-eastern subspecies is the smallest form and females are especially brightly marked. It can be confused with the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo and Gang-gang Cockatoo in south-eastern Australia.

In Western Australia, the Forest form is larger than the Inland form and has a heavier bill. The Northern form has longer wings and a larger bill than the Forest form, and female tail barring is yellow rather than orange or red.

Identification: Field signs

The species is active, noisy and conspicuous, although birds may be quieter while feeding. Calls can be detected before the birds are seen. Pairs, family groups and larger flocks may be visible in flight or around feeding and roosting trees.

Fresh feeding signs include opened eucalypt fruits and discarded seed material. Targeted searches should inspect mature food trees, fallen fruit and the ground beneath trees. Large nest hollows in mature eucalypts are important evidence of potential breeding habitat, even when birds are not present.

The supplied sources do not provide diagnostic track, scat or eyeshine descriptions. Presence and habitat assessments should therefore rely on direct observations, calls, feeding signs, roosts and suitable nest hollows.

Distribution: National range

The species occurs across much of mainland Australia, but its regional forms occupy distinct areas and habitats. The south-eastern subspecies is a single population, while the Western Australian forms are separated into south-western forest, inland and northern regions.

Red-tailed Black Cockatoos occur in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. The supplied sources describe three broad Western Australian regions: the south-west, the northern Wheatbelt, Murchison and Pilbara, and the Kimberley.

The south-eastern subspecies occurs in far south-western Victoria and adjacent south-eastern South Australia. Its documented habitat includes the Glenelg Plain, Wimmera and Naracoorte Plain bioregions, with Stringybark woodlands on deep aeolian sands and adjoining eucalypt, Buloke and river red gum woodlands.

The Forest form is endemic to humid and sub-humid south-western Western Australia, historically ranging between Albany, Augusta and Perth and north along the Swan Coastal Plain to Dandaragan. The current range is described as extending from north of Perth to Mount Helena, Christmas Tree Well, North Bannister, Mount Saddleback, Rocky Gully and the upper King River.

Distribution: Populations and strongholds

The south-eastern form is a single population. Its estimated total population was about 1,000 birds, including 600 to 700 breeding birds, in the recovery background document.

The Forest form is associated with Jarrah, Marri and Karri forests receiving more than 600 mm of average annual rainfall. It is now rare and patchily distributed over a contracted range.

The inland form occurs in arid and semi-arid eucalypt woodlands, partly cleared farmland and Acacia scrub. The Northern form occurs in forest and woodland in the Kimberley and other parts of northern Australia.

South-eastern population estimate: About 1,000 birds

Estimated breeding birds in south-eastern population: About 600 to 700

Forest form rainfall zone: South-western forests receiving more than 600 mm average annual rainfall

Distribution: Trend and site assessment

The south-eastern form has lost substantial feeding habitat, with about 57 per cent of suitable habitat cleared across its range. Stringybark habitat is reported as 87 per cent cleared in South Australia and 42 per cent cleared in Victoria.

The Forest form has declined in range and density following timber harvesting and clearing of forest margins. For project assessment, a site can remain important even where birds are not recorded, if it contains food trees, large hollows, roost trees or vegetation linking occupied areas.

Habitat: Regional habitat types

Habitat differs between regional forms, but mature food trees, hollow-bearing eucalypts and connected native vegetation are recurring requirements. Retain habitat used for feeding, nesting, roosting and movement, including suitable remnants that are not occupied at the time of survey.

The south-eastern form is restricted mainly to Stringybark woodlands on deep aeolian sands in the Glenelg Plain, Wimmera and Naracoorte Plain bioregions. It also uses adjacent woodlands containing River Red Gum, Yellow Gum and Buloke.

The Forest form uses dense Jarrah, Marri and Karri forests, woodlands and remnants in south-western Western Australia. Associated understorey includes Bull Banksia, Snottygobble, Forest Sheoak and Dryandra, with Blackbutt and Wandoo in some sites.

The inland form uses eucalypt woodlands along watercourses, partly cleared farmland and Acacia scrub. The Northern form uses forest and woodland areas of the Kimberley and northern Australia.

Habitat: Structural features

Important habitat contains mature or old trees that provide abundant seed, large nest hollows and, in some areas, water stored in tree hollows. Isolated paddock trees can provide both food and nest sites and should not be treated as low-value remnants.

For the Forest form, habitat critical to survival includes Marri, Jarrah and Karri forests, woodlands and remnants that are occupied, recovering after fire, used for nesting, feeding or roosting, or provide movement between occupied areas.

Habitat: Climate and elevation

The Forest form is associated with humid and sub-humid south-western zones and forests receiving more than 600 mm of average annual rainfall. The south-eastern form occupies dry to seasonally dry woodland regions in south-eastern Australia.

The supplied documents do not provide elevation limits. Elevation should not be used alone to exclude potential habitat.

Foraging habitat: Food plants

Foraging habitat is defined by the availability of mature trees carrying suitable seed. Birds may travel between remnants, paddocks, forest blocks and roosts, so food trees outside the proposed clearing area can still be functionally connected to the site.

The south-eastern form feeds almost exclusively on seeds of Desert Stringybark and Brown Stringybark. It also uses Buloke seed seasonally, particularly in the northern part of its range, and may use seeds of other eucalypts including Desert Stringybark, Brown Stringybark and River Red Gum associated woodlands.

The Forest form feeds mainly on Marri and Jarrah. Other recorded foods include Blackbutt, Albany Blackbutt, Forest Sheoak, Snottygobble, Spotted Gum and Cape Lilac. About 90 per cent of the Forest form diet was reported to consist of Marri and Jarrah fruits.

The inland form feeds mainly on Double Gee seed, with smaller amounts of other weed seeds and native Banksia and Grevillea seed. The Northern form uses seeds from Woollybutt, Swamp Bloodwood, Terminalia, Acacia and other plants.

Foraging habitat: Foraging behaviour

Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos feed in small family groups of up to 10 birds, usually within 1 to 4 km of a roost. They leave roosts around sunrise, feed during the day, drink late in the day and return at dusk.

The Forest form switches from Marri to Jarrah and other foods when Marri fruit is less abundant, including around March and June. Birds may return to individual productive trees daily until the fruit supply is exhausted.

The south-eastern form moves through its range in response to the availability of Stringybark and Buloke seed. In some years most birds occur in the northern part of the range, while in other years they occur further south.

Typical Forest form distance from roost while feeding: Usually 1 to 4 km

Typical Forest form feeding group: Up to 10 birds

Forest form diet contribution from Marri and Jarrah: About 90 per cent

Foraging habitat: Foraging signs and survey focus

Inspect the crowns and ground beneath mature Marri, Jarrah, Stringybark, Buloke and other documented food trees. Record fruit abundance, opened fruits, discarded seed material and repeated use of individual trees.

Targeted searches are recommended in remnants with suitable food resources, especially in cleared agricultural areas. Road and aerial transects can assist where habitat is extensive, but ground searches should be used to assess trees and feeding signs at a proposed clearing site.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding depends on large tree hollows, usually in mature or dead eucalypts. A site may therefore remain breeding habitat even when no nest is active during the survey period.

South-eastern breeding season: Starts in September; nests with eggs are frequently found to December, although successful nesting may occur in any season.

Forest form laying period: October and November.

Inland form laying period: Usually July to November, or February to May.

Northern form laying period: March to August.

Clutch size: Usually one egg. Two eggs may occur rarely in the Forest form, but the effective clutch size is one because usually only one chick fledges.

Incubation: About 29 to 31 days in the Forest form and about 30 days in the inland form.

Nestling and dependency: Forest form nestlings remain in the nest for about 75 to 85 days. Young may be fed for three to four months after fledging and can take up to a year to learn to extract Marri seed.

Age at maturity: Breeding was generally thought to begin at four to six years, although younger Forest form birds with partly barred tails have been recorded breeding.

Lifespan: Forest form adults have lived for more than 45 years in captivity.

Breeding habitat: Nest trees and hollows

The Forest form nests in Marri, Jarrah and Karri. Hollows in Marri are generally 8 to 14 m above ground, with entrances 12 to 41 cm in diameter and depths of 1 to 5 m.

The inland form nests in hollows in live and dead Salmon Gum, Wandoo and York Gum. Large hollows are required because birds back into the hollow. The south-eastern form requires very old, large hollow-bearing eucalypts.

Retain hollow-bearing trees, potential future hollow trees and fallen or standing dead trees where they are safe to retain. Avoid clearing, vibration and high-noise works near active nests, and check hollow-bearing trees before felling.

Forest form nest height in Marri: 8 to 14 m

Forest form hollow entrance diameter: 12 to 41 cm

Forest form hollow depth: 1 to 5 m

Sheltering habitat: Roosts and daytime shelter

Roosting occurs in trees and forest blocks, often close to feeding areas. Hollow-bearing trees can provide both shelter and breeding sites, while water in hollows, creeks, dams and troughs is used for drinking.

Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos roost in Jarrah, Marri and Blackbutt habitat on roadsides, paddocks and forest blocks. They may return to the same general area after feeding and are often seen in pairs or small flocks, with larger flocks also recorded.

Late in the day, birds drink from water in tree hollows, creeks, puddles, dams and troughs before returning to roost at dusk.

Roost habitat recorded for the Forest form: Jarrah, Marri and Blackbutt habitat on roadsides, paddocks or forest blocks

Largest Forest form flocks reported in the supplied material: Up to 200 birds

Sheltering habitat: Hollow resources

Large hollows in mature or dead eucalypts provide nesting and may also provide shelter. Relevant trees include Marri, Jarrah, Karri, Stringybark, Salmon Gum, Wandoo and York Gum, depending on regional form.

Feral Honeybees can occupy tree hollows and may kill nesting females or chicks. Inspect suitable hollows for bee activity and manage occupied hollows through an approved fauna management process rather than sealing or removing them without advice.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The main project risks are removal of mature food trees, hollow-bearing trees and connected native vegetation, followed by fire damage, grazing impacts and disturbance or loss of nest hollows. Risk is highest where a proposal affects productive food remnants or trees used for nesting and roosting.

Agricultural clearing, forestry, mining and urban development remove feeding, nesting and roosting habitat. Residential development has commonly involved complete vegetation clearance in the south-west of Western Australia.

Fragmentation can increase the energetic cost of feeding and can remove movement links between occupied areas. Clearing paddock trees is also significant because isolated trees provide food and nest sites, while replacement plantings may take many decades to become suitable.

Suitable south-eastern habitat cleared: About 57 per cent across the range

Stringybark habitat cleared: About 87 per cent in South Australia and 42 per cent in Victoria

Estimated Buloke paddock tree loss: An average of 33 per cent over 15 years in three Victorian cropping areas

Threats: Fire, drought and grazing

High-severity fire can scorch crowns and reduce seed production in Stringybark and Buloke habitat. Prescribed fire should minimise canopy scorch and avoid years when a block has a newly matured seed crop.

Drought can reduce flowering and seed production in eucalypt food trees. Crop stubble burning can kill Buloke trees, and uncontrolled grazing can ringbark or kill Stringybark and Buloke trees and prevent regeneration.

Threats: Nest threats and direct mortality

Feral Honeybees compete for tree hollows and can kill nesting females and chicks by stinging. Nest predators are also identified as a management concern for the south-eastern form.

Illegal shooting has affected Red-tailed Black Cockatoos historically and remains a documented threat in Western Australia. Do not permit shooting or lethal crop-protection practices during project activities.

Threats: Project controls

Map mature food trees, hollow-bearing trees, active nests, roosts and movement links before clearing. Retain habitat used for feeding, breeding and roosting wherever possible.

Schedule clearing outside the local breeding and dependent-young period where practicable, and apply a pre-clearance inspection by an appropriately qualified ecologist or fauna spotter catcher.

The supplied sources do not identify road collision or hydrology change as primary documented threats for this species. Assess those risks where a project changes access, traffic, drainage, dams, troughs or creekside habitat.

Survey methodology: 1. Ground area searches and transects

Survey the habitat and food resources that support the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, not just the area proposed for clearing. The south-eastern subspecies is noisy and conspicuous, but can be confused with other black cockatoos, so record calls, sightings and feeding signs together.

Walk suitable stringybark woodland, Buloke woodland and adjacent eucalypt remnants, recording birds by sight and call.

Search for feeding signs in seeds and cones, particularly in Brown Stringybark, Desert Stringybark and Buloke in south-eastern Australia, and in Marri and Jarrah in south-western Western Australia.

Use the method throughout suitable habitat within and around the proposed disturbance area, including retained remnants and habitat corridors.

South-eastern subspecies effort: 16 hours over 8 days for area searches or transect surveys

Typical group size: Pairs, trios and large flocks are all reported

  • For the south-eastern subspecies, complete 16 hours over 8 days in areas smaller than 50 hectares.
  • Conduct searches when birds are active and visibility is adequate, while avoiding strong wind, heavy rain and other conditions that reduce detection.
  • Record the number of birds, flock size, sex where identifiable, flight direction, feeding trees, roosts and any nest trees or hollows.

Survey methodology: 2. Road and aerial transects

Use vehicle road transects where suitable habitat is extensive and access allows safe, repeatable observations.

Use aerial transects for extensive areas where ground access is limited, and record the route, survey area, weather and observation time.

Aerial work is supplementary to habitat and feeding-resource searches and should not replace ground inspection of trees and hollows.

South-eastern subspecies aerial effort: 4 hours over 2 days

  • For the south-eastern subspecies, complete 4 hours over 2 days of aerial survey where aerial coverage is needed.
  • Maintain sufficiently close aerial transects to cover the area of interest, as required by the survey design.
  • Do not fly or drive in a way that causes birds to flush repeatedly or puts aircraft, vehicles or people at risk.

Survey methodology: 3. Targeted food and nest habitat searches

Target remnant food trees in cleared agricultural areas, because the south-eastern subspecies uses fragmented woodland and paddock trees.

Inspect mature stringybarks and Bulokes for seed crops, feeding activity and potential nest hollows before finalising the disturbance footprint.

In south-western Western Australia, inspect Marri, Jarrah and Karri forest, woodland and remnants receiving more than 600 millimetres of annual average rainfall where the forest subspecies may occur.

Survey outside the immediate clearing footprint where birds could forage, roost or move between retained areas.

South-eastern subspecies targeted effort: 20 hours over 10 days

South-western forest habitat: Marri, Jarrah and Karri forests, woodlands and remnants above 600 millimetres mean annual rainfall

  • For the south-eastern subspecies, complete 20 hours over 10 days of targeted searches of remnants with suitable food resources.
  • Treat large hollow-bearing eucalypts as high-priority habitat features because the birds require large hollows for nesting.
  • Record tree species, tree condition, hollow entrances, evidence of use, food availability and the location of each feature using mapped coordinates.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Use the south-eastern subspecies effort guide where that subspecies and its stringybark or Buloke habitat are relevant, and document the reason for any alternative effort.
  • Plan surveys around the species' breeding period, which commonly starts in September and may continue to December in the south-eastern subspecies, while recognising that nesting may occur in other seasons.
  • Repeat or extend surveys when weather, access, observer safety or detectability has reduced the chance of detection.
  • Record observer names, qualifications, dates, start and finish times, method, effort, weather, habitat condition, GPS tracks, photographs, calls, feeding signs and all negative results.
  • Submit confirmed records, breeding observations and mortality records to the relevant state wildlife database and provide records required by approval conditions.
  • Assess the results under the EPBC Act and applicable state legislation before clearing or construction begins.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Avoid clearing Red-tailed Black Cockatoo habitat wherever practicable. The highest-risk features are food trees, mature hollow-bearing eucalypts, connected remnants and sites used for feeding, breeding or roosting.

  • Retain Brown Stringybark, Desert Stringybark and Buloke habitat for the south-eastern subspecies, with priority given to Desert Stringybark where it is present.
  • Retain Marri, Jarrah and Karri forest, woodland and remnants for the south-western forest subspecies.
  • Retain mature hollow-bearing eucalypts, feeding trees, roost trees and vegetation that allows birds to move between occupied areas.
  • Design the disturbance footprint to avoid fragmentation of feeding, breeding and roosting habitat.
  • Set project-specific exclusion zones and buffers around retained trees, hollows, roosts and feeding areas through the ecological impact assessment, approval conditions and fauna management plan.
  • Avoid locating stockpiles, access tracks, compounds, drainage works and firebreaks within retained habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

  • Check whether the proposed action may have a significant impact on the EPBC listed taxon and refer it under the EPBC Act where required.
  • Obtain all applicable state and territory wildlife, vegetation clearing and animal handling approvals before work starts.
  • Prepare a fauna management plan that identifies habitat to retain, survey results, exclusion zones, pre-clearance checks, tree-felling controls, rescue arrangements, stop-work triggers and reporting duties.
  • Stage clearing so that retained food trees, hollow-bearing trees, roosts and movement routes remain available while works proceed.
  • Schedule the most disruptive work outside the main September to December breeding period where practicable, and do not disturb an active nest or dependent young.

Before habitat disturbance: Site preparation

  • Complete a pre-clearance survey close enough to the start of works to identify current birds, feeding activity, roosts, active nests and changes in habitat condition.
  • Mark all retained trees, hollow-bearing trees, feeding trees, nest trees, roosts and exclusion zones so machinery operators can see them from the work area.
  • Install and maintain exclusion fencing where it can protect retained habitat and prevent machinery entry.
  • Brief all operators, spotter catchers and supervisors on the species' appearance, calls, feeding signs, handling limits and stop-work procedure.
  • Confirm the location of the authorised fauna spotter catcher, wildlife carer, veterinarian and project environmental officer before clearing begins.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and machinery coordination

Keep a fauna spotter catcher involved in all work that can affect occupied or potential cockatoo habitat. The spotter catcher must have authority to stop work when an animal, nest or unsafe habitat feature is found.

  • Inspect exclusion fencing, signs, retained trees and the active work area at the start of each shift.
  • Use a qualified fauna spotter catcher to check the work zone immediately before clearing, tree removal, trenching and vehicle access.
  • Keep machinery stopped while the spotter catcher checks a tree, hollow, nest, roost or concealed habitat feature within the work zone.
  • Use staged, controlled clearing so birds can move towards retained habitat rather than becoming trapped between machinery and the clearing edge.
  • Keep workers, vehicles and machinery outside marked exclusion zones unless the fauna management plan and approval conditions allow entry.

During habitat disturbance: Habitat features and animal response

  • Do not fell a hollow-bearing tree until the spotter catcher has inspected it and confirmed that no bird, nest or dependent young is present, subject to approval conditions.
  • If a bird is found, stop the activity that could affect it, keep people and machinery back, and allow it to leave to nearby retained habitat where safe.
  • Do not chase, catch or handle a healthy free-flying cockatoo unless an authorised and appropriately trained person determines that handling is necessary.
  • Use only an authorised fauna handler for capture, examination or relocation, and follow the approved fauna management plan and wildlife permit conditions.
  • Relocate a captured bird only to suitable nearby retained habitat identified by the ecologist or spotter catcher, and record the release location.
  • Take an injured, sick or orphaned bird to an appropriately qualified veterinarian or authorised wildlife carer without unnecessary delay.
  • Inspect logs, rocks, burrows, wetlands and other concealed features before they are disturbed, and manage any fauna found in them under the approved fauna management plan.

During habitat disturbance: Stop work and records

  • Stop work immediately if a Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is injured, trapped, captured, found nesting, found with dependent young, or found using a tree or habitat feature that was not assessed.
  • Stop work if a hollow-bearing tree, nest tree, roost, feeding tree or exclusion zone is damaged or cannot be safely retained as approved.
  • Stop work if clearing conditions change, including unexpected fire, smoke, high winds or unsafe tree-felling conditions that could reduce detection or increase fauna risk.
  • Notify the fauna spotter catcher, site supervisor and project environmental officer before restarting work.
  • Record the date, time, location, species, number and condition of birds, action taken, handler, release or treatment location, habitat feature, machinery involved and any approval notification.
  • Report injury, mortality, nest disturbance, unauthorised clearing and other notifiable incidents to the relevant authority within the period required by the approval or permit.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks and monitoring

Confirm that clearing has not removed or damaged unrecorded habitat features, then monitor the retained area and any rehabilitation. Use the approval conditions and fauna management plan as the minimum reporting standard.

  • Complete a post-clearance inspection of the entire work area for injured or trapped birds, damaged hollows, active nests, feeding trees, roost trees and unsafe fencing.
  • Check retained habitat at agreed intervals for bird use, feeding activity, nest use, fire damage, tree decline, weed invasion and loss of movement routes.
  • Repeat targeted searches when works occur near retained food trees, breeding habitat or roosts, or when monitoring shows a change in bird use.
  • Compare monitoring results with the pre-clearing survey, including bird records, flock size, feeding signs, tree condition and habitat retained.

After habitat disturbance: Reporting and ongoing controls

  • Maintain exclusion fencing, signs and tree protection until the risk from construction traffic and follow-on works has ended.
  • Provide the ecologist's survey, clearance, incident and monitoring records to the approval authority where required.
  • Submit confirmed sightings, breeding records, injuries and deaths to the relevant state wildlife database.
  • Implement approved offsets or other compensatory measures where residual impacts remain and the approval requires them.
  • Review the fauna management plan after any incident, unexpected species record or change to the approved work footprint.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore food habitat

Rehabilitation must restore food resources, nesting opportunities and movement between retained habitat. Planting will not replace mature feeding or nesting trees quickly, so retain existing trees and protect them while new habitat develops.

South-eastern food trees: Brown Stringybark, Desert Stringybark and Buloke

South-western forest food trees: Marri and Jarrah, with other recorded foods including Blackbutt, Albany Blackbutt, Forest Sheoak and Snottygobble

  • Plant and protect Brown Stringybark and Desert Stringybark for the south-eastern subspecies, with priority given to Desert Stringybark where suitable.
  • Plant and protect Buloke where it forms a seasonal food resource for the south-eastern subspecies.
  • In south-western Western Australia, restore suitable Marri, Jarrah and Karri vegetation for the forest subspecies.
  • Fence plantings and retained trees where grazing could cause ringbarking, browsing or tree death.
  • Control weeds and prevent competition from adjacent land uses that reduces tree establishment or seed production.
  • Monitor plant survival, tree growth, seed production, feeding signs and cockatoo use at agreed intervals.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore nesting and roosting habitat

  • Retain all suitable mature hollow-bearing trees during rehabilitation and protect them from fire, machinery damage and soil disturbance.
  • Install nest boxes where approved recovery actions identify a shortage of suitable hollows, and assign responsibility for inspection, maintenance and repair.
  • Retain or reinstate fallen timber and other habitat features where required by the fauna management plan, after checking that they do not create a construction or fire hazard.
  • Maintain connected retained vegetation between feeding, breeding and roosting areas.
  • Record nest box occupancy, repairs, hollow condition, roost use and any breeding observations.

Rehabilitation actions: Fire management and success measures

  • Manage prescribed fire in cockatoo habitat to reduce crown scorch and avoid burning when a block has a newly matured seed crop.
  • Protect retained and rehabilitated food trees from high-severity fire and from burning practices that kill paddock trees.
  • Use success measures that include survival and recruitment of planted food trees, stable or increasing availability of nest hollows, continued use of retained habitat, feeding records and breeding observations.
  • Compare monitoring results with the recovery objectives for stable or increasing extent of occurrence, breeding pairs, roosting flocks and juvenile proportions where those measures can be assessed.
  • Adapt planting, fencing, nest box maintenance, weed control and fire management when monitoring shows that habitat is not developing as planned.

Sources