Help save Black Cockatoos!
Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 7:16 During the Parrot International Symposium Rosemary Low showed us this remarkable video of a an Australian couple, David and Deidre Patterson, who are working hard to save two distinct subspecies of black cockatoos from going extinct. In the video they tell about the importance of the area next to their property, Helms block, for the black cockatoos, which is a key area for food and nesting sites and its survival is imperative for the release of the cockatoos that they rehabilitate. We were alarmed to learn that the moratorium on logging this area made in 2001 has been overturned.
We understand that, if this goes ahead, a valuable area of native forest will be rendered unusable as a food source for these cockatoos, thus further imperilling the two species of White-tailed Black Cockatoos and the sub-species naso of the Red-tail. It would also mean that the Pattersons would be unable to release a flock of rehabilitated Baudin's Cockatoos as planned for the coming October, when marri nuts would have been available for these birds in the forest.
You can help prevent this severe oversight of the Australian government by sending a postcard to David Templeman, Australia's Minister for the Environment, expressing your concern on the fate of Helms block and the future of the magnificent black cockatoos there.
You might write something like:
- Dear David Templeman,
I like to express my concern in the governments plan to allow Helm block to be logged and burned. This forest is vital habitat for several threatened species of magnificent Black cockatoos. We hope you use your powers to overturn this decision and spare this vital piece of forest so David and Deidre Patterson can carry on their important work in conserving these unique black cockatoos.
Yours sincerely,
Your name & country of origin
Your postcard should be sent to:
THE HON DAVID TEMPLEMAN MLA
Minister for the Environment; Climate Change; Peel
29th Floor, Allendale Square
77 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000 Australia
Hand written postcards with friendly messages and colourful images of parrots are most effective.
On behalf of the Cockatoos: Thank you!