Red-tailed black cockatooEarly figures from an annual census of the endangered red-tailed black cockatoo show that numbers are down on last year.
Volunteers and landholders counted cockatoos in the south east of South Australia and western Victoria at the weekend.
Tania Rajic from the red-tailed black cockatoo recovery team says it is likely the scarcity of food is behind the decrease in sightings.
"In between Casterton and Mount Gambier we had probably about 900 birds in a fairly concentrated area, whereas this year I had a phone call this morning saying that 12 birds had been spotted there," she said.
"So we've gone from you know 8-900 birds down to 12 in that particular area."
Ms Rajic says it is vital to ensure the species is not lost.
"Red tails are quite iconic, they're quite spectacular, people love seeing them and they really stand out," she said.
"But not only are they endangered in South Australia but this particular sub-species which only occurs in south-west Victoria and south-east SA is considered to be nationally endangered as well."