Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. Image by AndyTHE Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre has had a harrowing few months.

Between two and three dead birds are reported to the centre every week. And the area around Jandakot is no exception. But disease isn’t causing the epidemic – people are.

Black Cockatoo Preservation Society of Australia president and Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre manager Glenn Dewhurst said that since 167ha of cockatoo habitat was cleared for a new runway at Jandakot Airport earlier this year, between 18 and 19 dead cockatoos had been reported in the area.

He said he thought the death toll was much higher than reported.

Eight live birds have been rescued from the area.

“With the Jandakot clearing there’s a lot of birds going in there with nothing to eat, they’re starving, and most of the birds we get are so skinny,” Mr Dewhurst said.

He said if the Roe 8 Highway Extension went through, their potential habitat would decrease even further.

On December 14, South Metro Connect released issue 20 of the Roe Highway Extension project update.

It said surveys had identified 33 eucalypts that contained hollows of adequate size for nesting within the project area.

“Preservation of as many of these trees as possible is important to the work being undertaken by South Metro Connect,” the update said.

During a recent study, consultants conducted several black cockatoo nesting and roosting surveys, but even though Forest Red-tailed and Carnaby’s black cockatoos visited regularly, none was seen roosting or nesting in the project area.

Mr Dewhurst said the birds were heading into the wetland areas to find food.

“We’ve had Carnaby’s in there roosting for three night periods, which tells me that next year there will be lots of birds roosting in there,” he said.

“(SMC) aren’t looking at the whole picture, they’re looking at the area in isolation.

“(The birds’) patterns are changing; you can’t say they won’t use these wetlands again.”

South Metropolitan MLC Lynn MacLaren said the Barnett government seemed determined to go ahead with the highway at any cost.

“The SMC update is just the latest carefully crafted report to support a bad decision,” she said.

“For instance, black cockatoos are on the verge of extinction because they are running out of places to nest and roost.

“Many birds lost their homes when their habitat at Jandakot Airport was destroyed and they are now relocating to Beeliar. Where is this information on the SMC update?”

If you see a dead, injured or weakened black cockatoo, call the rehabilitation centre on 0417 988 872.

Donations for the preservation of cockatoos are appreciated; visit www.givenow.com.au/wildlifeaustraliainc