Volunteers muster for black cocky count
Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 14:14 
Carnaby's cockatoo has halted a massive residential development in Mandurah. Image by ragimuffin A legion of volunteers is preparing to count specimens of the threatened Carnaby's black cockatoo across Perth on Wednesday, April 7.
The survey, organised by Birds Australia and the Department of Environment and Conservation, aims to determine the cockatoo's population from Moore River in the north, east to York and south to Yalgorup.
The count will help determine whether the population has declined or increased since the last tally was taken in 2006.
More than 1000 volunteers participated in that survey, which found there were at least 4500 cockatoos on the Swan Coastal Plain at the time.
"Subsequent estimates suggest as many as 10,000 birds may visit Perth after spending the winter and spring months in the Wheatbelt where they breed,” DEC ecologist Geoff Barrett said.
"The 2006 survey also found that the best way to count Carnaby's black cockatoos was as they returned to their roost sites each evening."
The 2010 Great Cocky Count will involve getting to the cockatoo roosts half an hour before sunset, and counting the number of birds flying into the roost.
Birds Australia spokeswoman Raana Scott said because the cockatoos congregated in large flocks, many people falsely believed the species was not under threat.
The cockatoo is endemic to south western Australia and it is estimated that only 40,000 now exist - with the population spread over only one-third of the range that existed 50 year ago.
"The cockatoos feed on road verges and road strike is an increasing problem, however the biggest threat to the species is loss of habitat across their range," Ms Scott said.
Interested cockatoo counters can call Geoff Barrett on 9423 2907 or Quinton Burnham on 0428 762 292 to register.