Jailbirds help endangered cockatoos

Red-tailed Cockatoo (Calyptorhyncus banksii) one of the threathened cockatoos te facility caters to. Image by Sandra WallaceConvicts at Karnet Prison Farm have joined the fight to save WA's endangered black cockatoos.

Minimum-security prisoners have spent the past few months building aviaries for the Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre in the Gosnells suburb of Martin.

Centre founder Glenn Dewhurst said that without the inmates' labour, the centre would not be what it is today.

"The prisoners have done an outstanding job," Mr Dewhurst said.

"They are turning over cages faster than anyone expected and just in time, with many of the cages housing cockatoos injured in March's storm."

Karnet Assistant Superintendent Graham Bond said inmates had helped upgrade the centre by building quarantine and flight aviaries.

"Almost two years on and prisoners are now visiting the centre three to five times a week, constructing the aviaries onsite while also helping with general landcare, welding and project management," Mr Bond said.

He said the project was receiving unexpected levels of enthusiasm from the prisoners, to the extent that several former prisoners were continuing to volunteer after their release.

"By working at the centre, prisoners have the opportunity to see the bigger picture and how their work is helping not only the cockatoos but the volunteers at the centre," Mr Bond said.