In full flight: Carnaby’s black cockatoos are released into the wild in the Yanchep National Park. Picture: Bruce Hunt THE biggest flock of rehabilitated Carnaby’s black cockatoos ever released back into the wild in WA were set free in Yanchep National Park last week.

The Department of Environment and Conservation, and volunteers from the Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre returned 28 birds to their natural habitat.

The centre, based in the Perth hills, works with DEC and Perth Zoo specialising in the care of sick, injured and orphaned Carnaby’s and Baudin’s red-tailed and white-tailed black cockatoos.

DEC senior wildlife officer Rick Dawson said the release was a “great sight to watch” and an important step in the recovery plan for the species.

“We are keen to keep track of the rehabilitated birds, so bands and microchips have been placed on the birds to monitor their progress and gauge the success of the release,” he said. “DNA samples also have been taken to aid monitoring and identification programs for the species. In the past 12 years more than 500 Carnaby’s cockatoos have been released back into the wild.”

The birds are an endangered species under both WA and Commonwealth legislation. Threats include loss of habitat and shooting.

The number of white-tailed black cockatoos has dropped considerably since the 1960s but the birds can live up to 50 years in the right circumstances.