Volunteers help native bird
Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 6:30 
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo. Image by TimCOOLUM Coast Care volunteers will plant more than 700 food trees between Mudjimba and Coolum to attract the yellow-tailed black cockatoo.
Last week Coast Care co-ordinator Tony Gibson led a team of eight volunteers in planting 240 new banksia and casuarina trees in the dunes of Marcoola near the Surfair resort.
Coolum Coast Care volunteers plant new trees to entice the yellow-tailed black cockatoo.It was the second working bee of its kind – the first was held at the Coolum Lions Park the week before and 40 new trees were planted.
The young trees were grown at the Coolum Community Native Nursery at Yaroomba.
Mr Gibson said it was important to start planting now so the nomadic species could continue to thrive on the Coast.
“The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is regularly seen and heard on the Sunshine Coast and luckily, there are locals who remain dedicated to preserving its natural environment,” he said.
“The trees take nearly six years to grow to a point where the birds can eat the flowers. If we start planting more trees now, there will be a continuing source of rich food and shelter for the birds.”
The initiative is supported by the Marcoola Community Bank of Bendigo Bank which donated $1050 to the cause.
If you would like to get involved in the ongoing planting contact Mr Gibson on 0419 791 860 or visit coolumcoastcare.org.au.