Keep an eye on black cockatoos
Monday, May 2, 2011 at 7:11 
Linda Brannian from Tweed Bird Observers is on the lookout for black cockies.PLAYING a part in saving the lives and habitat of the glossy black cockatoo has inspired a keen band of birding volunteers to take part in an annual birding day.
On Sunday 22 May they will assist Tweed Shire Council in a bid to learn more about the distribution, habitat use and population numbers of the threatened glossy black cockatoo.
The birding day is an initiative supported by the Glossy Black Conservancy and its partner agencies.
This year marks the third year for the Glossy Black Cockatoo Birding Day after it began on the Gold Coast in 2009.
“Last year was a great success,” said Tweed Shire Council bushland officer Tanya Fountain.
“We had a very positive response from volunteers last October,” she said.
“This time we hope to get some feedback on nesting mothers.”
In October last year almost 300 volunteers spent the day searching for glossy black cockatoos in nine regional council areas.
The 2800 hours of searching was rewarded with sightings of 105 birds with hotspots in the Tweed, Sunshine Coast and Scenic Rim regions.
Griffith University researcher Guy Castley said glossy black cockatoos are less gregarious than their yellow-tailed or red-tailed relatives and tend to travel in small groups of two or three.
“They are the smallest of the black cockatoos, have red panels on their tail feathers and do not have the prominent crests seen in other species. The females also have characteristic patches of yellow feathers on their heads,” Mr Castley said.
Ms Fountain said glossies are very specialist feeders, feeding only on the tiny seeds within a sheoak cone.
A workshop will be held before the event on May 7 from 2pm to 4pm to provide information on how to collect data.
If you would like participate in the glossy black cockatoo birding on Sunday, May 22 and attend the workshop contact Tanya Fountain on (02) 6670 2787 or email tfountain@tweed.nsw.gov.au.