Urban cockatoos mask statewide crisis
Friday, January 13, 2012 at 2:32 
Carnaby’s Black CockatooThe recent arrival of Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations in previously uninhabited parks around Perth’s western suburbs is obscuring the extent to which the critically endangered species is under threat from extinction.
Facing increased habitat destruction, Cockatoo populations are being forced to find new homes. However, while the ability of these habitats to sustain Cockatoo populations is still unproven, new sighting locations must be considered a case of desperation, not adaptation.
Amongst those concerned is Margaret Owen, ardent conservationist and recipient of the 2011 Bessie Rischbieth Conservation Award. Ms Owen says that both Premier Colin Barnett and Environment Minister Bill Marmion are failing to take seriously the decline in Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo numbers.
Referring to Premier Barnett’s claim in April 2011 that the threat of land clearing engendered by property development on “so called endangered” species such as the Black Cockatoo is “grossly exaggerated” Ms. Owen says simply that land degradation “is the reason”.
“Conserving habitats such as Underwood Bushlands gives endangered bird species an improved chance of survival,” Ms Owen says.
As land supporting Cockatoo habitats is cleared for development, endemic species such as the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, Baudin’s Cockatoo and the Red-tailed Cockatoo are forced to relocate to unfamiliar areas of bushland. According to Ms Owen, habitat fragmentation and consequent loss of vegetation poses a severe threat to Cockatoo populations.
“[People] just don’t understand the value of these land linkages, in terms of encouraging genetic diversity and access to food … the subdivision at Underwood Bushlands would have a devastating effect.”
Dr Ron Johnstone, WA Museum’s Curator of Ornithology and adjunct professor at Murdoch University, has also warned that the continued depletion of viable habitats could put Black Cockatoos into extinction.
Talking to Science Network WA, Dr Johnstone said that the flock of Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos currently occupying the Banksia trees of Underwood Bushlands “is the last surviving flock in the western suburbs of Perth … if you just continue to degrade and reduce the amount of available foraging habitat you will lose that flock.”
With this habitat also under threat, Black Cockatoos may soon be driven to find alternate nesting grounds. However, with no new viable habitats forthcoming, a massive loss of cockatoos appears inevitable.
Conditions are no better elsewhere in the state, with cockatoo rescuers near Nannup forced to feed ever-increasing numbers of starving birds left homeless by the recent bushfires. Dave and Dee Patterson, who have been caring for cockatoos for more than 25 years, say this is the first time they have observed Forest Red Tails forced to scavenge for food on the ground.
Wherever you look, the stakes have never been higher for WA’s unique and irreplaceable cockatoos.