Black cockatoo species survival eked out by further funding
Monday, October 29, 2012 at 3:48 
A ‘breed for release’ facility has been constructed for rescued cockatoos unable to return to the wild but still able to breed—allowing for their young to be released into wild populations. Image: Bill & Mark BellBLACK COCKATOOS could be on the verge of a promising revival thanks to the injection of funds from Lotterywest to Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre.
The funds have been channelled into: Rescue and Rehabilitation Service, Key Site Infrastructure and Community.
Larger treatment aviaries have been built, a clinic expanded with specialised equipment such as incubators and sterilisers and a full-time vet nurse employed.
“The grant has been the most significant boost to our expanding organisation,” says Kaarakin’s General Manager Mr Phil Digney.
A ‘breed for release’ facility has been constructed for rescued cockatoos unable to return to the wild but still able to breed—allowing for their young to be released into wild populations.
A vehicle accessible to all terrains for rescues and relocations has been purchased.
It has signage to raise community awareness and a range of specialised rescue equipment.
“We collect injured cockatoos from Nannup through to Moora, receiving several calls a day and have achieved over 200 rescues in the last 12 months,” says Mr Digney.
Kaarakin have also created an informative new website to raise public awareness and encourage community involvement.
Volunteers have risen significantly during the last 12 months totalling a record 30,000 hours.
Over 60 community groups support the centre.
Kaarakin also supports cockatoo conservation and research from Murdoch University, Perth Zoo, Department of Environment and Conservation and bird groups.
The centre recently played a major role in rehabilitating small flocks of Carnaby’s (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) and Baudin’s cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus baudinii) released into the wild with satellite tracking devices for research purposes.
Correlating with Perth’s urban sprawl black cockatoos have declined at an alarming rate with Carnaby’s going from threatened to rare to seriously endangered in 20 years.
“Carnaby’s are an ageing population and breeding programs are essential to their survival—funding is desperately needed to halt the slide,” says Mr Digney.
Baudin’s are also endanged and the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) threatened.
“We are now months into the grant and have been able to take the entire black cockatoo mission to another level because of the generous funding from Lotterywest,” says Mr Digney.
Mr Digney is happy to report that due to additional federal funding Kaarakin are restoring degraded cockatoo nests and habitat in Perth Hills [old orchards] and planting native food sources such as marri and jarrah.
“We have restored or placed artificial nests in 60 sites across the Armadale/Roleystone areas,” he says.
Due to community demand Kaarakin hope to establish an interactive ‘up close and personal’ enclosure.