Australian researchers are planning to use a combined GPS and satellite transmitter attached to the birds using a tail feather mount to better measure and understand threats to several species.

The project will address dramatically declining populations of three threatened species of black cockatoo in the southwest of Western Australia: Carnaby's cockatoo, Baudin's cockatoo and the forest red-tailed black cockatoo.

Habitat loss, illegal shooting, disease and fewer critical feeding and breeding sites are primarily to blame for the decline of the birds, which can range over hundreds of kilometres.

The research is expected to be part of the Wildlife Biodiversity Co-operative Research Centre, a consortium of 40 institutions led by the University of Newcastle.

It recently submitted a bid to the commonwealth government for $40 million in funding over eight years, with the outcome expected later this year.

The biological side of the cockatoo conservation project is expected to cost $2.5m over five years.

John Rodger, who will run the CRC, said the research would assist decision-making about black cockatoo conservation at state and federal levels.

"The fact that they might be reasonably large or reasonably common in some parts at the moment doesn't take away from the problem that there is real concern about their long term viability," he said of the birds.

Project leader Kristin Warren, who is based at Murdoch University, said the plan was to use biotelemetry to track the three species, using up to 40 birds a year over five years.

"That enables us to understand more about flock movements and to be able to identify critical feeding and breeding habitats," she said.

The tail mount used in trials is a 17 gram satellite transmitter, which is less than 3 per cent of the bird's body weight. A combined GPS receiver and satellite transmitter would be used for a proposed larger study next year.

"We would be looking at having two small devices that would be attached to central tail feathers within that weight range," Dr Warren said.

The birds would be tracked over a 12 to 18-month period until their tail feathers fell out.

"It would provide us with a lot of the answers to ecological questions that haven't been able to be answered to date," Dr Warren said.

Australian researchers are planning to use a combined GPS and satellite transmitter attached to the birds using a tail feather mount to better measure and understand threats to several species.

The project will address dramatically declining populations of three threatened species of black cockatoo in the southwest of Western Australia: Carnaby's cockatoo, Baudin's cockatoo and the forest red-tailed black cockatoo.

Habitat loss, illegal shooting, disease and fewer critical feeding and breeding sites are primarily to blame for the decline of the birds, which can range over hundreds of kilometres.

The research is expected to be part of the Wildlife Biodiversity Co-operative Research Centre, a consortium of 40 institutions led by the University of Newcastle.

It recently submitted a bid to the commonwealth government for $40 million in funding over eight years, with the outcome expected later this year.

The biological side of the cockatoo conservation project is expected to cost $2.5m over five years.

John Rodger, who will run the CRC, said the research would assist decision-making about black cockatoo conservation at state and federal levels.

"The fact that they might be reasonably large or reasonably common in some parts at the moment doesn't take away from the problem that there is real concern about their long term viability," he said of the birds.

Project leader Kristin Warren, who is based at Murdoch University, said the plan was to use biotelemetry to track the three species, using up to 40 birds a year over five years.

"That enables us to understand more about flock movements and to be able to identify critical feeding and breeding habitats," she said.

The tail mount used in trials is a 17 gram satellite transmitter, which is less than 3 per cent of the bird's body weight. A combined GPS receiver and satellite transmitter would be used for a proposed larger study next year.

"We would be looking at having two small devices that would be attached to central tail feathers within that weight range," Dr Warren said.

The birds would be tracked over a 12 to 18-month period until their tail feathers fell out.

"It would provide us with a lot of the answers to ecological questions that haven't been able to be answered to date," Dr Warren said.

Australian researchers are planning to use a combined GPS and satellite transmitter attached to the birds using a tail feather mount to better measure and understand threats to several species.

The project will address dramatically declining populations of three threatened species of black cockatoo in the southwest of Western Australia: Carnaby's cockatoo, Baudin's cockatoo and the forest red-tailed black cockatoo.

Habitat loss, illegal shooting, disease and fewer critical feeding and breeding sites are primarily to blame for the decline of the birds, which can range over hundreds of kilometres.

The research is expected to be part of the Wildlife Biodiversity Co-operative Research Centre, a consortium of 40 institutions led by the University of Newcastle.

It recently submitted a bid to the commonwealth government for $40 million in funding over eight years, with the outcome expected later this year.

The biological side of the cockatoo conservation project is expected to cost $2.5m over five years.

John Rodger, who will run the CRC, said the research would assist decision-making about black cockatoo conservation at state and federal levels.

"The fact that they might be reasonably large or reasonably common in some parts at the moment doesn't take away from the problem that there is real concern about their long term viability," he said of the birds.

Project leader Kristin Warren, who is based at Murdoch University, said the plan was to use biotelemetry to track the three species, using up to 40 birds a year over five years.

"That enables us to understand more about flock movements and to be able to identify critical feeding and breeding habitats," she said.

The tail mount used in trials is a 17 gram satellite transmitter, which is less than 3 per cent of the bird's body weight. A combined GPS receiver and satellite transmitter would be used for a proposed larger study next year.

"We would be looking at having two small devices that would be attached to central tail feathers within that weight range," Dr Warren said.

The birds would be tracked over a 12 to 18-month period until their tail feathers fell out.

"It would provide us with a lot of the answers to ecological questions that haven't been able to be answered to date," Dr Warren said.