South coast motorists are urged to be aware of flocks of endangered black cockatoos gathering on roadsides, following 85 bird deaths as a result of vehicle strike in the past two months. Picture: Keith Lightbody DRIVERS have been urged to slow down on south coast roads to prevent endangered WA black cockatoos from becoming road kill.
Department of Parks and Wildlife senior wildlife officer Rick Dawson said 85 Carnaby’s Cockatoos had been killed on the road in the past eight weeks – a major blow for a species that’s declined from a wild population of 150,000 to between 20,000 and 60,0000 in 30 years.
“Losing 85 birds of an endangered species is, to say the least, very concerning,” he said.
Twelve were killed in one day just last week.
Mr Dawson said the birds were on their way back to the coast after a breeding season spent inland, and dined on canola seeds spilt from road trains.
It’s good pickings for a cockatoo, but bad news when a car approaches at 110km/h.
The main trouble spots are a 25km stretch of Chester Pass Road in the Stirling Range National Park, and the South Coast Highway from Cheyne Beach Road to Wellstead, east of Albany.
Warning signs have been put up in the area.
A flock of endangered black cockatoos. Drivers on south coast roads have been urged to watch out for the birds following dozens of deaths in the past two months because of vehicle strike. Picture: Keith LightbodyCarnaby’s black cockatoos are endemic to South West WA. They breed inland, in the large salmon gums or wandoos of the Wheatbelt and Great Southern, and then move to the coast to feed on banksia.
Mr Dawson said it was possible more cockatoos had been killed, but their deaths had not been reported.
He encouraged people to report injured cockatoos to the nearest Parks and Wildlife office, or by calling the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055.
“We would also like to receive the carcasses of black cockatoos because their DNA can assist with further research into the species,” Mr Dawson said.