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Bringing back Kangaroo Island's Glossy Black-Cockatoos
Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Nest boxes for Glossy Black Cockatoo
Corrugated iron tree 'collars'
Loss of habitat since European settlement has seen a steady decline of Glossy Black-Cockatoo numbers across Australia. But one small population on Kangaroo Island is bucking the trend.
Just a decade ago there were only 200 Glossy Black-Cockatoos on the island but today there are between 300 and 320.
Kangaroo Island residents noticed a decline in the numbers of Glossy Black-Cockatoos in the 1990s and raised the alarm. They began to research threats to the population and what could save it.
A dedicated group of volunteers, community and environmental groups, businesses and Government agencies then rolled up their sleeves and began working on reversing this decline. In 2003 the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board joined the battle.
“The Glossy Black-Cockatoo is nationally listed as endangered, so we want to ensure our population's long-term survival,” Board General Manager Jeanette Gellard said.
Funding
The Australian Government has provided the Board with more than $270,000 over the years to help save Kangaroo Island's Glossy Black Cockatoos. The State Government has also provided in kind support.
The Board is now helping the Glossy population grow with the help of the Trust, plus assistance from the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage, local businesses, environmental and community groups, landholders and volunteers.
Activities
“We have worked really hard to protect and maintain nest sites, and have installed artificial nest hollows where none were available,” Jeanette said.
“The program protects nests from possums by putting corrugated iron around the bottom of nest trees and pruning any overlapping canopy from nearby trees.”
The Board and its team of volunteers also monitor the population, identify new nests to protect them, observe and band the birds, replant feeding habitat and control birds that threaten Glossy chicks and eggs.
“Glossies feed on Drooping Sheoak almost exclusively and prefer to nest in hollows in large, old trees,” Jeanette said. “So we have an education and incentive program with private landholders to conserve and increase Drooping Sheoak populations and protect and re-plant potential nesting trees.”
Achievements
Jeanette said one of the program's great strengths was the community involvement it had attracted.
“Our extensive campaign has resulted in amazing contributions and interest from community members, and greater appreciation of biodiversity protection,” she said.
“Incentives have seen 425 hectares of Glossy Black habitat fenced off and 110 hectares of habitat restored, and we've provided 80 artificial nest hollows and protected 200 nest sites.”
More information
- Bill Haddrill, Conservation Program Manager, Department for Environment and Heritage: (08) 8553 2381 or haddrill.bill@saugov.sa.gov.au
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