A four-year-old Carnaby’s cockatoo (above left) has gone against the odds and is raising a nestling in one of 62 artificial hollows (above right)installed near Badgingarra in the midwest. Wildlife officer Rick Dawson said she didn’t waste any time, laying the egg within four days of the hollows being installed, and bucking the trend which sees most early attempts to breed fail. The nestling is now five weeks old and Rick has high hopes it will fledge in January.
After ten years of research and development, the COCKATUBE project is gaining traction. With Carnaby’s cockatoo numbers declining by 15% per year and predicted extinction by 2030, the cockatube is an important tool in the recovery project, and may well reverse the declining trend. Many thanks to the Board of Landcare SJ for their faith in the project, to our countless volunteers – your contributions have been immensely important. To our supporters and partners, especially WA Museum, Department of Parks and Wildlife, WA Environmental Enterprises, John Poole, PHCC, SWCC, Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale and others, please rejoice in the part you have played. Special thanks to Alan, Wayne and Byford EnviroLink – a big part of the design, installation and construction team. Can we save a species from the brink of extinction? YES WE CAN!
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