The first sighting of a black-cockatoo chick in an artificial hollow in Lake Clifton has been heralded a promising sign, following a major effort to restore lost breeding habitat in the area by BirdLife Australia.
As part of the Alcoa Community Black-Cockatoo Recovery project, 20 artificial hollows for threatened black-cockatoos (or 'cockatubes') were installed on properties in Lake Clifton, Harvey, Serpentine and Waroona last year.
In surveying the cockatubes this year, BirdLife Australia was thrilled to discover one had been occupied by a Carnaby's black-cockatoo, making it BirdLife's first record of breeding success in the area.
"WA Museum records show breeding in the area, but our surveys have never found nests until now," Adam Peck, BirdLife Australia Black-Cockatoo project coordinator said.
"It's a promising result and we hope that more nests will be occupied in the area in the years to come."
Land owner Jan Stephens said she had seen a few black-cockatoos around the nest, but had been surprised when 'cocky cam' (a telescopic pole with wireless camera) showed eggs inside.
"It's been great to have more surveys showing the chick growing and hopefully it will leave the nest and go on to raise its own chicks one day," Jan said.
The news follows the planting of 15,000 black-cockatoo food seedlings over the past two years, plus the engagement of local volunteers in citizen science events like The Great Cocky Count and Cocky Watch.
Recently, 50 volunteers were engaged to survey roosts of forest red-tailed black-cockatoos in the greater Perth region.
The findings show the birds tend to be forest dwelling in winter and spring, before coming into coastal areas in summer to feed on cape lilac.
2020 was a good year for red-tailed breeding, with many reported nests throughout the South West.
Alcoa Corporate Affairs director Jodie Read said the company was proud to be able to support this project through the Alcoa Foundation.
"This partnership builds on work Alcoa has done over many years to better understand and protect biodiversity, including threatened species like black-cockatoos, in and around the areas where we operate," she said.
"It's great to see the community coming together to plant seedlings, conduct surveys and learn more about how we can protect these beautiful birds."
2021 will mark the third year of the Alcoa Community Black-Cockatoo Recovery project, with more planting events, workshops and The Great Cocky Count to come.
Save the date of March 28, 2021.
