Black cockatoos
There are three species of black cockatoos in the Margaret River region. Two white-tailed black cockatoos; Baudin’s Black Cockatoo and Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo both listed as endangered, and one red-tailed black cockatoo; Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo listed as vulnerable.
All three black cockatoo species are endemic to Western Australia and occur in the south west of WA. The three black cockatoo species have been in decline over the last 50 years or more. Threats to black cockatoos are primarily through clearing – loss of habitat, although road kills, illegal shooting and fires also take their toll. Clearing can create a shortage of nest hollows and feed trees and feral bees, galahs and corellas often compete for this limited resource.
Birdlife WA’s SW Black Cockatoo Recovery Program provides a raft of useful resources to distinguish between the three black cockatoo species and learn about their conservation.