More than 100 cockatubes will soon be transported across the Nullarbor to help endangered animals affected by the recent devastating bushfires.
An amazing band of volunteers worked with representatives from Landcare SJ and the Peel Harvey Catchment Council this week to make a staggering 110 cockatubes for the fire ravaged areas of Kangaroo Island in South Australia, East Gippsland in Victoria, south east Queensland and New South Wales.
Landcare SJ executive officer Francis Smit said each cockatube will act as an artificial breeding hollow for the endangered wildlife, including the various species of black cockatoos.
“Regular hardware and pipe suppliers to the cockatube project have all come on board to donate materials in support of the initiative,” he said.
“In addition around $3500 in community donations were received to progress the project.”
Mr Smit said each box takes a little over an hour to make and each tube contains an internal ladder to allow the cockatoos to enter backwards as well as a sacrificial chewing post, which they can chew on while they nest.
“There are a number of components which are pre-cut including the ladders, bases, the chain to affix to the tree and the main tube,” he said.
“Once all the pieces are cut, we can manufacture multiple nest boxes in a morning with the help of our amazing volunteers.”
The cockatubes will soon make their way over east with the help of Member for Darling Range Alyssa Hayden who has been able to source support for the delivery of the tubes via the defence department.
It is anticipated that the cockatubes will be transported by the end of March.
