If you have ever sat outside on a warm summer’s afternoon and watched the wondrous display of native cockatoos fill our skies, then you may want to become involved in the 2018 Great Cocky Count.
The Great Cocky Count is a long-term citizen science survey and the biggest single survey of black-cockatoos in Western Australia aimed at helping quantify the changes in black-cockatoo numbers.
This year local residents have been invited to join Landcare SJ in hosting a black cockatoo event at the Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Resource Centre, in Mundijong on Wednesday, February 28 at 6.30pm.
As part of the event, Birdlife Australia will also tell people how to register to become a part of the 2018 Great Cocky Count and give instructions and tips on how to identify and count the birds during the event.
Last year volunteers involved in the Great Cocky Count recorded 17,457 white-tailed black-cockatoos across the species range, which is the highest total number recorded in the history of the count.
A single roost in a pine plantation east of Yanchep recorded 3,528 Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos.
There were also 2,989 Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos recorded at 95 occupied roosts.
The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale is a hotspot for black cockatoos: the Forest Red Tailed Black Cockatoo and the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo.
As part of the day there will also be a photographic presentation by teacher Darren Hamley on his expedition to photograph every species of black cockatoo across Australia.
Mr Hamley will be joined by his students from Willetton Senior High School.
He will also talk about a student-designed solar powered surveillance system to monitor nesting black cockatoos in cockatubes, the artificial nesting boxes designed and manufactured by Landcare SJ.
RSVP to Francis@landcaresj.com.au or (08) 9526 0012 by February 21 for catering purposes.
