Celebrations as two rare Australian cockatoo chicks hatch

The first born in the wild since Black Tuesday bushfires

May 2010: One has been raised on a farming property on the Lower Eyre Peninsula and is the first chick to be reared in the wild since the Black Tuesday bushfires. The second has been raised in captivity at Gorge Wildlife Park in Adelaide.

Katrina Pobke, DEH Threatened Species Officer, said this was a major milestone for the species which had suffered critically low population numbers for several years.

Only nine yellow-tailed black cockatoos remain in the wild
‘The population of the Eyre Peninsula yellow-tailed black cockatoo is now believed to consist of just nine birds, with a further 14 maintained in captivity,' she said.

‘Successfully raising two healthy young cockatoos in a step in the right direction for the future survival of the population and both chicks are in good health.'

Steve McKecknie, Gorge Wildlife Park manager, said the successful rearing of a chick in captivity was an encouraging sign.

First time parents - a positive sign for the future
‘We have five pairs of young adult cockatoos at Gorge Wildlife Park and while they are inexperienced breeders they are attempting to raise young for the first time,' he said.

‘One chick has successfully been raised so far, and this is a positive sign that the cockatoos are able to breed.'

Bird expert Trevor Cox, who has been assisting with conservation efforts of this species, said that the weather had had a positive impact on successful breeding.

‘This year, being a wetter year, has seen an increase in food supply for the cockatoos and this has assisted their breeding,' he said. ‘There are signs of cockatoos feeding near Koppio Hills on inset larvae in sugar gums and on moth larvae in yakka flower spikes. Cockatoos have also been seen feeding on hakea seeds, a food source that has been planted specifically for them to feed on. It shows that even small plantings ofood that are an import part of their diet can greatly improve the breeding success of the population.'

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