Glossy Black Cockatoos on Kangaroo Island

[Alkirna Tours <>]

Hi All

The recent references to Glossy Black Cockatoos with a population of 280
would definitely refer to the SA subspecies Calyptorhynchus lathami
halmaturinus now only found on Kangaroo Island.

The population fell as low as 180 ten to twenty years ago and has now
recovered to an estimated 290 - 300. The recovery has been aided by a
very strong community effort to plant more She-oak feeding trees and to
preserve nesting habitat and install artificial nest boxes.

A major reason for the recovery in numbers has been the banding of all
located nesting trees with sheet metal to keep Brush-tailed Possums out
of the nests. The possums are in plague numbers here and have been
conclusively shown to be a major predator on the eggs and the nestling
young of the cockatoos.

Regards
Ken Grinter
American River 
Kangaroo Island



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