Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute says it plans to investigate threats to WA’s three species of black cockatoo, including how residential growth, deforestation and loss of habitat impact the birds.

Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute says it plans to investigate the greatest threat most threatens the lives of WA’s three species of black cockatoo, including how residential growth, deforestation and loss of habitat impact the birds.

A Murdoch University spokeswoman said the Black Cockatoo Conservation Management Project study will use new tagging technology that scientists can use to track Carnaby’s (Calyptorhynchus latirostris), Baudin’s (Calyptorhynchus baudinii) and forest red-tailed (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso) cockatoo movement.

“We are using innovative programming and placing GPS and satellite trackers on the birds to obtain flock movement, behavioral and ecological data to inform conservation and land management planning,” she said.

The population of these native birds has dwindled in the last decade with Baudin’s cockatoo numbers plummeting 90 per cent in 11 years and the Carnaby population falling 50 per cent during the past five decades – most of the demise has occurred in the past 10 years.

The university has said that WA Main Roads will then use research data to help determine where to reallocate the birds.

Black cockatoos are one of WA’s most iconic birds, but loss of habitat from wheatbelt deforestation and land development across Perth has massively impacted where they live, breed and eat.

According to the A Thousand Cuts mining report in the Northern Jarra Forest from Wilderness Society Australia: “any loss of habitat is effectively permanent given it can take up to two centuries for the trees to have hollows big enough to support a nesting bird.”

The research has gained the backing from large influential bodies such as Main Roads WA, the Perth Zoo, Metronet and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions – Parks and Wildlife.

“One of the biggest collaborations is with Main Roads Western Australia, which is doing fantastic, nation-leading, work in environmental management,” the Murdcoh spokeswoman said.

“Obviously we can’t wait 100 years for a Marri to grow big enough to house a cockatoo nest, so we need to give them options while we wait.

“This includes placing artificial nesting hollows, or ‘cockatubes’, in existing trees to encourage the birds to breed.

“Main Roads WA has been working well with BirdLife Australia on this,” the spokeswoman said.

A team at Murdoch University plan to use the money during the next five years to hopefully improve black cockatoo numbers.