Planting for the future – helping the Carnaby’s cockatoo soar to new heights

A familiar sound in the southwest of WA is the shrill symphony of Carnaby's black cockatoos congregating in packs. Standing over 60 centimetres tall, they may be big and loud, but they’re not invincible.

Largely due to the loss of safe nesting spots in the Wheatbelt and feeding grounds in the Swan Coastal Plain, this boisterous icon is now critically endangered.

A new feeding ground for our feathery friends

To help protect and restore our cockie numbers, Water Corporation partnered with Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to rehabilitate their habitat. The project will contribute to meeting Water Corporation’s no-net-clearing objectives.

With the help of DBCA, we’ve planted more than 5,600 native seedlings across a 28-hectare former pine plantation in Pinjar – Perth’s north.

This project complements a further 20,000 seedlings also planted by DBCA this year as part of their ongoing five-year program at Gnangara.

Revegetating the area with native bushland not only provides trees for love nests and nutrients but helps to recharge the Gnangara Groundwater System – Perth’s largest water source.

Protecting our groundwater supply

With reduced rainfall due to climate change and increased demand for water, groundwater levels are under strain.

Pine plantations are much denser and thirstier than the woodland they replaced, which means they guzzle the rain before it can recharge our aquifers.

Groundwater makes up around 40 per cent of Perth metro’s drinking water supply so it’s vital we protect this precious source in the face of climate change.

As well as being essential to meet our drinking water needs, groundwater is also used in community parks and recreation areas, school grounds, local businesses and one in four household gardens through bores.

From deep underground to the skies above, we need to protect our water supply. We can’t have future generations missing out on the security of water and sightings of the Carnaby’s cockatoo!

Did you know? A Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo pairs for life. The devoted father flies up to 12 kilometres a day to make sure his partner is fed during egg incubation. Once hatched, the parents will look after their chick for around 18 months.