The Occurrence of the White-Tailed Black Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus baudinii, in Pinus Plantations in Western Australia

Abstract

The occurrence of C. baudinii in pine plantations near Perth in Western Australia was surveyed from 1965 to 1970. Results were compared with earlier observations of cockatoo numbers in Mundaring pine plantation and with observations of birds in jarrah forest near Mt Helena.

The birds regularly concentrated in plantations near Perth after the breeding season, completely stripping the cones from the small plantations before moving out to the other larger plantations north of Perth. In contrast, in eucalypt forests they occurred irregularly and in smaller numbers.

Observations were made on the way the birds drop uneaten pine cones and green twigs while feeding. Pine cones are similar to fruits of native species regularly eaten by cockatoos.