
%0 Journal Article
%A Lee, J G H 
%A Finn, H C 
%A Calver, M C 
%T Ecology of black cockatoos at a mine-site in the eastern jarrah-marri forest, western Australia.
%J Pacific Conservation Biology
%D 2013/03/01
%V 19
%N 1
%P 76-90
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/PC130076
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/PC130076 
%X Three threatened black cockatoos inhabit the Jarrah Eucalyptus marginata-Marri Corymbia calophylla forest of southwestern Australia: Baudin&#x2019;s Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus baudinii, Carnaby&#x2019;s Cockatoo C. latirostris, and Forest Redtailed Black Cockatoo C. banksii naso [FRTBC]. Their local ecology in relation to anthropogenic disturbance is poorly known, hampering effective conservation management. Therefore we studied their group size, site occupancy patterns, habitat use, and food plants at a mine-site and its surrounds in the eastern forest over three years. FRTBC showed similar group sizes and occupancy across seasons, suggesting year-round residency and no marked seasonality in movements and grouping patterns. In contrast, Carnaby&#x2019;s Cockatoos were up to twice as abundant in spring and summer, indicating migrating or transient flocks and some year-round residents. Few Baudin&#x2019;s Cockatoos were present in summer, but their abundance increased at other times. All three cockatoos were observed in modified or humanmade habitats such as mine-site rehabilitation, farm paddocks, and pine plantations. Carnaby&#x2019;s Cockatoos used the broadest habitat range. We documented feeding on 16 plant species, with Carnaby&#x2019;s Cockatoos eating at least 10. Examination of feeding residues as well as observations of behaviour were essential to obtain a complete picture of feeding. Current mine-site rehabilitation protocols provide food for all three black cockatoos within a decade and should continue to do so long-term if Marri is maintained in the seed mix. However, because climate change scenarios predict declining rainfall over much of southwestern Australia, the plant species used to revegetate mine-sites and other landscapes may need to be reconsidered. For areas that do not specify restoring a jarrah forest landscape, the selective use of exotic or non-endemic flora better adapted to lower rainfall conditions may be an option. 
