New foraging observation for Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo

The recently released BirdLife WA Great Cocky Count discusses a decline in the abundance of Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo on the Swan Coastal Plain. In response to a reduction in native vegetation and move to eating more planted native gardens and non-native plants, Black-Cockatoos have been observed modifying their foraging practises on the Swan Coastal Plain.

Graham and I recently watched a flock of about 20 Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) foraging on the road side verge on Emu Bush (Eremophila glabra comactum). This is a small dense shrub with silver grey foliage that produces a mass of red tubular flowers. This is a drought resistant Australian native that is extremely hardly and one that we should encourage local government authorities to plant more of in their gardens.

Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo frequently forage in the vicinity of our office, but we have not seen them eating Emu Bush before, although it has been present on the road side verges for many years. This species is not in DPaW’s list of plant species used by Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo.

Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo eating Emu Bush	Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo eating Emu Bush

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Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo eating Emu Bush

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