By Mark Henryon, BirdLife Western Australia Advocacy Committee
Species: Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus baudinii)
Distribution: South West WA, reliant on Marri
Impact: The species is at risk of extinction, predominantly due to the clearing of critical habitat, data gaps, lack of funding, and failure to update the status of the species.
Baudin’s Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus baudinii) are quietly edging toward extinction. Conservation efforts have been insufficient, and the population has drastically declined since the 1950s (Storr, 1991; Johnstone, 1997). Estimates suggest a drop from 10,000–15,000 individuals in the 1990s to just 2,500–4,000 mature birds today (Johnstone et al, 2021). The primary driver of this decline is habitat loss, with fire, illegal shooting, vehicle collisions, lack of nesting hollows, and competition with feral bees and other birds for these hollows also playing significant roles. These threats are further exacerbated by climate change, which disrupts both habitat and ecosystem functions. The species’ low reproductive rate (0.3–0.6 offspring per pair per year (Johnstone and Kirby, 2008)) and aging population (Garnett, 1993) – many individuals are too old to breed – contribute to low recruitment rates. Without immediate, coordinated action, BirdLife Western Australia predicts functional extinction within 50 years*.
Baudin’s have become the ‘forgotten’ Black Cockatoo – overlooked in favour of the more well-known Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo. As a result, conservation actions for Baudin’s are severely lacking. Four key shortfalls highlight this neglect:
- ‘Data deficiency’. There is limited knowledge about population size, distribution, and ecology. Published studies often fail to distinguish Baudin’s from Carnaby’s.
- Lack of funding. Chronic underfunding limits surveys, research, and habitat restoration.
- Threatened status not upgraded. Listed as Endangered in WA and federally despite IUCN Critically Endangered status. WA listing and Federal listing remain outdated.
- No Recovery Plan. The previous plan expired in 2021. Recovery Plan reference .
Even if these conservation shortfalls were fixed, they would be undermined by ongoing habitat loss. No amount of data, funding, or planning will reverse decline without habitat protection.
Legislative reform is essential. Securing recovery requires comprehensive habitat protection and restoration.
Recommendations
- Halt and reverse the loss of critical habitat for Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo.
- Fully fund and implement a national Recovery Plan with regular auditing by DBCA.
- Fund long-term monitoring of population trends, breeding ecology, and habitat use.
(See also Recommendation 13 under Protect Critical and Remnant Habitat )
Citations
Storr, G.M. (1991). ‘Birds of the South-West Division of Western Australia.’
Johnstone, R.E. (1997). ‘Current studies on three endemic Western Australian cockatoos.’
Johnstone et al. (2021). ‘Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo Zanda baudinii.’
Johnstone & Kirkby (2008). Records of the WA Museum.
Garnett (1993). Threatened and Extinct Birds of Australia.
* BirdLife WA projection based on long-term population decline, habitat loss, and reproductive constraints.