Darlin Range Branch, 4 April 2026

Nestled on a 41-acre site in Western Australia, the Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre serves as a critical sanctuary for species teetering on the edge of survival. During a recent visit with the Darling Range Branch of the WA Naturalists Club, the urgent reality of avian conservation was brought into sharp focus, highlighting the delicate balance between these “rain birds” and the environment they inhabit.

Species in Peril

The centre cares for roughly 90 permanent residents while working to bolster wild populations. The Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo is currently listed as Endangered, having suffered a population decline of over 50%, leaving only about 30,000 birds in the wild. These semi-migratory birds follow the rain into the Perth foraging grounds during June and July. Even more precarious is the status of the Baudin’s Black Cockatoo (or “long-bill”), which is now Critically Endangered. With only 2,000 to 4,000 individuals remaining, these birds travel long distances to the SW for breeding and return to the wheatbelt with youngsters.

Rehabilitation and Recovery

The journey to recovery for an injured cockatoo is a rigorous one. Most birds arriving at the facility have suffered injuries from car strikes or predatory attacks by ravens. The process begins at the Perth Zoo, where birds are microchipped before being transferred to Kaarakin for rehabilitation.

A vital stage of this recovery occurs in the “long enclosure,” where birds spend four to six weeks rebuilding the flight muscles necessary for survival. Once cleared for health, they are released back into the wild as a flock. This year alone, the centre has already conducted three successful releases.

The centre has several tall watering stations that captive and transient birds in the area use.

Biology and Behaviour

Identifying these birds requires a keen eye for detail. In white-tailed species, males are distinguished by a pink eye ring and a dark beak, while females possess a white beak that changes colour around three years of age. Their breeding habits are equally specific; while a pair may lay two eggs, they typically rear only one chick, which requires four months of intensive parental care.

Finding a home is perhaps their greatest challenge. Natural nesting hollows suitable for cockatoos take between 200 and 250 years to form. To combat this housing shortage, the centre uses artificial hollows and nest boxes raised by Simon Cherriman for breeding.

Survival in the Wild

In the wild, cockatoos face a formidable foe in ravens. Acting like the “orcas” of the sky, ravens work in mobs to pull out a cockatoo’s tail feathers, grounding the bird to prey upon it. While the Carnaby’s are often fast enough to escape, the Forest Red tails are frequently targeted.

To stay strong, these birds forage on a diet of Banksias, hakeas, grevilleas, and insects. They also rely on introduced Cape Lilac trees and pinecones, which provide a high-fat seed source essential for their energy-intensive lifestyle.

Thanks go to the centre staff member Sam for his explanatory walk, which we are loading onto Instagram shortly.

Created with AI from Kim Laper’s notes and diagrams 

Arlene Quinn, DRB Excursions Coordinator