Annual Counts

Cocky counters left wondering?

On the 1st May 2010 a team of 159 enthusiastic volunteers set off throughout the stringybark forests in south-eastern South Australia and south-western Victoria in the hope of spotting the endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo. Geared up with binoculars, 4WDs, mountain bikes and a keen sense of hearing, our Red-tail enthusiasts scoured more than 2,800 kilometres of stringybark forest in search of our colourful cockys.

Despite a large number of pre-count sightings including 300 birds seen in the Casterton area only days before the count, the total number counted by sunset by those camping out at Bailey’s Rocks was grim. With less than 200 birds counted in an area where only days before 300 birds had been observed in a single flock, our Red-tail enthusiasts were left wondering where had all the birds gone?
Fortunately, follow-up field work by long time Casterton volunteer, Dick Cooper and past Extension Officer, Tim Burnard, resulted in the missing Casterton birds being found, with an additional 165 birds added to the tally. After receiving the full quota of volunteers’ record sheets and including several sighting reports either side of count day, the total number of birds recorded over the count period increased to a final tally of 680 birds.

The total number of birds counted this year is down on last year’s tally of 750 birds. Despite a reduction in the number of birds counted over the last two years from 2008, it is unlikely that the population has suffered a severe decline, but rather just that birds were missed on the day.  This year’s count provides a great example of how birds can easily be missed on the day.

This year 300+ birds were observed in the Casterton district feeding in Eucalyptus arenacea or Desert Stringybark. Other hotspots for Red-tails on count day included Repeater Station Road North of Naracoorte, Three Chain Road at Wandilo, Tallageira State Forest, and in and around the Dergholm district. Conversely, last year birds were concentrated around the Mumbanner, Rennick and Lower Glenelg region, however this year only 10 birds were recorded within this area. The birds appear to be feeding predominantly in tracts of Desert Stringybark forest, which occur in and around the Casterton, Edenhope and Naracoorte districts. This year’s results confirm yet again just how dramatically the use of areas by Red-tails across the range change from year to year depending on the availability of their feeding resource.

While it’s very unlikely that we will ever be able to count every Red-tail across the range given their high mobility and their unique ability to camouflage within the stringybark, the annual count allows us to estimate a minimum population size and provides us with an indication of habitat use and where we can focus habitat protection and restoration works in the future. More importantly, it promotes awareness of the conservation needs of this local flagship species and provides a fantastic activity, enjoyed by the young and old.

This event would not be possible without the help and support of our fantastic network of volunteers. A big thank you to all those involved – we couldn’t do it without you! If you haven’t been involved in the Annual Count before, but would like to join in next year, please contact Bronwyn Perryman on freecall 1800 262 062 or via email rtbc@birdsaustralia.com.au.

Past Annual Count results are available to download as a PDF here