Nesting

As with many other parrots and cockatoos, Red-tails nest in deep hollows that have formed in very large, old eucalypts. Most nest sites are found in Red Gums (E.camaldulensis) but Red-tails will also nest in stringybark (E.baxteri and E.arenacea), Manna Gums (E. viminalis) and Yellow Gums (E.leucoxylon). Some of these trees are more than 200 years old.

Many nest sites are in farming paddocks in dead trees, ringbarked over 100 years ago to improve pasture. Legislative changes have been introduced across the Red-tail range to protect these trees. Hollow trees benefit lots of birds, mammals and insects that are beneficial to farmers because they eat agricultural pests. Where possible it is of great benefit to retain them. If landholders wish to remove dead, hollow trees advice should be sought from a local Department of Sustainability and Environment Office in Victoria or Department of Environment and Heritage in South Australia. Refer to the Contacts page.

Protecting trees with hollows, encouraging natural regeneration and planting for the future will help to ensure that Red-tails have access to suitable nest trees both now and in the future.

During the breeding season (spring and early summer), Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos are generally seen alone or as family parties of 2 or 3 birds. Red-tail chicks take a relatively long time to fledge – it’s almost 3 months from when they hatch to when they can leave the nest.

This places extra pressure on the parents as they are restricted to sourcing food from areas within a few kilometers from the nest. A major cause of nest failure in years when seed availability is low has been attributed to females leaving the nest to supplement the food brought to them by their mates (Jarmyn 2000).