How do I register to become involved in the annual count for Red-tails?

All volunteers interested in participating in the annual count for the cockatoo are required to register their interest with the Project Coordinator.

The next Annual Cocky Count for the nationally endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo will be held on Saturday 2nd May 2026. 

There are around 60 sites in stringybark forest to be covered on the day from Keith to Mount Gambier in South Australia and from Little Desert National Park to Nelson in Victoria. Landholders within the Red-tail range are also welcome to survey their own patches of stringybark on the day.

For more information about the count and what's involved on the day please read our 2024 Annual Count Volunteer Information Sheet.

Registrations will continue to be taken up to two weeks before the count; however we highly recommend registering well before to secure your preferred search area. We try our very best to allocate sites according to preference, but unfortunately this is not always possible depending on who has registered prior. All volunteers are required to sign and return the Volunteer Registration and OHS Form.

Covid 19 Advice

While participating in the Annual Count, volunteers must follow the state public health advice regarding covid.

Stringybark Surveys

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that there is an obvious link between food availability and breeding success. We are offering volunteers the chance to take part in some optional stringybark seed monitoring to help us understand the health of stringybark across the region.

If you are interested in taking part in this seed monitoring then simply indicate your interest by ticking the box on the website registration form when registering for the count below, or by emailing redtail@birdlife.org.au.

We hope that participants will consider taking part, the seed monitoring will make the day even more enjoyable and provide us with much needed information to assist us in better understanding and protecting the cockies.

To register your interest in participating in the next Annual Count on Saturday 2nd May 2026 please fill out this form (don't forget to press submit at the end).

Please feel free to contact the Project Coordinator Rachel Farran on 1800 262 062 or email redtail@birdlife.org.au with any questions.