Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo. Photo: Chris Tate/BirdLife WA
Camera IconCarnaby’s Black-Cockatoo. Photo: Chris Tate/BirdLife WA Credit: Supplied/Chris Tate

Bibra Lake: City of Cockburn and Birdlife WA join forces to create sanctuary for threatened cockatoos

Staff WriterCockburn Gazette

THE City of Cockburn has joined forces with BirdLife WA to create a sanctuary for threatened cockatoos and native birdlife in Bibra Lake.

About 8000sq m of degraded area of Banksia woodland on the eastern side of Bibra Lake will be revegetated this winter, using local native species including those favoured by Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos and Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos.

City environmental officer Linda Metz said the site would provide food, water, shelter and roosting/nesting opportunities for birds and other native fauna.

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“It will also serve as a demonstration and education site to show people, and other local governments, what they can do in their own backyard and community to attract and foster native birds and fauna, even on small sites,” Ms Metz said.

BirdLife WA consultant project manager Dr Christine Groom said studies showed Black-Cockatoos and small insectivorous birds were struggling to survive in urbanised areas.

“The new habitat will include careful plant selection and design, of which we have a great deal of experience through our previous project work over many years,” Dr Groom said.

“For example, forage trees for both Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos and Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos will be Banksia, Hakea, Grevillea, Sheoak and Eucalyptus.

“Watering spots for the birds will be installed and plumbed to automatically top up. Large eucalypts will serve as potential roosts and even nests in the future.”

The project will incorporate interpretive signage to educate visitors.

The organisations received $35,000 in grants for the project after qualifying for $10,000 from Impact 100 WA and $25,000 from the State Government’s National Resource Management program.

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