Threat to Carnaby’s black cockatoo not exaggerated

I FELT compelled to write in response to Daniel Wild’s letter in last week’s edition headlined “Cut red tape”.

To state that “we should not let exaggerated concerns about the future of Carnaby’s black-cockatoos stop us from cutting red tape to support growth, development and jobs” really angered me.

Experts have predicted the Carnaby’s black-cockatoos may be threatened with extinction by 2029. Daniel said himself “According to Birdlife Australia the black-cockatoo population is declining by an estimated 15 per cent per year in the Perth-Peel region”.

This is not an exaggerated concern; this is a real threat that we may very well lose one of our most beautiful, iconic Western Australian birds.

The black-cockatoos have adapted to the pines as we humans have destroyed a substantial amount of their banksia woodland with housing and the relentless urban sprawl.

The recent discovery of a 5000 strong mega-roost in the Pinjar Pine Forest in the Great Cocky Count this year needs to be protected at all costs.

The plight of the Carnaby’s black-cockatoo w ill be significantly affected if this mega-roost is destroyed.

ELISA OSBORNE, Wanneroo.