Citizen scientists helping to track WA’s Black Cockatoos
The next Great Cocky Count, BirdLife Australia’s annual snapshot survey of black-cockatoos in south-western WA, will take place on 12 April.
In the lead-up to this citizen science event, Birdlife Australia asks people to keep an eye out for roost sites, which helps with planning, then, on one evening each autumn, volunteers monitor known roost sites and count black cockatoos as they arrive.
South-western Australia is home to three species of black cockatoos – Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo, Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo and the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo – all listed as threatened under state and federal legislation.
Records submitted from across south-western WA provide a snapshot of black-cockatoo populations, helping Birdlife Australia to quantify changes in the population numbers.
Registrations for the 2026 count are now closed.
