Katanning volunteer environmentalists give the endangered native Carnaby’s black cockatoo a new place to nest

Endangered native Great Southern birds can enjoy new nesting hollows as part of a small town’s initiative to revive species numbers and habitat. Organised by Katanning Landcare and Katanning Scout Group members, Carnaby’s crusader Dean Arthurell built two artificial nesting boxes and one nesting tube designed to encourage Carnaby’s black cockatoos to breed and veer the endangered species away from extinction. From July to January, Katanning is an annual Carnaby’s breeding destination but an increase in habitat clearing over the decades has eliminated the majority of suitable breeding hollows found in old-growth native trees. Contractor Jerome Keightley installed the three nests in local mature trees on September 19, stepping in for Mr Arthurell who broke his ankle shortly before he was scheduled to complete the job. Katanning Landcare project officer Annabel Paulley said it was not an easy task to install the nests. “The nests need to be at least 6m high in a tree so it’s quite an awkward and dangerous job,” she said. “Jerome had all the right equipment and safety gear to get himself and the nests up into the trees and he did a great job.” Miss Paulley said that Katanning Landcare was grateful to the host landholder for allowing the nests to be put on his property. “We can’t name the host farmer or the locations of the nesting boxes because Carnaby’s are endangered and they need to be protected from unwanted interference,” she said. “These new pop-up breeding boxes are just one way of helping make our wonderful Carnaby’s feel more welcome in Katanning.”