Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo is an endangered species which has undergone a dramatic decline in range and abundance in southwestern Australia. Between October 2009 and March 2010 the species was subjected to a possible outbreak of disease in one of its major breeding areas and exposed to an extremely hot day and a severe localized hail storm. In addition, collisions with motor vehicles are becoming an increasing threat to the species. All of these stochastic events resulted in many fatalities. Species such as Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo which form large flocks are particularly susceptible to localized events such as hail storms, contagious disease and collisions with motor vehicles. Extreme temperatures may have major impacts on both flocking and non-flocking species. Predictions of climate change in the southwest of Western Australia are that there will be an increased frequency of extreme weather events such as heat waves and severe hail storms. The implications of more events of this nature on Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo are discussed.

No abstract

No abstract

Parrots and cockatoos are highly prized aviary birds and the demands for such species 20 has fuelled their illegal trade and harvest from the wild. Here we report on three forensic case studies involving black-cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus spp.) endemic to Australia. These cases involve suspected poaching and illegal killing of endangered red-and white-tailed black-cockatoos. Through the prior development of 20 polymorphic microsatellite loci and population databases for white-and red-tailed 25 black-cockatoos, the tools are available to conduct high-resolution paternity and individual identity testing. In one case, we matched a red-tailed black-cockatoo nestling to a tree hollow from which it was poached through the use of DNA from eggshell recovered from the nest. For the second case, we utilized our provenance population database (nest sites), and identified the kinship and geographic origin of a 30 white-tailed black-cockatoo, of which was illegally harvested from the wild. The third case determined the number individual white-tailed black-cockatoos allegedly shot at a fruit grower's orchard from body part remains. These genetic investigations highlight the significance and statistical confidence of DNA profiling and associated databases for endangered taxa, such as exotic birds. Our cockatoo population 35 databases are the first of their kind in Australia, and demonstrate the efficacy of such approaches to identify such illegal activity. With a robust set of genetic markers and methodologies in place, we aim to broaden our population databases to include other cockatoo species of conservation concern. 40

No abstract

Australia have responded genetically to recent and comprehensive habitat loss with the ultimate aim of identifying units for conservation. We assessed the population structure, connectivity and genetic diversity at spatial and temporal scales for Calyptorhynchus baudinii and C. latirostris, which have undergone dramatic population declines. Genetic comparisons of pre-and post-population decline were carried out by including historical samples dating back to 1920. We examined samples collected from across 700 km of their distribution and sampled ~1% of the current population census size to produce significant insights on the population genetics of white-tailed black-cockatoos and generate genetic information crucial for conservation management.Location Southwest corner of Western Australia.Methods Six hundred and eighty-four cockatoo samples were collected from 1920 to 2010and profiled with 19 microsatellites to identify spatial population structure and loss of genetic diversity. ResultsThe temporal and spatial microsatellite data illustrated that the geographically defined genetic structuring in white-tailed black-cockatoos is likely to represent a recent phenomenon. We identified; (i) spatial population substructure east and west of extensively cleared habitat (>95,800 km 2 ), but the historical samples clustered with the current western population, regardless of origin; (ii) a regional loss of allelic diversity over 3-4 generations for the current eastern population; (iii) a lack of a genetic signal of the recent population decline, but perhaps a mid-Holocene population collapse; and lastly, (iv) limited genetic differentiation between the two currently recognised white-tailed black-cockatoo species suggests a review of taxonomy and/or management units should be undertaken.Main conclusion Based on extensive spatio-temporal sampling, we have demonstrated that recent anthropogenic habitat modifications have affected the genetic structure of a long-lived 3 and highly mobile species. Our results have identified areas of high conservation value and the importance of maintaining native vegetation migration corridors.

It is important to know the age of nestling birds for many ecological and behavioural studies. Various methods have been developed for individual species; most are based on measurements of growth in wings, tarsi or heads/bills, or observations of changes in size, plumage and behaviour over time. However, techniques for aging nestlings have not been established for most avian species. This paper sets out two methods to age nestling Carnaby's cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus latirostris, an endangered species endemic to southwestern Australia. One method is based on the physical changes in size and plumage during the 10 to 11 weeks of the nestling period, and the other on the relationship between the length of the nestling's folded left wing and its age developed from data obtained from nestlings of known age. The estimated age of nestlings may be used to extrapolate egg-laying, hatching and fledging dates by taking the 29 days of incubation and the 76 days of the nestling period into account. The method of estimating nestling age based on length of folded left wing provides a more accurate estimate of nestling age than observations of changes in nestling size and plumage. However in situations where it is not possible to handle nestlings, the observation method should provide a reasonable basis for calculating the commencement and end of the breeding season, the length of egg-laying and nestling periods; important population parameters specified for monitoring under the species' recovery plan.

Carnaby's Cockatoo is an endangered cockatoo endemic to Southwestern Australia. It normally lays two eggs with a median interval between them of eight days, but usually only fledges one nestling. Older, more experienced females are capable of fledging both young under conditions when food is not limiting. This can result in an increase in annual fledgling production. Predicted changes in climate of SW Australia may have major adverse consequences on breeding in the species.