Glossy Black-Cockatoo Bioacoustics

Project Overview

Bioacoustics monitoring of Glossy Black-Cockatoo nesting sites for habitat conservation in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.

The Glossy Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami is a rare and threatened species, listed as vulnerable in Queensland. The Noosa Biosphere Reserve is considered a significant habitat of this black cockatoo with up to one third of the entire known population located in the region.

Glossy Black-Cockatoos are extremely loyal to their habitat and stay within their family groups. There are currently no known active or recorded, natural or artificial nesting sites in the Noosa Shire or Sunshine Coast. Thanks to citizen science observations achieved by the dedicated community at Sunrise Beach, we do know Glossies are breeding.

A key challenge in their recovery is breeding success. Pressures have been put on these large hollow dependant species by land clearing, logging, bush fires and fragmentation. The 2019 and 2020 bushfires in Peregian Springs and Cooroibah impacted feed tree sites and habitat trees in the Noosa Shire.

This project will utilise bioacoustic sound recorders with software to monitor and analyse calls of the Glossy Black-Cockatoo. Identifying successful nesting sites will enable better support and conservation management for local Glossy populations. This research can inform feed tree revegetation, watering hole rehabilitation, habitat protection and further nesting box installation in identified Glossy Black Cockatoo critical zones. Bioacoustic sound recording software was developed by Dr Daniella Teixeira and has been successfully used in other parts of the country, in particular on Kangaroo Island.

Intended outcomes

Identify key Glossy Black-Cockatoo nesting sites in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
New data on viable populations and key habitats in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
Data collection of significant flora and fauna will be recorded within the reference zones.
Document colonies from the hinterland to the coast. Identify family groups.
Improve our knowledge of behavioural interactions between the Glossy Black-Cockatoos, the environment and key threatening processes
Inform and support the Glossy Black-Cockatoo Resilience Action Plan in the Noosa Biosphere.
Develop a new research technology and methodology that has potential to be replicated across species.