“A control program from 2020-2022 has reduced the number of over-abundant Galahs in the area to allow the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo to occupy and breed in hollows where Galahs have been removed” said Brendan Rodgers, Parks Victoria Total Grazing Management Coordinator. However, over abundant native animals such as Galahs can outcompete other native animal species such as the Major Mitchell’s cockatoo, in this case for food and nests in tree hollows. Tree hollow carved in a Slender Cyprus Pine. “These new hollows have proven to provide better habitat for the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo than standard nest boxes as they are more durable and require less maintenance” said Dr Hurley.
Hollows are carefully carved into suitable trees with wood carving tools to provide the cockatoos with a protected place to nest and create more homes for them in the short term, while revegetation programs aim to provide more trees over the longer term. Typically, only older trees produce cavities large enough for successful nesting, some of them are approximately 170 years.ĭue to the shortage of trees with natural hollows in them, a technique to create new hollows was developed by Birdlife Australia's Dr. The Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo relies on deep cavities in Slender Cypress Pine trees for nesting. The fires destroyed 93 per cent of the known cavity bearing Slender Cypress Pines and more than two thirds of the Major Mitchell’s habitat. The beautiful and colourful Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo is critically endangered in Victoria due to a decrease in its abundance and distribution after the 2014 fires in the Mallee.
Innovative work carving hollows into trees and important control programs have increased the survival chances of Victoria’s most important population of Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos at Pine Plains in Wyperfeld National Park.
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