The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is calling all bird lovers to count glossy black cockatoos this month (February) as part of its Great Inland Glossy Count.
Senior Project Officer at NPWS, Adam Fawcett said bird enthusiasts, citizen scientists or anyone keen to spend a summer weekend in a stunning NSW national park were welcome to come along and help count glossies.
“With their distinctive red tail panels, glossy black cockatoos are one of Australia’s most recognisable and stunning birds,” Mr Fawcett said.
“With this beautiful bird listed as vulnerable in New South Wales, the count is part of a wider project to conserve the species at three key sites: the Pilliga Forests, Goonoo National Park and Goobang National Park and surrounding landscapes,” he said.
“By volunteering your eyes and ears, you’ll be helping scientists to monitor the size and extent of the glossy population across these areas, which will help us to better protect this iconic species for future generations.”
Mr Fawcett said volunteers would be stationed at a dam on their chosen weekend to count glossies as they came in to drink in the late afternoon.
He said birdwatching experience wasn’t required as glossy black cockatoos were a very distinctive species and easily identified.
“All you need is a pair of binoculars, a comfy chair and a notepad,” the Senior Project Officer said.
“It’s a pretty fantastic way to spend a summer evening – perched up by a water hole in a beautiful national park, watching glossies and other native birds in their natural habitat.”
Mr Fawcett said volunteers could sign up for counts taking place on 18 February at Pilliga Forests and 25 February at Goonoo National Park.
Further information on NPWS’s Great Inland Glossy Count can be accessed at this PS News link.
