More than 60 budding citizen scientists from Bunbury and beyond discussed black cockatoo and possum conservation strategies at a SWCC workshop in Gelorup this week.
The crowd heard BirdLife WA Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo Project Coordinator Adam Peck explain why black cockatoos are threatened and why the Great Cocky Count community initiative planned for Sunday 7 April is critical to the species’ future.
Dr Rochelle Steven from the University of Queensland’s School of Biological Science and Threatened Species Recovery Hub shared her insights into populations of western ringtail and brushtail possums in urban Greater Bunbury and what residents can do to create possum-friendly gardens.
The Threatened Species Recovery Hub is also launching a free app for possum monitoring called CAUL Urban Wildlife in late June.
The data on urban wildlife behaviour will help scientists and government decision-makers to better understand how to manage native wildlife and their habitats so that their populations can persist and co-exist with humans.
To register for the Great Cocky Count, visit https://www.birdlife.org.au/projects/southwest-black-cockatoo-recovery/great-cocky-count-swbc
For further information about SWCC’s Threatened Species Program, contact Dr Brian Chambers on 9724 2400.
The program is supported by SWCC through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Tags: Carnaby's Black Cockatoo Western Ringtail Possum
