A dedicated group of about 30 environment and glossy black cockatoo enthusiasts began a regeneration and replanting project at Burgess Creek, Sunrise Beach on Saturday led by local resident Ben Alexander.
The master plan for the project brought together UnityWater and state and local governments and after 18 months planning the first working bee brought together Noosa councillors, council officers and a group of volunteers including a parrot expert and environmental specialist to work at the Girraween Nature Reserve.
Ben said the region was of significance with the natural waterway considered one of Sunshine Coast’s major waterways alongside the Maroochy and Mooloolah rivers and Pumicestone Passage and it was a known habitat for the declining population of glossy black cockatoo.
“People come from all over the world to see the glossy black cockatoos,“ he said.
On Saturday the volunteer group divided into three groups to work under the Burgess Creek bridge, in the forest area and around the waterhole where they removed weeds, particularly Singapore daisy and mile-a-minute vine, and planted a variety of native trees.
Aviculturist Mark Davies said he was working in collaboration with other bird experts to provide information to the project to ensure the Burgess Creek area continues to be an important habitat for the vulnerable species.
“They’re called the fussy glossy because they only feed on one specific tree,“ he said.
The regeneration area lies adjacent to Rainbow Park which is a recognised feeding area for the parrots.
Ben said Mark had also been working with the Men’s Shed to offer advice to make glossy black cockatoo nest boxes to required specifications.
And Lend lease, which has been engaged by Blue Care to undertake the development of their Sunrise Beach retirement living and aged care site on nearby glossy black cockatoo habitat would be providing the group with 1000 feed trees to be planted in Rainbow Park.
Environmental specialist Jady Smith takes a holistic view of habitat regeneration.
He said diversity was the key to the success of the project with a mix of plants including rainforest and fire retardant plants important for the space and longterm water availability an issue for consideration.
Glossy black cockatoo enthusiast Bob Carey said he had long been interested in the birds and had watched them in the area where they came to feed and drink from its natural spring.
He said other local bird enthusiasts had helped him understand the cockatoos and he hoped his passion for them was now being passed on to inspire passion in other people like Ben.
Ben said he was fortunate to have so many knowledgeable and experienced people working on the project. Working bees will be held at Burgess Creek every fortnight.
