All eyes on rare black ‘beauty’

Residents can join a national effort to help the threatened Glossy Black-Cockatoo, next month, by joining the Glossy Black-Cockatoo Birding Day.
Volunteers from across the shire will come together on Sunday 14 May to keep a watchful eye on local Glossy Black-Cockatoos.
“The volunteers collect valuable information on the birds for the Glossy Black Cockatoo Conservancy, an organisation committed to conservation of this species,” says Tyron de Kauwe, of the Noosa Council’s Environment Services team.
“Keeping accurate records of the glossies helps our understanding of how these birds live and move around the Noosa area.”
The ‘glossies’, as they are known, are magnificent birds, with large powerful beaks and red tail feathers.
They have a distinctive cockatoo call, typically fly in pairs or groups of three and feed on the seeds of ‘sheoak’ trees, also known as Allocasuarina trees. Not to be confused with the more common Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos, the Glossy Black-Cockatoo is the smaller of the black cockatoos. It is listed as a vulnerable species.
“As well as helping our understanding of these birds, Glossy Black Cockatoo Birding Day is a great social activity and there are prizes up for grabs for those that register and participate on the day. Participants don’t need to know much about the birds – participation is open to everyone and we provide training,” Mr de Kauwe said.
The council will host a post-survey get-together for volunteers at a known Glossy Black-Cockatoo watering hole from 4.30pm on the day.
The get-together will be held at the small clearing next to the Sunshine Beach State High School gate 2, Grasstree Court, near the Sunshine Beach shops.
Those taking part are invited to attend training sessions at Noosa Council from 4pm to 5pm on either Wednesday 3 May or Wednesday 10 May.
Register to take part in Glossy Black-Cockatoo Birding Day by contacting Tyron de Kauwe at on 5329 6244, or by email: tyron.dekauwe@noosa.qld.gov.au