Cockatoo Care
| There are a few places within Perth as well as other areas within Western Australia where you can see the black cockatoos either in the wild or in captivity. The cockatoos can also be spotted within many suburbs of Perth and throughout the south-west so make sure to keep your eyes open. Birds Australia (WA) produce some fantastic brochures on birdwatching around the state. Most are available online at their website. To pick up a brochure for your area visit the BirdsWA website
Valley of the Giants - Interpretive Bird and Reptile Discovery CentreIf you are living in or visiting the Southwest of Western Australia, you may like to visit the Valley of the Giants Interpretive Bird and Reptile Discovery Centre. You can meet 'Molly' the friendly Red-tailed Black Cockatoo as well as a whole range of other birds and reptiles, including giant Macaws, Major Mitchell's and other native and exotic parrots, plus pythons and dragon lizards and much, much more! There are animals to meet inside in addition to those within aviaries amongst landscaped gardens and barbeque facilities. Situated only a short 10 minutes drive from the Tree Top Walk near the "valley of the Giants", the Bird and Reptile Discovery Centre is easy to find. It is located on Bandit Road, off South Coast Highway between Walpole and Denmark. It is open from May to September between 10am and 4pm (closed Monday's), and from 9am to 5pm every day during October to April. For more information phone (08) 9840 8335 or log onto www.valleyofthegiantsbirdandreptilediscoverycentre.com
Bellawood Parrots, Pinjarra
Bellawood Parrots is no longer operating, as from end August 2003, as a result of Ravenswood Sanctuary, their owners, going into receivership late last year. Bellawood’s manages and the cockatoos would like to thank all past visitors for helping the park to keep their doors open until now. Some of the black cockatoo’s from Bellawood have been returned to CALM, whilst others have gone to new homes elsewhere. The Perth Zoo
Along with lions, tigers, bears and elephants the Perth Zoo is also home to both Carnaby’s Cockatoos and the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos. In fact, the Zoo plays a particularly important role in the CALM captive-breeding program. In addition, the Zoo has established a link between city and country schools to develop a revegetation project in the wheatbelt to provide habitat for the Carnaby’s Cockatoos. If you are interested you can even sponsor one of the Perth Zoo’s black cockatoos through their animal adoption program. You can visit the Forest Red-Tailed and Carnaby’s Cockatoos in the Australian Bushwalk exhibit any day of the year, including Christmas Day and Public Holidays, between 9am and 5pm. The Perth Zoo is located on Labouchere Street in South Perth. You can visit the Perth Zoo's web site to find out more information about its black cockatoos.
Yanchep National Park
If you’d like to see the black cockatoos living in the wild then head up to Yanchep National Park. One of Western Australia’s oldest national parks, Yanchep is located 50km north of Perth and is a 45 minute drive from the city. Predominantly made up of Tuart and Banksia woodlands, the Park is full of native fauna including large flocks of Carnaby’s and one of Western Australia’s largest Koala colonies. The Carnaby’s are a stand out feature of the Park with their loud raucous calls. They can be found here all year round living and even breeding in the giant Tuart trees. The birds often congregate in the recreation areas of the park providing some charming company for amused visitors. In addition to bird watching and bush walks visitors to Yanchep National Park can experience Nyoongar culture at the new Wangi Mia (talking place), take a tour through the beautiful limestone caves and enjoy the free gas barbecue and other picnic facilities. To find out tour times and other events at Yanchep National Park visit their web page and for more detailed information about trails, flora and fauna at Yanchep visit The West Australian Tourism Commission.
To get to Yanchep National Park just follow Wanneroo Road north until you see the park signs. Wungong Gorge and Bungendore ParkAnother great place to see black cockatoos in the wild is at Bungendore Park located just outside of Armadale. Eight of the eleven bird species that are endemic to the South-West can be seen in this area. While you might be lucky enough to catch a Carnaby’s or Baudin’s in Bungendore you’re much more likely to see the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos that make their homes here all year round. A beautiful Jarrah and Marri woodland with additional areas of banksia, dryandra and some wandoo trees Bungendore is a perfect habitat for Forest Red-tails as well as many other species of native fauna like Blue-tongue Lizards, Western Grey Kangaroos and Western Brush Wallabies. Bungendore makes a worthwhile day trip for a bush walk and there are also picnic facilities on Admiral Road. From the Albany Highway/South West Highway/Armadale Road junction follow Albany Highway towards Albany then turn right at Admiral Road. Bungendore Park is the forest on your right and Wungong Gorge is at the bottom of the hill. For a detailed bird watching guide to Bungendore Park and Wungong Gorge follow this link
Rainbow Jungle - The Australian Parrot Breeding Centre, Kalbarri
Established in 1986, with around 350 birds including 50 species of Australian parrots and cockatoos Rainbow Jungle is well worth a visit. The centre houses thirty Carnaby’s, six Forest Red-tails and a pair of Baudin’s. Rainbow Jungle is famous for the largest walk-in parrot aviary in Australia. It took 300 tonnes of Tunblagooda sandstone to build and is beautifully planted and landscaped. You can also check out Australia’s only privately built whale watching tower while you’re there. Rainbow Jungle is located on Red Bluff Road in Kalbarri and there are picnic facilities and barbecues available for visitors. Tea and coffee can also be purchased. For opening times and entry fee enquiries contact Rainbow Jungle on 9937 1248. On the Trail of the Red-Tail
ollow the Bibbulmun Track and spot Forest Red-tails along the way. This fantastic eco-tourism initiative by the Western Australian Tourism Commission and Friends of the Bibbulmun Track encourages local West Australians and visitors from overseas and interstate to enjoy the magic of the South West forests and the beauty of the creatures that live there. The award-winning Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great walk trails stretching nearly 1000km between Perth Hills and Albany on the south coast. 'On the Trail of the Red-tail' Day Walk Map Packs are available for many of the major towns along its route including Dwellingup, Balingup, Pemberton, and Denmark. (Packs for Mundaring, Northcliffe and Walpole will be available shortly). Each pack includes a water-resistant map carrier, official Bibbulmun Track map, day walk suggestions and walk notes, a colour brochure on the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, postcard and a bird sighting report card. The report cards are returned at the end of the trip and forwarded to the WA Museum to contribute to their Cockatoo Care research and will help protect the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo which is under threat from disturbances to its natural vegetation. The packs costs $20.00 each (including gst & a $4 donation to black cockatoo research). To order contact The Friends of the Bibbulmun Track on 08 9481 0551 or 9321 0649 email: friends@bibbulmuntrack.org.au or visit the website.
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