Cockburn Central reserve to become bird garden

In partnership with BirdLife Australia, and supported by Lotterywest, the project would include planting some of the favourite native foods of the endangered Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) and the vulnerable Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso).

City of Cockburn Environmental Officer Adam Harris said the City was preparing a 5,000sqm area by marking out designated planting zones, controlling weeds and removing grasses to prevent them outcompeting seedlings once planted.

About 10,000 native seedlings and shrubs will be planted as part of the Connecting Urban Communities with Nature project to help create bird habitat corridors throughout the City.

Mr Harris said the corridors would help link some of the City’s reserves and wetlands.

“Corridors allow our feathered friends to better move through our suburbs,” Mr Harris said.

“This way we can keep these feathered jewels, backyard companions, natural pest controllers, pollinators and morning alarm clocks in our City.”

Mr Harris said the work would prepare the ground for a community planting day set down for next June when locals could get their hands dirty improving habitat values for endangered and vulnerable Black Cockatoos and other native birdlife.

Photo caption: A flock of Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo feasting on macadamia nuts in the suburbs. Picture: Christine Groom UWA.