Baudin’s Cockatoo

Baudin’s Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus baudinii Body Length: 50–56 cm Weight: 560–770 g Gestation: 28 days Number of eggs: 1–2 Baudin’s Cockatoos inhabit the Eucalypt forests of the South-West of Western Australia, they are a brownish-black colour with feathers edged with white, and there is also a white underside to their tail and a white covering over their ears. Baudin’s Cockatoos are omnivores and feed on the seeds of Banksia, Hakea and Marri as well as fruit from local orchards. They also strip bark from dead trees in search of insect larvae. These cockatoos first breed at 4 to 5 years of age and can live in excess of 50 years. They can only nest in hollow trees and they use that same hollow year after year. Baudin’s Cockatoos usually lay two eggs every year (October) and the female incubates and broods the one chick that survives, and if two eggs are produced usually only one chick survives. Male birds feed their mate during the incubation period. The conservation status of this Australian Wildlife species is ‘vulnerable’, as they have a very low rate of reproduction which means the population cannot quickly replace the large number of birds which have been shot by farmers. Habitat destruction is also a major cause of their dwindling numbers as cutting down trees destroys the cockatoos’ nesting sites. Baudin’s Cockatoos make a ‘whicha whicha’ sound when calling and other names for this species are White-tailed Black Cockatoo and Long-billed Black Cockatoo.