‘Death knell’ for Baudin’s black cockatoo as conservation bid rejected

The West Australian government has rejected a nomination to upgrade the conservation status of the Baudin’s black cockatoo from “endangered” to “critically endangered”, in what advocates have called a death knell for the species.

BirdLife WA claims the WA Threatened Species Scientific Committee’s decision, which took 18 months, represents science being sidelined and systemic failure, and accused the committee of being under pressure from the mining industry.

The Baudin’s black cockatoo in flight. Credit: Keith Lightbody

The organisation formally nominated the species for up-listing in 2023, a bid it says was backed by research showing a 90 per cent population decline over three generations, or about 40 years, with as few as 2500 to 4000 breeding individuals remaining.

The IUCN, Action Plan for Australian Birds, and BirdLife International have all listed Baudin’s cas critically endangered, but BirdLife WA says the WA committee cited insufficient data.

“The birds will vanish while the government argues over data,” said BirdLife WA spokesperson Dr Mark Henryon.

“If the system won’t act now, what’s it waiting for – zero birds left?”

Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said he understood the depth of public concern, and relied on independent scientific advice for such decisions.

“I give careful, ongoing consideration to these matters, and I’m acutely aware of the responsibility that comes with decisions affecting species at risk,” he said.

Swinbourn said the WA Threatened Species Scientific Committee comprised leading scientists with relevant expertise and operated independently, using internationally recognised criteria, including those of the IUCN, to assess the evidence.

He said the committee acknowledged a decline in habitat quality and distribution, but also noted gaps in data across the full range of the species, and he accepted that advice in line with the requirements of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

The Baudin’s black cockatoo eating a gumnut.Credit: Keith Lightbody

However, BirdLife WA spokesperson Viv Read said the population estimates in its nomination were informed by research from former WA Museum ornithology curator Ron Johnstone and Tony Kirkby, also formerly of the museum.

“We understand the committee has decided twice not to make this a critically endangered species, and we understand it is industry – broadly speaking the mining industry – that is proposing the data is inadequate,” Read said.

He said it was hard to avoid the conclusion the cockatoos were critically endangered, when combining the knowledge of species’ sensitivity and slow breeding rates, its plummeting population numbers, and the cumulative impact of multiple major mining operations fragmenting forests it relied on, with attempts to rehabilitate unsuccessful.

“The Environmental Protection Act invokes the precautionary principle: which is that if you don’t know, don’t take the chance,” he said.

“If the government proceeds with business as usual, the Baudin’s will be functionally extinct in 50 years, meaning there might be a few in captive populations, but it will not exist in its own environment.

“The focus has always been on Carnaby’s [cockatoos] but the Baudin’s is quite a different species … less easy to observe and differentiate. It is a shadow species that is slipping into the dark.”

BirdLife WA urged Swinbourn to review the decision, release the scientific reasoning behind it, upgrade the status in line with global authorities, and pause clearing approvals in Baudin’s habitat.

Alcoa, South32 and Newmont are all planning major expansions of their operations in the northern jarrah forest.

Swinbourn said the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions was working with the Commonwealth to finalise updated recovery plans for WA’s three endangered black cockatoo species which would be released for public comment.

He said organisations such as BirdLife played a valuable role in contributing to the public conversation.

“Their advocacy reflects a strong commitment to protecting native birds, and I welcome their continued engagement,” he said.

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