Students flock together to help endangered black cockatoos soar

Students at Mundijong Primary School have taken action to support local wildlife after learning about the challenges facing Western Australia’s iconic black cockatoos.

During Term 1 this year, 28 Year 6 students used Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group’s (PHBG) Black Cockatoo Resource Box to learn about the threats facing our iconic and endangered local black cockatoo species, including habitat loss and competition for nesting hollows.

Inspired by what they learned, the students organised a school fundraiser to contribute to local conservation efforts. By the end of March they had raised just over $400, which the students chose to donate to the Black Cockatoo Project run by local not-for-profit, Landcare SJ.

PHBG commended the students for their initiative and enthusiasm in turning classroom learning into real-world action.

“This is a really great example of young people turning what they learn at school into meaningful action,” said Ms Fran Lengeling, PHBG’s Learning and Engagement Coordinator.

The Black Cockatoo Project aims to stop the decline of threatened black cockatoo species by providing the birds with artificial nesting hollows, known as ‘Cockatubes.’

“Trees typically need to be more than 200 years old to form hollows suitable for nesting, but due to the clearing of old-growth forests these natural tree hollows are increasingly rare,” said Dr Drew Batty, Landcare SJ’s Senior Environmental Co-ordinator.

“We install Cockatubes in breeding areas where they support black cockatoo conservation by providing a safe place to raise young in the same way the hollows would have.”

He said it was inspiring to see the next generation of children supporting the Landcare SJ Black Cockatoo Conservation Program.

The students' teacher, Ms Shonia Anset, said that it was an incredibly rewarding experience to see the students take initative and work together for a cause they cared about.

"Through this experience, they learned the power of their voice, the importance of community action, and that even small contributions can make a big difference," she said.

ENDS

PHBG media enquiries: media@phbg.org (Mon & Tues)

Landcare media enquiries: drew@landcaresj.com.au

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