Cockatoo Care School Resources

The three species of black cockatoos seen in the Perth area are all endemic to south-west WA and their very existence is threatened due mainly to destruction of forest and woodland habitat. The extensive clearing throughout the south-west has led to a decline of food resources and hollow-bearing trees for nests.

Other threats to the birds include competition for breeding hollows by other species, feral European honey bees, changes in fire regimes, climate change, vehicle strikes and poaching of eggs for aviary trade.

The activity sheets have been designed for a wide audience – from merely as a colouring sheet for lower primary school children, to a sheet that requires more research by upper primary children into colours and textures etc. of the birds and surrounding vegetation.

For upper primary, secondary school and others, the rear of the sheet has facts in a condensed form about each of the species.

Links to the downloads for all activity sheets can be found at the bottom of this page.

Cockatoo Activity Sheet - drawing depicting Cockatoos in natural situations

Baudin’s Cockatoo (with a long bill) is a forest species and the activity sheet shows the pair feeding on Marri.

The Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo pair has been drawn perching on a Jarrah. Over the past few years, we have seen pairs of these birds, and sometimes small flocks, have been seen coming to the Swan Coastal Plain to feed and sometimes roost.  The glossy black male has a distinctive red panel on its tail – we are truly fortunate to see these iconic birds flying around and feeding in suburbia. Will these birds still be in existence in 50 years' time?

Carnaby’s Cockatoo (with a short, wide bill) mainly breeds in the wheatbelt area and in the non-breeding season moves to coastal areas. The activity sheet has a Carnaby’s Cockatoo perched on an old gate post near a farm house with some other cockatoos silhouetted on the skyline.

Many landcare groups, individual farmers and some corporations have installed artificial nest hollows to replace or repair hollows lost for various reasons. The other Carnaby’s Cockatoo activity sheet shows a nestling that has been successfully raised within a polyethylene PE Cockatube® that has been installed to repair a former nest hollow in a Wandoo – the base of the hollow had rotted away and was unusable. Hopefully country folk will be inspired to install some artificial nest hollows and encourage Carnaby’s Cockatoos to breed on their farm properties.

The fifth colouring sheet Endangered Black Cockatoos in Western Australia is meant for A3-sized paper. The artwork shows a Jarrah/Marri/Banksia woodland scene with all three species of endemic cockatoos depicting typical activities – feeding on seeds, on nectar and grubbing for insect larvae, drinking from a puddle and inspecting a nest hollow.

All birds have been drawn with scientific accuracy. All the artwork is freely available to download as PDFs and copying for educational purposes is encouraged.

AttachmentSize
Baudin's Cockatoo - artwork and text.pdf4.55 MB
Carnaby's Cockatoo - artwork and text.pdf4.21 MB
Carnaby's Cockatoos at nest box - artwork and text.pdf2.27 MB
Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo - artwork and text.pdf8.25 MB
Endangered Black Cockatoos in WA - A3-size art web.pdf436.7 KB