BirdCast

The short billed white tailed black cockatoo aka Carnaby cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) would have to be the most widely recognised and iconic large birds in Western Australia. The government (both State and federal) in collaboration with several non-government organisations such as BirdlifeWA, have invested time and taxpayers funds into trying to preserve this bird and with it, it's habitat.
The Carnaby cockatoo has been in marked decline for many years and is listed as endangered. The decline in numbers being attributed primarily to habitat fragmentation, habitat destruction - in particular the loss of nesting sites - as the trees they nest in are often over 100 years old and competition from other native bird species for the available nest sites.
The issue over suitable nest sites has been significant for many years and the problem is magnified by the fact that a suitable hollow for such a large cockatoo is often found in a tree over 100 years old; so planting a tree to day was hardly going to solve this particular problem. This particular issue has been investigated in recent years, again in collaboration with government, non-government and a university; from which the cocky tube was born.
The cocky tube project was initially developed and marketed via LandCareSJ group and more information on this project can be found here:
https://blackcockatoos.org.au/tag/artificial-nesting-boxes/
Birdman Dad's cocky tubes were actually MK1 versions of the LandcareSJ tubes - this is why they look different to the tubes shown on this link. BirdlifeWA sourced these 2 second hand cocky tubes for Birdman Dad.
Birdman Dad's cocky tubes were installed by Dean from Carnaby Crusaders -
https://www.facebook.com/Carnabys-Crusaders-103755334826928
Birdman Dad in this episode describes the beautiful Carnaby cockatoo and the circumstances of the arrival of cocky tubes to his house.
Birdman Dad wishes to acknowledge the assistance to the 2 pairs of Carnaby cockatoos and now their offspring with great thanks to Adam at BirdlifeWA - The Black Cockatoo Project and to Dean of Carnaby Crusaders. These 2 people were able to provide assistance when so many others were not able, or willing. It is thanks to them there is a new generation flying in the skies in 2021.
If you have a suitable Carnaby nest site, or even a black cockatoo nest site, the cocky tube may offer the birds in your neighbourhood a substitute nest where there are no old growth trees. Make contact with BirdlifeWA, or Carnaby Crusaders and find out if the cocky tube may help out these iconic birds that are in desperate need of human assistance.

"To survive today, other animals must endure global warming, pollution, and fewer habitats.
More tragically, they must endure the silence of human hearts".
Anthony Douglas Williams
Australia is well known for their history of flora and fauna extinctions, and it seems to be a national trajectory from the lowest level of government to the highest; we keep "developing" land at unsustainable rates and all the "little" developments accumumulate into a mega sized snowball. We have so many "recovery plans" for the habitats we remodel, to the point that most of them can never be fully funded to fruition. The environment, though everyone talks about it, is lowest on the funding ladder and there simply is not enough tax payer funds to support every plant and creature that is in need. At some point in the very near future the average Aussie is going to have to realise that the government just can't fix each and every habitat that we destroy in our development frenzy, it is in fact going to be up to the every day Aussie to say enough is enough, and put their own hand up and say "it is up to me".
It's just this sort of attitude that created a plan to save one of Australia's most threatened parrot; the antbed parrot aka the golden shouldered parrot; also known to the Olkola people as the alwal.
Since the 1920's the golden shouldered parrots have disappeared from more than half their range in Cape York Penninsula. Situated within their northern homelands is Artemis Cattle Station, considered by many a scientist, parrot lover and bird watcher to be the last stronghold of this parrot, but even here their numbers have declined from around 500 to now less than 50. The owners of Artemis Cattle Station, Tom and Sue Shephard, have spent decades trying to ensure that this particular parrot survives, but in recent years have become so concerned over the ever decreasing population, that have stretched out their hands (and their hearts) to a group of scientists and supporters who are willing to get things doing and moving into the direction of actual ground work recovery. This collaboration has become the Artemis Nature Fund.
Today's podcast opens the doors (and hopefully listeners hearts) to the life of a golden shouldered parrot and the birth of the Artemis Nature Fund.
This is a 2 part "special" that is our gift to the dedicated listeners as our Season 4 finale.
This has been an extraordinarily long Season 4 - our demonstration of solidarity with our fellow Australians, and people throught this world, in various lockdowns through Covid19. BirdCast went past the usual season ends to provide lockdown listeners, as was the request, with something bird related to listen to. But as the lockdowns have lifted we are going to take a break and hunt down some great stories for season 5.
So unlike previous episodes Part 2 of Silent Hearts - a pathway to extinction for antbed parrots will be next week! Be sure to listen in.
https://artemis.org.au/

A proverb from the Indians of North America says –

“To understand the man, you must first walk a mile in his moccasin.”.

Today’s episode invites you to walk in the moccasin of Chadi, the founder of the most embattled parrot rescue in the world. Text can not give due justice to the depth of this challenge so will type no more and leave it to the podcast.
Parrot Rescue Lebanon details:

You Tube movie created by a “friend” of PRL:

https://youtu.be/4o3xQExHpwg

PRL – fund donations: (listed in preference) : no amount is TOO small ....

Western Union – Chadi kachi (if asked - Country is Lebanon - Street - Zalka)
- please msg Chadi the reference number of the WU transfer so he can collect safely.

Paypal: [email protected]

Go Fund me: https://gofund.me/fa4adc85

PRL Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/LebaneseAnimalRescueandConservation

PRL instagram

parrot_rescue_lebanon

Although many people are quick to condemn the pet shop trade - pet shops offer a valuable contribution to aviculture overall.
Firstly they provide a great visual presence to the general public, in that they show a variety of birds and also place these birds within the realm of more widely accepted domestic pets such as cats and dogs - how often have we all heard people say "set them free" - when in reality these birds are domesticated; just like a cat or a dog - and if they are set free they will simply perish either from starvation (because they are domesticated) or from predation (hawks, cats etc). Placing them alongside other widely accepted pets helps reinforce to the general public within the store that these birds are in fact not wild birds, rather birds that have grown up in a captive setting.
Secondly, birds in pet stores, particularly in the dedicated bird stores or the independent bird (and generally fish included) stores offer a showcase to customers of what birds are available in the local area, and give bird owners, or want to be owners, some idea of the variety of birds. It is essentially a type of window shopping. Many a time the Birdman Dad team take a drive to go and see one of the independent bird speciality stores in Perth, just to see what's there - sadly in Perth there are not really any bird parks or wildlife parks that have a great selection of birds on display. The exception to this would be Caversham Wildlife Park (listen in to our 2 episode visit to Caversham in Season 2).
Thirdly, the local bird store offers an outlet for those whose birds breed - whether intentional or not - a place where they can sell the offspring. Some bird stores will buy the young outright and sell them, others will offer a commission type arrangement. For a smaller city such as Perth, where the bird trade is so much smaller than in the eastern states or overseas; this aspect to the local pet shop is a great option. Not everyone wants to deal with "customers" face to face; add in the security concerns of having unknown people to your home and this "pet shop" option is often far more attractive.
Finally, and by no means exhausted in a list of reasons, the pet store offers a multitude of avian related products for every bird type kept - from aviaries, to seed, to avian supplements, to enrichment activities to a huge variety of associated products.
Added to this list; in the smaller, independent bird stores - the humans working in the stores have a great love for birds and in general an extensive knowledge concerning most things avian. If you are unsure of what bird would be best for you and your situation, and you are not wanting to attend a bird club, or ask anyone on social media; just have a quiet chat to the humans behind the pet shop desk. If you choose your time well; that is when the shop is quiet and the customers are not knee deep at the counter; you will find most bird pet shop humans are happy to talk to you about birds, their needs and what bird might be the best match to your lifestyle.
In Perth we do not have the huge selection, or volume of bird and pet stores compared to other cities. Despite being small there are still some independent bird speciality pet stores and it was one of these stores the Birdman Dad Team visited in today's episode.
The anti stress product mentioned by Birdman Dad in today's episode:
Quick Gel - a product created and distributed by Dr Rob Marshall of Carlingford Animal Hospital NSW, Australia.
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/quik-gel
Another similar product would be Vetafarm's Spark product:
https://vetafarm.com.au/product/spark-liquid/
or
D-3 Vita
https://www.pigeonandbirdproducts.com.au/online-shop/cage-aviary/d-3-vita-detail
or
Vita Stress
https://www.afrimash.com/shop/veterinary-products-and-services/vet-medicine/vita-stress-multivitamins/

In episode 2 we touch base with Birdman Dad again and chat about Success and Failures in birdkeeping from what finches he has bred with great success in mixed aviaries and which ones he found troublesome. He also suggest some aviary design features that would be on his top 5 tips as well as some he simply can not incorporate into his current set up. Co-host Kiah delves into the world of "aviary pests" and here we meet old "Rat in the Hat" and they discuss things that need to be kept under control if you are going to be successful in your bird keeping endeavours.