The Nesting Biology of the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo
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The nesting biology of the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii macrorhynchus) and its management implications in the Top End of Australia Nina Kurucz Thesis submitted for the degree of Masters of Science by research at the School of Biological Sciences, Northern Territory University, Australia. November, 2000 Copyright © 2000 School of Biological Sciences, Northern Territory University This PDF has been automatically generated and though we try and keep as true to the original as possible, some formatting, page numbering and layout elements may have changed. Please report any problems to [email protected]. Declaration I hereby declare that the work herein, now submitted as a thesis for the degree of Masters by research, is the result of my own investigations, and all references to ideas and work of other researchers have been specifically acknowledged. I hereby certify that the work embodied in this thesis has not already been accepted in substance for any degree, and is not being currently submitted in candidature for any other degree. Nina Kurucz 17/10/2000 Abstract In the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia Red-tailed Black Cockatoos have been known to nest in hollows in Eucalyptus forests. However no detailed description of nest and food requirements exists. This study determines suitable nesting and foraging habitat, describes attributes of nesting trees, the density, availability and spatial distribution of these trees, daily feeding patterns, seed availability and movement by C. b. macrorhynchus during the breeding season. Based on the results I aimed to assess the feasibility of using the recently developed harvesting management program for C. b. macrorhynchus on privately owned land as a means to encourage protection of nesting habitat. Results show that the birds nest in the widespread open Eucalyptus miniata / E. tetrodonta forests and E. papuana / E. polycarpa woodlands. Up to 81 % of trees with a DBH > 30 cm contain hollows large enough for a Red-tailed Black Cockatoo to enter (hollow entrance >15 cm). Other important nest tree features are inside hollow depth (between 40 and 130 cm) and the entrance height above ground (> 9m). Trees with hollows large enough for Cockatoos to enter occur in low densities of 0.5 − 1 tree per hectare and are spatially distributed in a uniform fashion (P = 0.0087). Only 5.8 % of such trees are suitable for nesting. Foraging occurs in Eucalyptus low open - woodlands, woodlands and in coastal vegetation. Foraging sites are close to nest sites and fires are an important feature of the sites that tend to be recently burnt, providing easy access to grass seeds, the major component of the bird's diet. During the whole breeding season (March – September) 85 % of the birds feed in the early morning and late afternoon, using sites until seed availability significantly decreases (P<0.031). The results of this study support previous critiques on the Cockatoo management program. Nest densities are mostly too low to offer returns that provide an economically viable alternative to other forms of land use, including horticulture. Protection of C. b. macrorhynchus nesting habitat in the Darwin region in the long term will require measures additional to any incentives provided by the current management plan. Acknowledgement I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to all those who have contributed to this thesis: My supervisor, Peter Whitehead for invaluable guidance and revision, without this work would not have been possible. My Co - supervisor Richard Noske for revision. Simon Stirrat for administrative assistance Peter McGrath for assistance and sharing knowledge of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos. Peter Brocklehurst for providing the NT vegetation map and assisting with statistical analyses. David Howe and Nigel Saunders for providing maps and information Keith Ferdinands and Philip McMahon for assistance with GIS. Karl - Heinz Niendorf for statistical advice Cain Kalsbeek for fieldwork assistance, financial and emotional support. Baerbel Kurucz for fieldwork assistance, financial and emotional support. All assistants helping with fieldwork, especially tree climbing. v Table of Contents GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND THE BIOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ............. 1 1.1 General introduction ........................................................................................ 1 1.2 Biology of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos .......................................................... 2 1.2.1 Description of species and subspecies ................................................. 2 1.2.2 Distribution and current status ............................................................. 4 1.2.3 Habitat .................................................................................................. 5 1.2.4 Reproduction ........................................................................................ 6 1.3 Aim .................................................................................................................. 8 THE NESTING BIOLOGY OF C. b. macrorhynchus .................................................. 9 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Aim ................................................................................................................ 13 2.3 Methods ......................................................................................................... 13 2.3.1 Climate and landscape ........................................................................ 13 2.3.2 Study sites .......................................................................................... 14 2.3.3 Vegetation survey ............................................................................... 15 2.3.4 Tree stand structure ............................................................................ 16 2.3.5 Nesting trees ....................................................................................... 17 2.4 Data analyses ................................................................................................. 18 2.4.1 Vegetation survey ............................................................................... 18 2.4.2 Tree stand structure ............................................................................ 19 2.4.3 Nesting trees ....................................................................................... 20 2.5 Results ........................................................................................................... 22 2.5.1 Vegetation pattern at nest sites ........................................................... 22 2.5.2 Tree stand structure ............................................................................ 29 vi 2.5.3 Nesting trees: ...................................................................................... 34 2.6 Discussion ...................................................................................................... 42 2.6.1 Vegetation pattern at nest sites ........................................................... 42 2.6.2 Nesting trees ....................................................................................... 46 FEEDING BIOLOGY OF C. b. macrorhynchus ........................................................ 48 Summary .............................................................................................................. 48 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 49 3.2 Methods ......................................................................................................... 51 3.2.1 Study sites .......................................................................................... 51 3.2.2 Vegetation survey ............................................................................... 52 3.2.3 Diet ..................................................................................................... 53 3.2.4 Feeding effort ..................................................................................... 54 3.2.5 Movement and flock behaviour .......................................................... 55 3.3 Analysis ......................................................................................................... 56 3.3.1 Vegetation survey ............................................................................... 56 3.3.2 Diet ..................................................................................................... 57 3.3.3 Feeding effort ..................................................................................... 57 3.3.4 Movement ........................................................................................... 58 3.4 Results ........................................................................................................... 59 3.4.1 Vegetation survey ............................................................................... 59 3.4.2 Diet ..................................................................................................... 67 3.4.3 Feeding effort ..................................................................................... 69 3.4.4 Movement ........................................................................................... 73 3.5 Discussion .....................................................................................................