Recovering habitat for Gang-gangs after bushfire
Submitted by Holly on 05 Dec 2022.
As you probably know, the Gang-gang Cockatoo was severely affected by habitat loss following the bushfires of 2019 and 2020 and in March this year the species was declared Endangered.
BirdLife Australia developed the Gang-gang Bushfire Recovery Project to engage communities in fire-affected regions of Eurobodalla, ACT, Blue Mountains and East Gippsland to take action to support the Gang-gang Cockatoo. Funding was received from the Federal Government’s Regional Bushfire Recovery for Multiregional Species and Strategic Projects Program. We have been so inspired by everyone's efforts in these fire-effected regions to come on board and do their best to help this amazing species.
After a successful first round in these regions, the Gang-gang Cockatoo online education and engagement program was opened to anyone across the species’ range wanting to learn more about Gang-gangs and their ecology, conduct Birdata surveys and how to take action for Gang-gang conservation.
This has led to some bumper figures and 7,500 new plants in the ground to support Gang-gangs, their habitat, and many other bird species that were also affected by fire:
4,500 plants planted by Gang-gang Cockatoo Birds in Backyards participants
900 students and 40 teachers from 18 schools learnt about Gang-gang Cockatoos and planted 300 plants for Gang-gangs at their schools
2700 plants planted by rural landholders as part of the Birds on Farms program in East Gippsland
63 participants providing water sources such as bird baths for birds in the area
70 participants advocating for Gang-gangs including educating their communities, calling for protection of hollow-bearing trees
300 participants protecting existing habitat for Gang-gang Cockatoos in their own spaces
60 nest boxes designed specifically for the needs of Gang-gang cockatoos were installed in East Gippsland
Our hope is that by bringing knowledge of Gang-gang cockatoos to the community through education and action, we’ll help to build a legacy of people supporting this species and others like it.
The Gang-gang project will return in 2023, it’s an online course that will be available for anyone to participate free of charge. You’ll learn about Gang-gang behaviour, the habitat they use, and how you can help them! Register your interest here.
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