<
https://theconversation.com/the-ringo-starr-of-birds-is-now-endangered-heres-how-we-can-still-save-our-drum-playing-palm-cockatoos-169534>
"Australia’s largest parrot, the palm cockatoo, is justifiably famous as the
only non-human animal to craft tools for sound. They create drumsticks to make
a rhythmic beat. Sadly, the “Ringo Starr” of the bird world is now threatened
with extinction – just as many other parrots are around the world.
This week, the Queensland government moved this species – also known as the
goliath cockatoo – onto the endangered list, due to our research on palm
cockatoo populations over more than 20 years.
Our analysis predicts a severe decline from 47% to as high as 95% over the next
half-century. Given the current population is estimated at just 3,000 birds, it
is likely to drop to as low as 150 birds. They could all but disappear from
Australia in our lifetimes.
Is it too late? Not yet. There are concrete ways to protect these magnificent,
elusive birds by conserving habitat and their all-important breeding hollow
trees, by reintroducing cool burns (including unburnt areas), and finding out
more about these special parrots."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
