An endangered species that is also a pest: a case study of Baudin's Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus baudinii and the pome fruit industry in south-west Western Australia

Headnote

Abstract

Baudin.s Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus baudinii is an endangered species that is endemic to south- west Western Australia. It is also a declared pest of agriculture because it damages apple and pear (pome fruit) crops in commercial orchards. Although it is unlawful, some fruit growers shoot and kill the cockatoos to prevent fruit damage. A survey of pome fruit growers during the 2004/2005 season showed that shooting to kill can-not be justified in terms of the damage the cockatoos cause or the costs of damage control incurred by growers. Estimated loss of income to fruit damage by birds equated to 6% of farmgate income and the cost of damage control represented 2% of farmgate income. Damage levels varied significantly between individual properties and pink lady apple was the most commonly and severely damaged fruit variety. This study has shown that non-lethal scaring techniques are effective for protecting pome fruit from damage by Baudin.s Cockatoo.

Keywords: Baudin.s Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus baudinii, pome fruit industry, Western Australia

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Introduction

Baudin.s Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus baudinii), the long-billed White-tailed Black Cockatoo, has been known to damage fruit in apple and pear (pome fruit) orchards since the early 1900s (Halse 1986). In the past, the damage was managed by a number of lethal means via notices published in the Western Australian Government Gazette (Table 1). These means included government bonus payments for the destruction of the cockatoos and open seasons for shooting, in selected shires, when causing damage to fruit (Table 1).

This cockatoo, which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia, may no longer be killed to protect fruit crops, because it has been listed as a threatened species since 1996. Using IUCN (1994) Red List Categories and Criteria, Baudin.s Cockatoo is listed as Endangered in Western Australia and Vulnerable Nationally. Illegal killing of these cockatoos continues (CALM 2005) and, along with habitat loss and competition for nest hollows with feral honeybees, illegal shooting to protect pome fruit crops is one of the principal threats to the population (CALM 2006).

Presumably, those fruit growers who shoot the cockatoos do so because they believe: the cockatoos are the principal pest of pome fruit crops; the damage the cockatoos cause results in significant loss of income; the...