Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2007L01320:body:0:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2007L01320
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 21373–24320

trees containing larger hollows used by Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos are likely to be over 220 years old (Gibbons and Lindenmayer 2002), there is likely to be a serious shortfall in suitable hollow-bearing trees in the decades to come. Replanting the required scattered trees in the landscape would be logistically impossible and prohibitively expensive (Reid and Landsberg 2000). Natural regeneration of trees after the cessation of grazing, often facilitated by fencing (Spooner et al 2002), seems to be the only long-term solution for future nest tree requirements.

2.8 Firewood harvesting (Medium priority)
Both commercial and private firewood harvesting is a threat to Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo nesting habitat. In Victoria 1-1.4 million tonnes of firewood are collected each year from all land tenures, more than twice the volume of hardwood timber harvested from public land (Read Sturgess and Assoc. 1995). Most firewood is taken from standing and fallen dead timber, principally gum species, but also stringybarks. Dead standing timber is protected on public land in both States but illegal felling of dead standing timber on public land is common within the range (R Hill in litt.). Local government controls in Victoria and State legislation in South Australia now protect large dead trees with hollows across the majority of the breeding range, but illegal removal and natural decline of dead trees continues.

2.9 Nest predators (Medium priority)
Jarmyn (2000) found that the main proximate cause of nest failure in one year was nest predators such as Common Brush-tailed Possums Trichosurus vulpecula and ravens Corvus sp., but the ultimate cause was a shortage of food which forced incubating females to leave their nests unattended and forage for themselves. Because the number of successful nests is much higher in years with adequate seed availability, and Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos use the same or similar nest sites and are increasing in numbers, it is unlikely that nest predators are a major factor limiting recovery of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos. Predators do cause some nest failures and efforts are reduce their impact.

2.10 Human interference with nests (Low priority)
Robbing of nests for the illegal avicultural trade has been identified as a threat of unknown magnitude to the population (J. McGuire pers. comm.). While only one South-eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo is known to be in captivity, the bird's small total population size makes it vulnerable to reductions in breeding success due to human interference with nests.

Other threats

2.11 Information gaps (Medium priority)
Some nest colonies are not managed appropriately due to a lack of information on their location. Similarly, there is a lack of detailed information on the whereabouts of some key blocks of private land, whose owners may need financial and management assistance. The relative importance of Buloke woodland could be confirmed