Gippsland Environment Group Inc
Lobbying against environmental threats on the unceded lands of the GunaiKurnai, Yaitmathang, Ngarigo and Bidwell Peoples
Glossy Black Cockatoos
Threatened by planned burns
Forest Fire Management Victoria, (FFMV) plan to burn 11,000 hectares of Glossy Black Cockatoo critical habitat in East Gippsland over the next 3 years, 2024 – 2026. This forest was unburnt in the 2019-20 bushfires.
Glossy Black Cockatoos are Critically Endangered in Victoria and listed as Vulnerable nationally. The 2019-20 bushfires burnt through 64% of the species’ modelled habitat. 26% of their habitat was burnt by high severity fire.
The unburnt coastal forest between Lakes Entrance and the Snowy River is inhabited by approximately 35-40 Glossies. It is the current western extent of the Glossy Black Cockatoo population’s range in Victoria.
Glossy Black Cockatoos have an extremely restricted diet. In East Gippsland Glossies only feed on the tiny seed from the cones of Black She-oak trees. She-oaks are highly sensitive to fire. Severe fire kills the trees and even low intensity fires trigger She-oak cones to open and shed their seed. Glossies do not feed on seed on the ground. Young She-oaks take 5-20 years to produce viable seed. Cumulative planned burns will dramatically reduce the available food supply of the Glossies.
FFMV has repeatedly stated to GEG that they will not exclude all she-oaks from planned burn operations and in fact FFMV intend to target i.e. ‘fuel reduce’ she-oak stands. FFMV planned burns pose a serious threat to the recovery of the Glossy Black Cockatoo population post the 2019-20 bushfires.
Update: Newly published research by Arthur Rylah Institute (DEECA) April 2024
Impacts of bushfire on the Glossy Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami and its single food source in eastern Victoria
Authors: Peter Menkhorst, Martin Schulz, and Kasey Stamation
(Australian Field Ornithology, 30 April 2024)
This research, undertaken since 2019 (pre and post-bushfires) shows the Glossy Black Cockatoo population in East Gippsland is continuing to decline. The population halved following the bushfires but has halved again since, possibly due to lack of food supply. No feeding sign was recorded at any of Black she-oak survey sites that were burnt by FFMV post-bushfires.
The authors stated that burning of unburnt stands of Black She-oak in the decade following the bushfires is highly undesirable. They make it clear that it is essential that she-oak stands are mapped and accorded extra protection during planned fires and if possible during bushfires.
The report suggests that if the results of the East Gippsland research can be extrapolated across the southeast Australian distribution of the Glossy Black Cockatoo population, then the species’ post bushfire classification as Vulnerable may underestimate
the risk of extinction.
Download full paper here:
More information
Biodiversity response and
recovery supplementary report:
bushfire impacts on species
in Victoria. Menkhorst, P., Schulz, M. & Stamation, K. 2022, DELWP (now DEECA)
Peter Menkhorst, Martin Schulz, and Kasey Stamation (Australian Field Ornithology, 30 April 2024)
Take Action
Contact the state and federal ministers, Conservation Regulator and FFMV staff below. Demand FFMV stop burning the habitat of critically endangered Glossy Black Cockatoos in East Gippsland. Use info above for your email.
Steve Dimopoulos MP – State Min for Environment
Email: reception.dimopoulos@ecodev.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 862 43101
Jacinta Allan – Premier of Victoria
Email: jacinta.allan@parliament.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 9651 5000
Tanya Plibersek – Federal Min for Environment
Email: Minister.Plibersek@dcceew.gov.au
Phone: 02 6277 7920
Office of Conservation Regulator – Kate Gavens
Email: conservationregulator@delwp.vic.gov.au
Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Gippsland
Email: sam.quigley@delwp.vic.gov.au
Tambo District Forest Fire Management Officer – Mick Beckers
Mick.Beckers@delwp.vic.gov.au (currently on leave till September)
For forest fuel management enquires within the Tambo District please contact
Forest Fire Management Officer Brett Walker on 0439 187 348
