Hear a drawn-out “wee-loo” overhead? Look up for a flock of big black cockatoos flashing white through their tails. Carnaby’s are a south-west WA original, and one of the birds that can make an ordinary walk feel rather special.
They’re also endangered. Clearing and the loss of feeding, roosting and nesting habitat have made life harder for them. Their short, broad bill helps distinguish them from the similar Baudin’s cockatoo, although telling the two apart takes care.
Give a feeding flock room and keep the trees that support them in mind. BirdLife’s species guide is a good place to learn their features; the Australian Government’s profile explains the threats and recovery work. Seeing a noisy flock is a pleasure, not a sign that the species is out of trouble.