Callocephalon fimbriatum (Gang-gang Cockatoo)
Update on Gang-gang research
Citizen Science rescues Gang-gang chicks
One of the advantages of citizens monitoring the activity at Gang-gang nest hollows is that chicks that fall out of the hollow can be placed back before they are predated by cats, foxes or birds like the Australian Raven. About a week prior to fledging gang-gang parents will entice chicks to the entrance of their usually 50cm deep hollow by only feeding them there. Sometimes the structure of the hollow entrance make it precarious for the Gang-gang chicks to perch there. This is exacerbated at feeding times where beak to beak contact by a parent can be quite forceful. Thus chicks occasionally fall or are knocked off their hollow rim perch prior to their wings being fully developed. We also suspect that extreme heat and/or smoke leads to a greater number of premature nest departures. On four occasions tree hollow watchers have discovered fallen chicks at the base of nest trees. At one site Government authorities didn’t allow a tree to be climbed but at the three locations where chicks could be replaced they have been quickly cared for by parent birds and successfully fledged. This includes one chick that spent a night at a local vets, separated from parents, but on reunion was immediately cared for by the parents. An added bonus of our study, and also guidance as to what to do if you come across a fallen chick.
To recap if you find a chick on the ground, best to try and arrange to have it put back into the hollow as soon as possible. If it can’t be put in the hollow have it placed up as high as you can away from predators and with some leaf or branch protection from the elements. Don’t remove unless you absolutely have to.
Thank-you to the hundreds of you that have contributed to this year's research. We have unearthed new and important information on the Gang-gang and how to better look after this beautiful bird. Please keep your feeding and nest activity sightings flowing in - it has been fantastic and thankyou. Some of what we are learning is detailed below.
Hollow occupancy - what have we found in the hollows you have reported?
Over the last three years you have made over 500 image based reports of Gang-gang activity at tree hollows. Thank you, to all those who reported sightings. Trees with multiple records or where Gang-gangs were observed entering or leaving hollows were prioritised for checking. The occupancy of hollows during this Gang-gang breeding season was initially checked by visible observation and if no activity was observed then with a pole camera. To date, one Hundred and ninety hollows of known Gang-gang interest were checked in the Canberra area, fifteen at Cooma and four at Tumbarumba.
The following are the initial results
1 Hollows empty – 109 (52%)
2. Gang-gang nest hollow – 22 (11%) note two nests seem to be no longer active
3. Flooded (hollow a likely water source) - 19 (9%)
4. Brushtail Possum in hollow - 18 (9%)
6. Hollow lined with many gum-leaves suggesting possum use - 12 (6%)
7. Now a bee-hive -6 (3%)
8. Galah nest hollow – 6(3%)
9. Wood-duck eggs or eggshell in hollow 5 (2%) – woodducks have an earlier breeding season and sometimes woodducks and Gang-gangs can use the same hollow within a year
10. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo nest hollow 4 (2%)
11. Crimson Rosella nest hollow 1
12. Rainbow Lorikeet nest hollow 1
13. Kookaburra nest hollow 1
14. Boobook Owl roost/nest hollow 1
At least eight of the empty hollows were known Gang-gang nest hollows in previous years. At least three previous nest hollows were flooded this season. Over half of the hollows in which Gang-gangs were observed entering, leaving, chewing bark around or looking into, were empty. Galahs, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, Rainbow lorikeets and Corellas have all been suspected as being significant competitors of Gang-gangs for nesting hollows, but between them they only occupied 5% of the inspected hollows.
Brushtail possums were observed in 9% of the hollows, with evidence of possum use found in a further 6% of hollows. No Gang-gang nests were found in trees in which Brush-tail Possums were observed but on a few occasions Gangs-gangs were found nesting in the same tree as Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.
Once completed and nest images checked the results will be subject to further analysis, but your work is already providing valuable insights.
Differing breeding times across the Gang-gang range
The methodology of the Canberra survey techniques is being applied elsewhere with nests located at Campbelltown and Moruya, where Gang-gang chicks have already fledged. This is about 4-6 weeks ahead of the nesting occurring in the twenty observed nests in the Canberra area and one in Cooma. In terms of the Gang-Gangs total range, Campbelltown and Moruya are at the higher latitude and or lower altitude parts of this range. Thus they achieve higher temperatures than most areas in which Gang-gangs occur.
Peter and Judy Smith in their 2018 Gang-gang survey of Hornsby Shire, (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340599663), failed to record any Gang-gangs in areas where from 1970-2010 they were commonly sighted. They concluded that Gang-gangs in the Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai Local Government Areas are certainly very close to extinction if not already extinct. They noted that a similar decline had occurred within a 20km radius of their study area and at the lower elevations of the Blue Mountains. They proposed that this pattern of decline suggests a climate change effect. They noted that the Gang-gang is adapted to cooler conditions and has always been more common at higher elevations and more southern latitudes. They hypothesized that as the climate warms up, Gang-gang Cockatoos can be expected to decline at lower elevations in the northern parts of their distribution.
A result of our citizen science study suggests that Gangs-gangs in at least part of the northern lower elevation range may be able to avoid the higher summer temperatures by breeding earlier than more elevated or southern birds. This is a hopeful finding, that will need further investigation.
Probable nests are also being watched in Tumbarumba, on the outskirts of Melbourne and in western Victoria – none of which appear yet to have produced fledglings.
What are Gang-gangs eating?
I recently did an analysis of the 1800 feeding records I have so far received for Birdlife Australia as part of their preparation of a program to encourage residents and schools to plant Gang-gang friendly plants in their gardens and grounds. About 50% of the records have come from Canberra Nature Map or the earlier Canberra Ornithological Group study. Thank you to all that have contributed - please keep those records coming. The 1800 sightings included 181 food items and recorded 7230 feeding events. (The number of Gang-gangs recorded by a sighting, multiplied by the number of days over which the feeding occurred.).
About 30% of the feeding is on exotic plants.
Gang-gangs seem to feed from five main food groups. The current data provides the following information
1. Eucalyptus and other Myrtaceae buds, fruit and flowers (56 Eucalypts, 2 Angophora, 5 corymbia, 1 leptospermum and 2 Melaleucas) - 44% of sightings, 50% of events
The top ten species are
Eucalyptus globulus asp bicostata | ||||||||||||||
Eucalyptus globulus spp maidenii | ||||||||||||||
Eucalyptus bridgesiana | ||||||||||||||
Eucalyptus macrorhyncha | ||||||||||||||
Eucalyptus viminalis | ||||||||||||||
Eucalyptus globulus sip globulus | ||||||||||||||
Eucalyptus pauciflora | ||||||||||||||
Eucalyptus sieberi | ||||||||||||||
Eucalyptus mannifera | ||||||||||||||
Corymbia gummifera | ||||||||||||||
Eucalyptus sideroxylon
2. Wattles (35 species recorded) 9% of sightings or 5% of events the top 3 are all bipinnate species
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Thanks again for being part of this research. there is so much more that we are unearthing -so please keep up your magnificent contributions
Callocephalon fimbriatum is listed in the following regions:
Canberra & Southern Tablelands | Southern Highlands | Albury, Wodonga | South Coast | Greater Sydney | Central West NSW | Riverina Murray | Hume | Gippsland | Barwon South West | Grampians | Kangaroo Island
Species information
- Callocephalon fimbriatum Scientific name
- Gang-gang Cockatoo Common name
- Sensitive
- Endangered *
- Non-invasive or negligible
- 4714 images trained Machine learning
- External link More information
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Maps
"Rivendell" Mimosa Park Road Ainslie volcanic grassland Albury Albury Botanic Gardens Alpine National Park Alpine Shire ANBG ANBG South Annex ANU Banks Precinct ANU Daley Precinct ANU Dickson Precinct ANU Ellery Precinct ANU Garran Precinct ANU Liversidge Precinct Aranda Bushland Australian National University Badja State Forest Bago State Forest Bango Nature Reserve Banksia Street Wetland Corridor Bargo River State Conservation Area Barren Grounds Nature Reserve Batemans Marine Park Bees Nest Nature Reserve Ben Boyd National Park Bicentennial Park Bimberamala National Park Bimberi Nature Reserve Birrigai Black Andrew Nature Reserve Black Flat at Corrowong Black Mountain Block 402 Blue Mountains National Park Bodalla State Forest Bogandyera Nature Reserve Bomaderry Creek Regional Park Bondi Gulf Nature Reserve Bondi State Forest Bondi State Forest Bondo State Forest Booderee National Park Boro Bournda Environment Education Centre Bournda National Park Bournda Nature Reserve Bowral Boyne State Forest Brindabella National Park Broulee Moruya Nature Observation Area Bruce Ridge Bruce Ridge to Gossan Hill Budawang National Park Budderoo National Park Bugong National Park Bullen Range Bundanoon Bungongo State Forest Bungonia Crown Reserve Bungonia National Park Bungonia State Conservation Area Burnt School Nature Reserve Burradoo Burrinjuck Nature Reserve Caladenia Forest, O'Connor Callum Brae Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve Campbell Park Woodland Canberra City Farm Canyonleigh Cathcart State Forest Central Molonglo Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park City Renewal Authority Area Clarkes Hill Nature Reserve Clyde Cameron Reserve Colo Vale Commonwealth & Kings Parks Conjola Bushcare Conjola Lake Walking Track Coolangubra State Forest Cooleman Ridge Coolumbooka Nature Reserve Coornartha Nature Reserve Corroboree Park Corry's Wood Cotter Reserve Courabyra Nature Reserve Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve Currowan State Forest Dampier State Forest Dangelong Nature Reserve Deua National Park Deua National Park (CNM area) Dickson Wetland Dickson Wetland Corridor Dryandra St Woodland East Boyd State Forest Ellerslie Nature Reserve Emu Creek Eurobodalla National Park Ewart Brothers Reserve Exeter Farrer Ridge Federal Golf Course Felltimber Creek NCR Fitzroy Falls Flea Bog Flat to Emu Creek Corridor Flea Bog Flat, Bruce Four Winds Fowles St. Woodland, Weston Fyshwick Sewerage Treatment Plant Gibraltar Pines Gigerline Nature Reserve Ginninderry Conservation Corridor Giralang Wetlands Glenbog State Forest Glenbog State Forest Googong Foreshore Goorooyarroo NR (ACT) Goorooyarroo NR (NSW) Gossan Hill Goulburn Mulwaree Council Goulburn Wetlands Gourock National Park Griffith Woodland Gulaga National Park Gungaderra Grasslands Haig Park High Range Hill Top Holtze Close Neighbourhood Park Hughes Garran Woodland Hughes Grassy Woodland Huon Hill West Illilanga & Baroona Ingebirah State Forest Isaacs Ridge Isaacs Ridge and Nearby Jack Perry Reserve Jellore State Forest Jerrabomberra Creek Jerrabomberra Grassland Jerrabomberra Wetlands Jerrawangala National Park Jervis Bay National Park Joadja Kama Katoomba Park, Campbell Kerrawary Nature Reserve Keverstone National Park Keverstone State Conservation Area Kosciuszko National Park Kowen Woodland Kremur Street Boat Ramp Kybeyan State Conservation Area Lake Burley Griffin Central/East Lake Burley Griffin West Lake Curalo Lake Ginninderra Lions Youth Haven - Westwood Farm A.C.T. Lower Cotter Catchment Lower Molonglo Lyneham Ridge Lyneham Wetland Macanally State Conservation Area Majors Creek State Conservation Area Majura Primary School, Watson Mannus State Forest Maragle State Forest Mares Forest National Park Mcleods Creek Res (Gundaroo) McQuoids Hill Melrose Merriangaah Nature Reserve Micalong Gorge Micalong State Forest Mimosa Rocks National Park Minjary National Park Mittagong Mogo State Forest Molonglo Gorge Molonglo River Reserve Monga National Park Monga National Park Mongarlowe River Monument Hill and Roper Street Corridor Morton National Park Morton National Park Morton National Park (CNM portion) Mount Ainslie Mount Ainslie to Black Mountain Mount Jerrabomberra Mount Jerrabomberra QP Mount Majura Mount Mugga Mugga Mount Painter Mount Pleasant Mount Taylor Mt Holland Mudjarn Nature Reserve Mulgen Creek Walking Track Mumbulla State Forest Mundaroo State Forest Mundoonen Nature Reserve Murramarang National Park Nadgee Nature Reserve Nadgee State Forest Nadgigomar Nature Reserve Nail Can Hill Nalbaugh State Forest Namadgi National Park Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve National Arboretum Forests National Zoo and Aquarium Nattai National Park Norris Hill North Brooman State Forest Nullica State Forest Nunnock Grassland Walking Track O'Connor Ridge to Gungahlin Grasslands Oakdale Nature Reserve Oakey Hill Old Tuggeranong TSR Padman/Mates Park Panboola Penrose Penrose State Forest Percival Hill Pine Island to Point Hut Piney Ridge Point Hut to Tharwa Pomaderris Nature Reserve Radford College Razorback Nature Reserve Red Hill Nature Reserve Red Hill State Forest Red Hill to Yarralumla Creek Rob Roy Range Robertson Rugosa Scabby Range Nature Reserve Scrivener Hill Sherwood Forest South Brooman State Forest South East Forest National Park South East Forest National Park Stirling Park Stony Creek Stony Creek Nature Reserve Strike-a-Light TSR StrikeaLight Nature Reserve Sullivans Creek, Acton Sullivans Creek, Lyneham North Sullivans Creek, Lyneham South Sullivans Creek, O'Connor Sullivans Creek, Turner Sweeney's TSR Tallaganda National Park Tallaganda State Forest Tantawangalo State Forest Tarlo River National Park The Fair, Watson The Pinnacle Thirlmere Lakes National Park Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Timbillica State Forest Tinderry Mountains Tinderry Nature Reserve Towamba State Forest Tuggeranong Hill Tuggeranong Pines Tumut State Forest Turallo Nature Reserve Ulladulla - Millards Creek Umbagong District Park University of Canberra Urambi Hills Uriarra Recreation Reserve VC00130 VC00290 Wadbilliga National Park Wadbilliga National Park Wairo Beach and Dolphin Point Wandera State Forest Wandera State Forest Wandiyali-Environa Conservation Area Wanniassa Hill Ward Morrison Park Watson Green Space Watson Woodlands Wee Jasper Nature Reserve WendyM's farm at Freshwater Ck. Wereboldera State Conservation Area West Stromlo Wiarborough Nature Reserve Wingecarribee Local Government Area Wingello Wodonga Wollondilly Local Government Area Wombeyan Caves Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve Wonga Wetlands Woodlands Woodstock Nature Reserve Woomargama National Park WREN Reserves Wright Park and Old Sydney Road Reserve Yambulla State Forest Yanununbeyan National Park Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area Yarramundi Grassland Yerriyong State Forest Yurammie State Forest -
Survey points
GG01 GG02 GG03 GG04 GG05 GG06 GG07 GG08 GG09 GG10 GG100 GG101 GG102 GG103 GG104 GG105 GG106 GG107 GG11 GG12 GG12 GG128 GG13 GG14 GG15 GG16 GG17 GG18 GG183 GG19 GG20 GG21 GG22 GG23 GG24 GG25 GG26 GG28 GG292 GG30 GG31 GG32 GG33 GG34 GG35 GG36 GG37 GG38 GG39 GG40 GG401 GG401 GG41 GG42 GG43 GG44 GG45 GG46 GG47 GG48 GG49 GG50 GG51 GG52 GG53 GG54 GG55 GG56 GG57 GG58 GG59 GG60 GG61 GG62 GG63 GG64 GG65 GG66 GG67 GG68 GG69 GG70 GG71 GG72 GG73 GG74 GG75 GG76 GG77 GG78 GG79 GG80 GG81 GG82 GG83 GG84 GG85 GG86 GG87 GG88 GG89 GG90 GG91 GG92 GG93 GG94 GG95 GG96 GG97 GG98 GG99 Point 103 Point 4338 Point 49 Point 5804 Point 5811 Point 5827 Point 63 Point 73 Point 751 Point 99 Tathra Public School -
Places
Acton, ACT Ainslie, ACT Aranda, ACT Booth, ACT Brindabella, NSW Broulee, NSW Bruce, ACT Bullocks Flat, NSW Bungendore, NSW Burra, NSW Campbell, ACT Clear Range, NSW Conder, ACT Cook, ACT Corrowong, NSW Crace, ACT Deakin, ACT Dickson, ACT Farrer, ACT Forrest, ACT Garran, ACT Gingkin, NSW Giralang, ACT Greenleigh, NSW Griffith, ACT Gundaroo, NSW Hackett, ACT Hall, ACT Hawker, ACT High Range, NSW Holbrook, NSW Hughes, ACT Jerangle, NSW Joadja, NSW Kambah, ACT Kangaroo Valley, NSW Latham, ACT Lerderderg, VIC Lyneham, ACT Lyons, ACT Majors Creek, NSW Mawson, ACT Michelago, NSW Mongarlowe, NSW Moruya, NSW Mount Werong, NSW Narrabundah, ACT O'Connor, ACT O'Malley, ACT Parkes, ACT Penrose, NSW Phillip, ACT Red Hill, ACT Reid, ACT Symonston, ACT Tharwa, ACT Undefined Uriarra Village, ACT Watson, ACT Wee Jasper, NSW Weston, ACT Woomargama, NSW Yarralumla, ACT
