• The endangered Carnaby's cockatoo, native to Western Australia, is among the world's longest-living birds, with a lifespan of up to 35 years.
• The oldest known bird, a male, was identified by a leg band fitted in 1986 and was still breeding at 35 years old.
• The species' survival depends on adults living out their long lifespans and continuing breeding due to their low reproduction rate.
• The state government's plans to continue logging the bird's most significant habitat could spell catastrophe for the species, highlighting the need for focused conservation efforts.

The Carnaby's cockatoo, an endangered bird species endemic to the southwest of Western Australia (WA), has been identified as one of the longest-living bird species globally. This discovery was made public in a research paper published in Pacific Conservation Biology. The study found that these unique birds could live up to 35 years in the wild, placing them in the top 2% of all wild birds worldwide in terms of longevity.

The Carnaby's cockatoo, a large black bird, has been officially recognized as an endangered species since 1999. The research team from the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions conducted an in-depth study on eight live wild birds, comprising five females and three males. The ages of these birds ranged from 21 to 35 years, further emphasizing the species' remarkable longevity.

The oldest bird, a male, was photographed by the researchers in 2021. The bird was identified by a leg band fitted in November 1986, marking the first sighting of the cockatoo since the breeding season in 1986. The bird had fledged from a nest hollow 5.7 kilometers from where it was photographed.

Longevity and Conservation Efforts

The estimated hatching date was September 24, 1986, making it 35 years old when photographed. This bird holds the record for being the oldest living Carnaby's cockatoo recorded in the wild. Interestingly, all eight birds studied were still breeding when they were photographed by the researchers. The 35-year-old bird had strayed the furthest from its natal site, while the remaining seven all remained within 2.5 kilometers.

This observation led the researchers to conclude that conservation efforts for the species should focus on older adults as well as juveniles. They emphasized the importance of adults living out their long lifespans and continuing breeding for the species' sustainable survival. Carnaby's cockatoos have a low rate of reproduction, with females typically laying only two eggs every year and fledging one hatchling. Juveniles also have low survival rates in the wild, characteristics shared by fellow long-living birds such as albatrosses and petrels.

Cultural Significance and Threats

The Carnaby's cockatoo, also known as Ngoolark, holds great cultural significance for the Noongar people, symbolizing rain carriers, spiritual messengers, and family totems. The decline of the species has caused great distress for some Noongar communities. Kingsley Dixon, a botanist and the former science director of Kings Park, expressed concern over the dire situation, stating, If we can't save the Carnaby, we can't save anything.

The state government's plans to continue logging the Gnangara pine plantations, the bird's most significant foraging and roosting habitat in the Perth-Peel region, could spell catastrophe for the species. Perth, viewed as a utopia through human eyes, is ironically the extinction center of the planet. The landscape in the south-west has been wiped out by 70%, and there's a continued carelessness still going on today.