Hills Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo Project

11/09/2026

Hollow designs we are experimenting with for this project are based on in the work from our friends Carnaby’s Crusaders

Open top hollows can be preferred by large Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos.

Competition from their smaller and aggressive cousins the sulphur crested white cockatoos should be reduced as they preference closed more secluded nesting hollows.

We have installed 9 artificial nesting hollows and trialling 3 designs:

🗂️ 375mm x3 black tubes with no lids

🗂️ 450mm x3 black tube with no lids

🗂️ 400x400mm form ply boxes - 2 with lids and 1 without

📘 All hollows are 1.2m deep to protects the fledglings and eggs from predators.

☁️ Located 10m off the ground, that’s where they love to breed

📗 All 9 hollows have an access ladder, a bucket of red gum wood chips and a “sacrificial post”.

🪶The wooden post is added in for mumma bird to chew on during the long weeks of egg sitting whilst the eggs incubate

📷 Cameras are located at each site, these will monitor all activity over the entire breeding season - the exciting part 😃😃

🪾Tall strong trees were chosen to host the artificial hollows. They are within 50m of known yellow-tailed black cockatoos breeding hollows from recent years.

🪾The huge hollows the yellow-tails breed in are formed in the Eucalyptus dalrympleana found in Norton Summit in the Colonial Dr and Moores Road.

With a wing span of 1.2m these beautiful birds need a large and safe place to nest and breed.

Many old hollowed trees are gone and one of the best ways we can support the breeding flock is to supply fresh hollows.

We are not sure if they will be chosen this breeding season, in a few weeks we’ll know!

We love your questions and support.
Share, like and comment so more people can enjoy our work.

✨🪶💛🖤🪶✨🪶💛🖤🪶✨
As always, we are grateful to the grant from Landscape Hills and Fleurieu’s Grassroots Grants Program funded by the landscape levy.
Also to Hills Environment Centre for ongoing support. Hills Environment Centre

10/09/2026

Thank you Dean of Carnaby’s Crusaders this project was only possible because of your generosity and knowledge.

What a week it was!
We’ll share more pics and updates soon. Just having a little rest this weekend and then we’ll be out there checking in the hollows via the awesome cameras!

09/09/2026

Wow! 🪶💛🖤

Full house at the Hills Environment Centre, Norton Summit, last night for the Help Protect the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos information session.

Thank you to our incredible panel Uncle Ivan, Jess Bamford Hills Environment Centre James Smith James Smith Jason van Weenen Green Adelaide Dean Arthurell Dean Arthurell and so many many enthusiastic locals and landholders!!

I’m a little fatigued after this activation week, we now have the artificial hollows installed, cameras in place and a community that is behind us! What else do we need 🪶💛🖤

07/09/2026

Today we walked among the gum trees, huge old trees that have hollows galore.

The task was to select the sites for artificial hollow placements. First we located existing active nesting hollows, ones where it can be confirmed they hosted breeding Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos. Then a suitable host tree adjacent in the vicinity - ideally within 50m. Then our huge artificials were dropped at the base of the chosen trees. Tomorrow they will be hoisted up high - very high and secured.

We have 2 experienced installers Dean Dean Arthurell and James James Smith. Tomorrow landholders and volunteers will witness the installations.

05/09/2026

It’s been months of planning and here we are at Day 1!!

Dean Arthurell Carnaby’s Crusaders has arrived safely from WA. Artificial hollows stacked in the back of his truck.

Hills Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo Project becomes a reality this week.

🪶💛🖤✨ Did I tell you we are excited…

Artificial hollows in a few different designs will be installed high in the mountain gums. Across a known breeding zone.

Eucalyptus dalrympleana, commonly known as the mountain gum or mountain white gum, is a tall, fast-growing tree native to the cool-temperate and mountainous regions.

Our YTBC birds love this tree as they grow large and high creating wonderful deep wide natural hollows.

When old growth is cleared, or the trees fall over (literally so many on Colonial drive after the recent wet) we can support the breeding season with tempting structures that have similar features to a natural hollow.

How can you help?

🪶💛 Join with me in welcoming Dean who has generously given his time to support our project!

🪶💛 Follow us here, comment, ask questions, and share our page with others.

🪶💛 We’ll share ways you can help support our Yellow-tailed black cockatoo in coming weeks.

Thanks for being here🙏

01/09/2026

This evening I looked across our valley towards the known cluster of nesting sites.

In recent years the YTBC population has been in rapid decline because of native habitat clearance, with a loss of food supply and nest sites.

It’s incredible to think that this time NEXT weekend the Hills Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo Project will have leapt into action.

✨🪶9 artificial hollows will be installed in trees close to known nesting hollows

✨🪶9 cameras will be located to observe activity across the breeding season

✨🪶Project experts working together, drawing local and interstate knowledge in the first Adelaide Hills trial of artificial hollows.

✨🪶I’ll be grinning with delight as the project dream starts to become a reality

✨🪶Our community information session is fully booked! If you wanted to come you’ll need to wait for any cancellations 🫢

✨🪶Dean from WA Carnaby’s Crusaders will set us up for this exciting experiment to see what artificial hollows our black cockatoos will choose for nesting.

✨🪶We are here to answer questions 👏👏 what do you want to know more about in regards to Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos?

✨🪶✨🪶✨ This project is supported by Landscape Hills and Fleurieu’s Grassroots Grants Program and is funded by the landscape levy. Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu And Hills Environment Centre

Thanks so much to everyone who has so far stepped in to support us ✨🪶✨
X Jane Macnaught

14/08/2026

I’m honoured to be hosting a community eco grief group in a few weeks. I’ll share the link in comments below.

It’s online and low cost, if you have any questions please contact me 🙏

Jane Macnaught

Hosted by Hills Environment Centre - HEC

“Grief is an understandable response to witnessing harm to places and species that matter to us. We might experience environmental loss directly, particularly when we live or work in threatened places. At other times, we encounter it through news and social media, or against the wider backdrop of future threats such as climate change. Because ecological loss is ongoing, cumulative, and sometimes ambiguous, we need to practise support, connection and care in ways that we can sustain over time.

Yet our feelings in response to loss are often hard to talk about, especially when they are minimised or dismissed by others. Our society is not very good at “doing grief”. Death is difficult to understand, and can feel like something to be avoided at all costs.”

Read full article:

Many Australians are feeling deep sadness about the arrival of H5N1 bird flu to the country and the impending loss of our wildlife. Here's some advice on how to cope, and where you can find support.

11/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BuV6u9e1e/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Australia Feels Powerless Against Bird Flu – but We Can Still Make a Difference. Australia’s birds and mammals are already facing enormous challenges from massive habitat loss, pollution, climate change, predators and invasive species. Bird flu adds another serious threat, making it more important than ever that we all do our part to help.

With the threat of bird flu looming, many Australians feel helpless. While governments and scientists lead the response, every one of us can play a role in protecting our precious wildlife.

• 🚫 Keep your distance from wildlife. Avoid disturbing birds, especially in breeding areas.
• 🥾 Clean your footwear, equipment and vehicles after visiting wetlands, beaches or bird habitats to help prevent the spread of disease.
• 🐔 Keep backyard poultry secure and separate from wild birds where possible.
• 🐈 Keep cats inside - safely contain cats indoors or in a secure outdoor enclosure to limit their contact with wild birds. This is good practice year-round, not only during periods of increased bird flu risk.
• 🦮 Keep dogs on leads in sensitive wildlife areas and prevent pets from approaching birds, especially when sick or dead animals.
• 🌿 Protect and restore habitat. Personally, plant lots of bushes with flowers or fruit in your garden, or grasses with seeds and trees. Healthy ecosystems help wildlife better withstand disease and other environmental pressures.
• Minimise noise and other disturbance near bird habitat areas.
• 💚 Support wildlife rescue organisations by volunteering, donating or sharing their educational messages.
• 📢 Report unusual wildlife deaths. Early reporting can help authorities detect and respond to outbreaks more quickly. Contact local wildlife rescue if you see a bird sick on the ground. Bird Rescue South Australia
Wildlife Welfare Org SA Inc Minton Farm Animal Rescue Centre
• 🏞️ Protect wetlands and natural habitats. Healthy, undisturbed ecosystems reduce stress on wildlife and support stronger populations.
• 🚤 Practise biosecurity when travelling. Clean boats, kayaks, fishing gear and camping equipment after visiting waterways and wetlands.
• 🧑‍🔬 Support scientific research into bird flu surveillance, and wildlife disease monitoring.
• 📱 Stay informed. Follow updates from state biosecurity agencies and wildlife organisations so you know if outbreaks occur in your area.
• 🌱 Plant lots of native trees and shrubs to provide natural food and shelter, helping wildlife stay healthy and resilient. Provide multiple bird bathing dishes in your garden, at different heights and locations, so that different flocks and species of birds will tend to go to different dishes. Empty and refill them each day over the warmer months, clean thoroughly every couple days.
bird habitat areas.
• 💰 Support wildlife hospitals and carers, who may face a significant increase in rescued animals if outbreaks occur.
• 🌍 Reduce other pressures on wildlife. Protecting habitat, reducing pollution, controlling invasive predators such as foxes and feral cats, and limiting unnecessary tree clearing all help birds and mammals cope with disease outbreaks.

One of the most important things Australians can do is report unusual deaths of wild birds. Early detection gives authorities the best chance of containing an outbreak before it spreads widely.

Australia has some of the world’s most unique wildlife. While we can’t eliminate every risk, a combination of strong biosecurity, healthy habitats, scientific monitoring and public awareness gives our birds and mammals the best possible chance of remaining safe.

We may not be able to stop bird flu on our own, but together we can help protect Australia’s incredible wildlife for future generations. Every action, no matter how small, can make a difference. 🦜🦘💚

31/07/2026

🪶These hand-painted buttons are too lovely not to share…

Thanks Mel Holtz 😘😘

How common is this experience?

You decide on a path. A spark of interest grows into a passion. (Or, in my case… an obsession! 🤩)

✨Then something curious happens.

It’s as if the world starts reflecting that passion back to you. You see it everywhere. Black Cockatoo ideas are appearing at every turn.

Like when you a particular brand of car and suddenly the roads are full of them. Become pregnant and it feels like everyone else is expecting too.

🪶✨That’s how it’s been with my Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo project.

Since beginning this journey, these beautiful birds seem to keep finding me. My husband gifted me a brooch pin featuring a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo. Mel with her hand-painted buttons arriving in the mail. I notice them in artworks, photographs, conversations and unexpected places.

🪶✨And in the sky - they are still here - thank you to everyone that is reporting the flock of 14 flying through the Montacute valley.

I’m starting to think the cockatoos are gently reminding me to keep going.

Thanks for your support, I’ll share more details on the project here, and if you want to come along to the info session please book via the link in bio!

Jane Macnaught

29/07/2026

Excellent update on the impact of revegetation - the birds come back!

Read about the research and his recent bird count! Revegetation helping ReBird the Ranges.

Follow along to gain understanding of the contribution of revegetation to woodland bird recovery.