Cock-a-hoop over plant labels: Bird

Banksias, hakeas, marri, jarrah and red gums all tick the boxes when it comes to making a Carnaby’s black cockatoo-friendly garden, says Ngulla Community Nursery manager Peter Bird.

The passionate gardener is “over the moon” about a pilot labelling program, Choose for Black-Cockatoos, which promotes the planting of native Australian plants in gardens.

Nurseries across WA will sport the labels on 12 plant species in the hope gardeners will help grow back many of Australia’s native plant species Carnaby’s rely on for food and shelter. Birdlife Australia black cockatoo conservation officer Tamara Kabat said suburban gardens were vital to help cockatoos survive the increasing removal of natural bushlands.

“Each plant selected for the label is used differently by Carnaby’s — for flowers, seeds and grubs,” she said.

Mr Bird said he received the new labels about two weeks ago and encouraged gardeners to rethink their plant choices.

“It’s critical in Perth that we maintain habitat for these creatures, they’re under threat and I’d suggest in the next five years we probably won’t see them,” he said. “We are destroying not only their food but their ability to breed.”