Echo News - April 10, 2025
Guanhao Cheng
DOZENS of volunteers gathered in Hazelmere this week to build large artificial hollows for black cockatoos at a nest box workshop hosted by Trillion Trees.
More than 30 participants took part in constructing artificial hollows at the Hazelmere nursery, aiming to support endangered black cockatoos, which struggle to find natural nesting sites.
Trillion Trees ecological restoration manager Doug Laurie said artificial hollows were one way to support species affected by clearing.
“Every time a housing estate goes in, there’s a lot of old trees that get taken out,” he said.
“So this is one way we can simulate nature, because hollows take 150 to 200 years to form.
“And so to provide an artificial hollow in the short term while other trees grow is one way that we can sort of help those species that are in urgent need.”
The workshop was led by environmental scientist and ornithologist Simon Cherriman, who guided participants through the technical steps of constructing a functional and durable nest box.
“You’ve all been drilling drainage holes, putting in sacrificial chewing posts, lining the bases – these are tree-ready,” Mr Cherriman said during a wrap-up talk.
“All of this hard work is the start of the journey, not the end.”
Mr Cherriman said the artificial hollows, once installed high in trees, had already been used by a wide variety of wildlife.
“These boxes have been used by red-tailed black cockatoos, Carnaby’s black cockatoos, ducks, owls, possums and geckos,” he said.
He said one of the advantages of the box design was that it helped keep out pest species.
“If our feral bee population disappeared tomorrow, it would be one of the best things that could happen for hollow-dependent fauna in the southwest of WA,” he said.
Mr Cherriman encouraged residents in the Perth Hills and Avon Valley to stay involved by volunteering, spreading awareness or funding box installations.
“You might not see a cockatoo move in straight away – it might take time – but every box is a step toward helping these incredible birds survive,” he said.
