Drivers urged to slow down on South Coast Highway to avoid hitting Carnaby’s black cockatoo

Motorists are being urged to slow down when they see Carnaby’s black cockatoos feeding on South Coast Highway to avoid hitting them.

The Carnaby’s black cockatoos are endemic to the South West of Australia and can be spotted feeding on spilled grain from trucks alongside the major highway near the Cheynes Beach Road intersection.

Albany Bird Group convenor Anne Bondin called for road users to be mindful of the bird while travelling.

She said there had been recent reports of several birds being hit by cars on the highway.

“They feed along the side of the road and sometimes they get run over,” she said.

“They are feeding on the grain that spills off the truck — parrots and cockatoos like feeding on grains.

“We are quite concerned as this has happened a few times.”

Ms Bondin said Carnaby’s black cockatoos were an endangered species and needed protection.

“Their numbers have collapsed over the last few decades and we think the reason is because there aren’t enough tree hollows for them to breed in,” she said.

“This is causing the population to fall, which is the same for the other species of cockatoos.”

Ms Bonin said there was a sign on the side of the road warning road users to look out for the birds.

“If people see the cockatoos on the side of the road, it would be great if they could slow down to hopefully avoid a collision,” she said.

“We share the roads with other road users and also wildlife who are out and about and they don’t have much road sense.

“If people could slow down just a little bit when they see the birds, that would be tremendous.”