Have you noticed different bird species appearing in seasons that are different to your childhood memories?
Sydneysiders will have noticed the yellow-tailed black cockatoo in greater numbers in summer. In the Sydney region, they have traditionally been more visible during cooler months, but in recent years, their presence has been increasingly recorded during summer. This shift is believed to be connected to climate change, as altered rainfall patterns and heat stress affect the availability of food in their usual habitats.
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Zanda Funerea) is found along the south-eastern mainland of Australia and Tasmania. It is listed as of ‘Least Concern’ under the IUCN conservation status; however, their numbers are declining due to habitat loss and degradation. To Indigenous peoples the yellow-tailed black cockatoo carries deep cultural and environmental significance, and is known by various names, including Ngaoaraa by the Dharawal people. Found in diverse habitats including coastal, inland, and forest areas, the bird plays a crucial role in both Indigenous storytelling and in sustaining fragile ecological systems, particularly within the Critically Endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS).
Ecological Importance
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is known to follow rain, appearing in certain regions as food sources emerge with seasonal rainfall. The new sightings that are more prevalent in summer highlight the ways in which wildlife is adapting to rapid environmental changes and underscore the urgency of protecting ecosystems like the ESBS that support them.
Once widespread from North Head to Botany Bay, the ESBS has been reduced to just a small fraction of its original area—approximately three percent—due to urban sprawl, invasive species, altered fire patterns, and land clearing. This unique habitat, made up of low trees, shrubs, and grasses, such as old man banksia, lantern banksia, and sweet-scented wattle, supports a range of native animals, including the yellow-tailed black cockatoo. Feeding mainly on seeds from banksias and other native shrubs, these birds depend on the ESBS for food, contributing to seed dispersal and playing an important role in maintaining plant population health.
IndigiGrow, an Aboriginal social enterprise based on Bidjigal land at La Perouse, has taken a lead role in reviving the ESBS. Young Aboriginal apprentices at IndigiGrow are actively involved in protecting this endangered community by monitoring remnant scrub areas, applying best-practice bush regeneration techniques, and propagating plants from seeds and cuttings collected on Country. These efforts support not only ecological restoration but also the continuation of Indigenous land care practices.
Cultural Significance of the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
To many Indigenous Australians, the yellow-tailed black cockatoo is a spiritual figure and a symbol of change. Within Dreamtime stories, the cockatoo represents wisdom, protection, and guidance, appearing as a warning or as a helper in difficult times. The black and yellow colouring of the bird is seen as a representation of the interconnectedness of all life—of harmony between light and dark. For some communities, these birds are considered totems that embody resilience and the enduring relationship between people and nature.
One creation story from the Shoalhaven areas and passed down through generations tells of the bird’s transformation from the white cockatoo to the yellow-tailed black cockatoo. In this story, the bird called Yowie, was sent to investigate an ominous glow in the distance. When Yowie flew towards it, he was enveloped in smoke, which caused his feathers to turn black. Initially fearing rejection by the people, Yowie sought to wash the soot off. However, as he returned to the people, he discovered that his transformation had saved the community—his distinctive cry had brought rain, alleviating the heat and smoke. This story celebrates the cockatoo’s connection to the rain and its role in sustaining life, as it now brings rain wherever it travels across the land.
PlantingSeeds Projects
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo and the ESBS reminds us how deeply connected cultural and natural systems are. Their relationship highlights the importance of blending Indigenous ecological knowledge with modern conservation practices. Projects such as PlantingSeeds’ B&B Highway contribute to this effort by planting native vegetation and creating wildlife habitats—a holistic approach that supports biodiversity and honours First Nations ways of caring for Country.
Sources used in writing this article:
Australia Museum First Nations Storytelling
Article & Photo by Wendy Grenfell