How to participate in the Great Cocky Count

Register for the Great Cocky Count 

NOTE: Registrations close on the 16th March

• Visit the Identifying Southwest Black-Cockatoos section on our Great Cocky Count resources page.
• Read the Identifying Southwest Black-Cockatoos brochure

• Watch the latest workshop webinar recording.

• Check out our tips on the best way to count black-cockatoos and get the most out of your night.

• You should receive your roost allocation email sometime between the 17th – 31st March.
• Familiarise yourself with your site location and look up the best route to get there and how long it will take.
• Read through all the details in the allocation email thoroughly – if you have any questions check out our FAQs page. If you still have questions contact greatcockycount@birdlife.org.au.
• Contact other counters cc’d into your allocation email to arrange a time and place to meet on the night.

• If you have time, visit your allocated roost site in the week leading up to the count for a practice count.
• This allows you to familiarise yourself with the site and the time it will take to get there, identify the trees the cockatoos are likely to use and pick out a good vantage point for observing them as they fly in.

Print out the 2025 GCC survey form attached to your allocation email.

OR

Download the Birdata app from the App Store (iPhone) or Play Store (Android).

• Set up an account by following the instructions here.
• Follow our step-by-step guide on how to complete a Great Cocky Count survey using Birdata.

What you will need depends on your location and whether you are counting in a regional area in the bush versus a suburban park.

We recommend considering for your safety:

• Mobile phone (if going to a remote area, an EPIRB, Spot Device or satellite phone is recommended).
• Power bank (i.e., battery pack) and charging cables.
• Map/GPS device for navigation (printed and/or on mobile device).
• Water and snacks (including extra in the case of an emergency).
• Sunscreen (at least SPF 30+) and insect repellent (at least 30% DEET).
• First aid kit (including snake bandages).
• Appropriate outdoor clothing (e.g., long-sleeves, long pants, hat) and footwear (e.g., enclosed shoes).
• Torch – it will be close to dark when it is time to leave.

Items for collecting data:

• Printed survey form with clipboard and pens/pencils OR mobile phone/table with the Birdata app installed.
• Binoculars are very useful for identifying birds and are recommended if you have them, but not essential.
• Camera (optional)
• Time-keeping device and compass (eg watch, phone etc.)

• Do not bring drones, or dogs and other pets. Bringing these may disturb the birds and compromise your data collection.

   If you cannot access your survey site or it seems unsafe, see ‘Safety first’ below.

Western Australia

• Weather warnings
• Planned burns
• Park alerts

• Check the relevant government websites for weather warnings, planned burns, bushfire warnings or park closures. If there is a severe weather warning covering your allocated roost site, please let us know and stay at home rather than attend your site (see ‘8. Check for any weather warnings, bushfire warnings, planned burns, or park closures that may affect your survey site’ above).
• Ensure you have all the items you need for your safety and for data collection (see ‘6. Pack for the count’ above).
• Let a friend or family member know where you are going and when you plan to return.

Please note the following safety advice for undertaking a Great Cocky Count survey:

• We wish to remind you that you are responsible for your own safety while taking part in the Great Cocky Count.
• We recommend wearing enclosed shoes or walking boots, protective clothing (from biting insects, weather etc.) and be prepared for adverse conditions.
• Carry sufficient water.
• Participants should only perform activities that are within their experience and ability and disclose any medical conditions that may be adversely affected while undertaking the activity. This way more accessible roost sites can be allocated where necessary.
• Beware of traffic and avoid working under tree canopies where you are at risk of falling branches or pinecones.
• Beware of trip hazards, especially as you will be walking back to your vehicle in low light.
• We recommend surveying in groups of at least two people to maximise safety and improve the reliability of the survey results.
• Do not enter or cross private property unless you have permission to do so.
• If for some reason you cannot access your survey site or it seems unsafe, do not enter or proceed and let us know via email as soon as possible.
• The full Great Cocky Count risk assessment is available here.

Arrive at your allocated roost site at least 45 minutes before sunset so you are ready to record birds as they arrive. Familiarise yourself with your site and locate a good vantage point. Start counting from 5.20pm (or when the cockies start to arrive).

*Please note: The times given on this page are for the Perth region where sunset is at 6:06pm on April 6. If you are counting further east e.g. towards Hopetoun or Esperance, you will need to adjust your timing accordingly as sunset will be earlier. Several other sites, such as the Mega Roost north of Perth may require an earlier start, however this will be specified in your allocation emails and instructions.

Remain at your site and count all Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos and White-tailed Black-Cockatoos that come in to roost at your site until at least 30 minutes after sunset (i.e. count until 6.40 – 6.55pm).

*Note that sometimes cockies arrive late, and you may need to stay until after 6:55pm, until you are sure no more cockies are coming in.

Record your data on a printed GCC survey form or in the Birdata app (following our step-by-step guide on submitting your survey through Birdata).

• Count flying cockatoos as they approach and land at the roost site. It is more difficult to count cockatoos that are already in the trees and obscured by branches and foliage.
• Count cockatoos by
  • Drawing an imaginary line across the sky and count the number of cockatoos as they cross the line. Roads or powerlines work well.
  • For large flocks, working out how big a group of 10 cockatoos is and use this to decide the size of the whole flock, e.g. if the group of 10 cockatoos fits into the flock four times, there are 40 cockatoos in the flock. This is called block counting.
  • Taking photos or footage and counting the black-cockatoos by viewing the images or videos afterwards.
• When possible, record the count of cockatoos in each group as they cross the count line and land in the tree (e.g. 4, 1, 3, 10 3, 2, 6, 1, 3). This helps us to estimate breeding success rates.
• Do not count cockatoos that are only flying past and not landing at your roost site – these birds may be going to another person’s survey site. Likewise subtract any birds that land but subsequently leave your site. Please still make note of these in the comments section, as well as the time and direction in which they departed
• Your roost site consists of the area (buffer zone) around your given GPS location. Take note of the buffer zone for your roost in the site information section of your allocation email. If you hear birds within this distance but can’t see them, please move around and try and find them.
• You do not need to distinguish between Baudin’s and Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos unless you are certain of the difference.
• If you don’t see any cockatoos, don’t despair – it is just as important to record that no cockatoos were present at that roost site. Records of presence and absence help us determine patterns of roost occupancy across the survey area.

See our Instructions and Tips for Counting Black-Cockatoos resource for more information!

Please submit your data to us ASAP.

• If you completed the survey using the Great Cocky Count Survey Form please either
  • Scan it and email it to greatcockycount@birdlife.org.au
  • Input the data into the editable PDF version, save your changes and email it to greatcockycount@birdlife.org.au
  • Send it via post to Merryn Pryor, BirdLife Australia, Peregrine House, 167 Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat WA 6014
• If you completed the survey using Birdata please submit the survey and send a curtesy email to greatcockycount@birdlife.org.au to let us know.

If you didn’t see any black-cockatoos on the night, please still submit your survey. “Zero” counts are just as important and valuable as positive counts!