NESTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE YELLOW-TAILED BLACK-COCKATOO, CALYPTORHYNCHUS-FUNEREUS, IN EUCALYPTUS-REGNANS FOREST, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT

The nesting requirements of the yellow-tailed black-cockatoo, Calyplor hynchus funereus, were studied in the Strzelecki Ranges, South Gippsla nd, Victoria; Nest trees were located and their characteristics relate d to forest stand variables. Trees were watched at 68 sites in four ag e-classes of forest; 18 nest hollows were found. Nest trees had a mean diameter at breast height of 25 m, a mean estimated age of 221 years, a mean height of 58 m and for live nest trees a mean crown diameter o f 22 m. The currently proposed rotation time for silvicultural systems of 80-150 years will reduce the number of hollow-bearing trees suitab le for nesting yellow-tailed black-cockatoos. Adequate numbers of tree s must be retained in logged areas and wildlife corridors and reserves , and protected to ensure a continual supply for yellow-tailed black-c ockatoos and other hollow-dependent species. If agonistic behaviour is operating between female yellow-tailed black-cockatoos, nesting poten tial may be enhanced if trees retained on coupes are evenly distribute d rather than clumped. Silvicultural systems that facilitate the prote ction of trees retained on coupes would benefit the conservation of th e yellow-tailed black-cockatoo.