On a Wing and a Prayer - ABC Commercial

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52 minutesSea Dog TV International Pty. LtdProducers:Jodie and Leighton De BarrosDirectors:Leighton De Barros & Samantha SmithWriters:Leighton De Barros & Samantha SmithCinematographer:Leighton De BarrosNarrator:William McInnesAcknowledgementDr Denis Saunders of CSIRO has been studying Carnaby’scockatoos from 1968 to 2011. The producers of On A Wingand a Prayer would like to acknowledge and thank him forhis contribution of this knowledge and information to thefilm and this study guide. The producers would also like tothank the Department of Environment and Conservation’sRick Dawson, David Mell and Zoran Jovanovic fortheir contribution to the film and this study guide.Curriculum relevance:Environmental Studies/Science – endangeredspecies management and recovery.Science/Biology – breeding and habitatrequirements, human impact.Humanities – Social Science (social conflict). Geography.Media Studies – Wildlife documentary.Age appropriate: mid-primary to secondary.Executive producer:Dione GilmourSCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 20112
IntroductionThe loss of any species is a tragedy, but when thatspecies is as fascinating and engaging as a cockatoo,the pain seems worse. We have a special love ofbirds and still feel the pain of losing the Dodo! Someof Australia’s five species of black cockatoo are introuble, but Carnaby’s cockatoo, endemic to the southwestof Western Australia is under particular pressurefrom human activities. This documentary examinesthe desperate situation of this remarkable animal.Like any cockatoo, Carnaby’s cockatoo has somethinguniquely Australian about it. Rowdy, raucous, intelligentand fun-loving, its haunting call has been part of theWestern Australian landscape for the whole of humanexistence. Once, thousands of these birds darkenedthe sky as they foraged in their non-breeding areas.The timing of their movements from the non-breedingareas to the breeding areas in winter has led to thembeing regarded as harbingers of rain, or ‘rain birds’.Now they are sadly reduced to a fraction of their originalnumbers. Total numbers have halved in the last fortyyears. Because they are such a long-lived species,living for 25–50 years, it is thought that many of themcould now be elderly with few young birds in thepopulation. At present, there may be few young Carnaby’scockatoo being recruited to the breeding population.This documentary focuses on one family of Carnaby’scockatoo, a life-bonded pair whose ability to breedsuccessfully is important for the species. Each season,an experienced pair usually lays two eggs and mostcommonly raises one nestling, although they canoccasionally raise two. The birds are assisted bymany people, including scientists, farmers, membersof Landcare groups, non-government conservationorganisations and government agencies. Rick Dawson,a senior wildlife officer of the Department of Environmentand Conservation, is such a person. Rick has beenmonitoring nesting progress, protecting nests frompoachers, investigating and prosecuting people whoillegally kill protected fauna, and banding, micro-chippingand sampling DNA of nestling birds and assessingthe health of Carnaby’s cockatoo populations.Through this documentary, we get a fascinating glimpseof the life of this remarkable species and some of thepeople entrusted with its protection. Carnaby’s cockatoois an ideal species for classroom study as it has hugestudent appeal, specific dietary and breeding requirementsand is listed as endangered by the Western AustralianGovernment, the Federal Government and internationally.Consequently it is important to examine, assess and learnmore about this signature species. The threats to wildCarnaby’s cockatoo are many. Some are still illegally shotby orchardists, trying to protect their crops. Others meettheir fate on the roads or are poached by thieves supplyingthe aviary trade; black cockatoos are keenly sought byoverseas bird keepers. But the biggest challenge they faceis the result of the loss and fragmentation of their habitat.Their breeding range is the highly productive Wheatbelt andmuch of their feeding shrub lands and breeding trees havebeen cleared to grow crops. Areas outside their breedingareas have also been cleared for development, reducingnative food resources so the birds have to depend on theseeds of introduced plants in their non-breeding areas.SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 20113
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