The Great Glossy Count
The Glossy Black Conservancy is collaborating with Birdlife Australia who is hosting the third annual Great Glossy Count on the
7 & 8 September, 2024.
The South-eastern Glossy Black-Cockatoo is listed as Vulnerable under Australian legislation and is at risk of further population decline after losing large areas of feeding habitat during the Black Summer bushfires of 2019–20.
Glossy Black-Cockatoos (also known as ‘Glossies’) feed almost exclusively on seeds found in the cones of she-oak trees (Allocasuarina and Casuarina). Data about Glossies and their feeding habitats are vital for planning bushfire recovery and conservation action.
The Great Glossy Count 2024 is a citizen science event being held on the weekend of 7 and 8 September. It is run by BirdLife Australia in collaboration with the Glossy Black Conservancy and other organisations which work to conserve Glossies. The Count takes place across the distribution of the South-eastern Glossy Black-Cockatoo (south-eastern Queensland, eastern NSW, the ACT and eastern Victoria).
Volunteer citizen scientists will explore their selected survey site to collect data on Glossies and their feeding habitat. You can participate in the Count as part of a group or with a friend — it’s a great opportunity for people to enjoy time in nature while supporting the recovery of threatened birds.
Citizen scientists will have the opportunity to participate in workshops in the lead-up to this event and learn about Glossies, including:
- how to identify Glossies
- what Glossies eat, and how to recognise the she-oaks they feed on
- Glossy ecology and behaviour
- how to record data so it can be used to protect Glossies.
Data collected during the Count will support vital bushfire recovery and conservation work for Glossies by informing actions to manage their habitat.
Registrations for the Great Glossy Count are open! You can find out more about the Great Glossy Count and register here. Sightings of Glossy Black-Cockatoo can also be recorded anytime here.
For more information or specific questions, please email the Birdlife team.
Register as a volunteer citizen scientist
Volunteers can attend workshops and guided walks to learn about Glossy Black-Cockatoo identification, how to observe and record Glossies in the field and threats to the bird’s survival.
How to register using Birdata
How to record data using Birdata
Great Glossy Count 2024 workshops
Face-to-face workshops across SEQ & Northern NSW
Join Glossy Black Conservancy partners at these free workshops to brush up on your Glossy ID skills and learn everything you need to participate in the 2024 Great Glossy Count. Workshops will cover:
- Identification of Glossy Black-Cockatoos by sight and sound
- How to differentiate females, males and juveniles
- Glossy Black-Cockatoo ecology and behaviour
- Identifying and recording feed trees
- Age classing of orts/chewings
- Using the Birdata app to record sightings during the Great Glossy Count
- How to stay safe in the field
WORKSHOP DATES AND TIMES
Thursday 15 August | 10.30-12.00noon
Noosa region
Noosa Parks Association Environment Centre – Arthur Harrold Room, 5 Wallace Dr, Noosaville QLD 4566, Australia
Register: https://events.humanitix.com/2024-great-glossy-count-glossy-black-cockatoo-id-workshop-3p8eqaf2
Saturday 17 August | 9:30-11:30am
Logan region
Daisy Hill Koala Centre, 253 Daisy Hill Road Daisy Hill, QLD 4127
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/great-glossy-count-workshop-tickets-951125350527
Saturday 24 August | 10-12noon
Moreton Bay region
Samford Farmers Hall, 30 Main Street, Samford Village
Register: https://events.humanitix.com/2024-great-glossy-count-glossy-black-cockatoo-id-workshop
Tuesday 27 August | 6:30-8pm
Virtual workshop
Register: https://bit.ly/2024GGCVirtualWorkshop
Wednesday 28 August | 6:30-8:30pm
Redland region
Indigiscapes, 17 Runnymede Rd, Capalaba QLD 4157
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/great-glossy-count-workshop-tickets-975748438847?aff=oddtdtcreator
Wednesday 28 August | 2-3:30pm
Sunshine Coast region
Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, 148 Mountain View Rd, Maleny
Register: https://events.humanitix.com/great-glossy-count-glossy-black-cockatoo-id-workshop
Wednesday 28 August | 7:30-9:00pm
Hornsby region
Kalkari Discovery Centre, 402 Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Register: Contact Barbara at: chasealive.training@gmail.com
Saturday 31 August | 10:00am-12:30pm
Tweed/Byron region
Pottsville Environment Park, Centennial Dr, Pottsville
Register: https://events.humanitix.com/2024-great-glossy-count-glossy-black-cockatoo-id-workshop-32vgyru9
Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 September | 6:30-8am
Scenic Rim region
Join Catherine Madden for a guided walk on the morning of the Great Glossy Count before heading off to your designated count site.
Virtual workshop for all areas
Tuesday 27 August
6.30-8.00pm
This virtual workshop explores how to identify Glossy Black-Cockatoos and their feed trees through a series of new videos and includes a panel discussion with researchers investigating Glossy Black-Cockatoos. Citizen scientists volunteering for our Great Glossy Count asked questions of researchers during the panel discussion.
Birdata
Great Glossy Count registrations and site selection will occur via the Glossy Black-Cockatoo portal in the Birdata app.
Before you register, you will need to complete a short and simple quiz to ensure all participants can correctly identify Glossies, males, females, juveniles and fledglings.
To make it easy for you, here are the tools you’ll need, including; ID booklets, the Field Guide and training videos.
Learn more about identifying Glossy Black-Cockatoos for the Great Glossy Count
Here are some more resources to help you in the field
Access fact sheets on our website.
While we await a fabulous new field guide from our partners at Birdlife Australia, you can access fact sheets on the Conservancy website by clicking here.
Ask an expert.
Got a burning question we haven’t answered elsewhere? Send an email to the Conservancy and we’ll have one of our expert partners answer it for you. Email: birdingday@glossyblack.org.au.
Download our new field guide
A new guide, produced by Birdlife Australia and the Glossy Black Conservancy will support citizen scientists to collect data on South-eastern Glossy Black-Cockatoos.
Download here.
The Great Glossy Count is a BirdLife Australia project, delivered collaboratively with the Glossy Black Conservancy.
Photography © Andrew Peacock
footloosefotography.com | instagram.com/footloosefotography