The Glossy Black Conservancy, in partnership with BirdLife Australia, is hosting Australia’s first Great Glossy Count on Saturday 26 March 2022.

Volunteer citizen scientists will collect important data to help researchers and communities better understand the impact of bushfires on the Glossy-Black Cockatoo.

Volunteers registering for the event have access to a range of skill-building activities which will help them hone their ID skills and better understand threats to this charismatic bird. More than ten workshops will take place in Southeast Queensland and north-easter NSW ahead of the Great Glossy Count.

You can register to volunteer as a citizen scientist here: (link)

About our Great Glossy Count workshops

At these face-to-face and virtual workshops, you’ll meet other citizen scientists, learn about Glossy Black-Cockatoo ID, better understand the bird’s habitat and how to look for evidence of feeding, and in some cases, get up close and personal with a live Glossie. The workshops prepare volunteer citizen scientists to participate in the Great Glossy Count taking place Saturday 26 March, 2022.

The workshops, presented by a range of Glossy Black Conservancy partners will cover:

Identification of Glossy Black-Cockatoos by sight and sound
How to differentiate females, males and their ages
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

Glossy Black-Cockatoo ID workshops for Great Glossy Count citizen scientists

Saturday 5 March, Redlands

10:00 – 12:00noon, Indigiscapes Theatrette, 17 Runnymede Road, Capalaba.
Hosted by Redland City Council. Martin Fingland from Geckoes Wildlife will bring along a live Glossy Black-Cockatoo as well as other native wildlife. Martin will present information about Glossy Black-Cockatoo identification and ecology for volunteers keen to participate in the 2022 Great Glossy Count. Register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/great-glossy-count-id-webinar-for-glossy-black-cockatoos-tickets-259791422137

Thursday 10 March, Gold Coast

6:00 – 8:00pm, Nerang Bicentennial Hall- 833 Southport Nerang Road, Nerang.

Hosted by Gold Coast City Council. Join Guy Castley from Griffith University to learn about Glossy ID, habitat and ecology and prepare for observing Glossy Black-Cockatoos for Australia’s first Great Glossy Count in March.

Saturday 12 March, Tweed and Byron

10:00 – 12:00noon, Tweed Heads South Community Centre, 18 Heffron Street Tweed Heads South NSW 2486

Hosted by Harry Hackett at Wild BNB and Marama Hopkins at Tweed Shire Council. Participants will learn about Gloss Black-Cockatoo ID, ecology and habitat and find out more about the Glossy Squad. Volunteers will leave the workshop ready for observing and recording Glossy Black-Cockatoos in Australia’s first Great Glossy Count, 26 March 2022.

Saturday 12 March, Gold Coast

6:30 – 8:30am, Guided Walk at Lower Beechmont Conservation Area – end of Bellis Road.

Hosted by Gold Coast City Council. Join Guy Castley from Griffith University as he leads you through Gloss Black-Cockatoo habitat in search of feed trees and the bird itself! Please bring binoculars, wear closed-in shoes and sun-smart attire and be prepared for changes to the weather. Citizen scientists will learn Glossy ID tips to prepare them for observing and recording Glossies a the 2022 Great Glossy Count, being co-presented by the Glossy Black Conservancy and Birdlife Australia.

Thursday 15 March, Sunshine Coast

4.00 – 6.00pm, Venue 114, 114 Sportsmans Pde, Bokarina 4575

Hosted by Martin Fingland (Geckoes Wildlife), Eric Anderson (Birdlife Southern Queensland) and Ben Green (Sunshine Coast Council). Participants will learn about Gloss Black-Cockatoo ID, ecology and habitat and get up close and personal with a live Glossy and other wildlife. Volunteers will leave the workshop ready for observing and recording Glossy Black-Cockatoos in Australia’s first Great Glossy Count, 26 March 2022.

Wednesday 16 March, virtual workshop

6:30 – 7:45pm via Zoom.

We’ll cover everything you need to know to observe Glossy Black-Cockatoos in the wild and record data in the Birdata app for the 2022 Great Glossy Count. The webinar will be followed by Q&A with a panel of experts answering questions from participants.

Register to receive the link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/great-glossy-count-id-webinar-for-glossy-black-cockatoos-tickets-259742174837

Saturday 19 March, Dayboro

10:00 – 12:00pm, Dayboro Community Hall, 6 Bradley Street, Dayboro.

Hosted by Moreton Bay Regional Council. Hear from Conservancy partner Eric Anderson (Birdlife Southern Queensland) about Glossy Black-Cockatoo identification and ecology. Meet Cassie (the Glossy Black-Cockatoo) & Martin from Geckos Wildlife who will further demonstrate identification tips and behaviours. This workshop will prepare volunteers to observe and record Glossy Black-Cockatoos in the 2022 Great Glossy Count being held 26 March, 2022.

Saturday 19 March, Gold Coast

6:30 – 8:30am, Guided Walk, Lower Beechmont Conservation Area – end of Bellis Road.

Hosted by Gold Coast City Council. Join Glossy Black Conservancy partner Guy Castley from Griffith University as he leads you through Gloss Black-Cockatoo habitat in search of feed trees and the bird itself. Please bring binoculars if possible, wear closed-in shoes and sun-smart attire and be prepared for changes to the weather. Citizen scientists will learn Glossy ID tips to prepare them for observing and recording Glossies a the 2022 Great Glossy Count, being co-presented by the Glossy Black Conservancy and Birdlife Australia.

Sunday 20 March, Logan

1:30 – 3:30pm, Daisy Hill Koala Sanctuary, 253 Daisy Hill Rd, Daisy Hill

Join like-minded bird-lovers to learn how to locate and identify Glossy Black-Cockatoos and their feed trees in the wild. During this workshop to locate and identify Glossy Black-Cockatoos, Martin Finland from Geckoes Wildlife will bring along a live Glossy Black-Cockatoo, a Red-tailed Black Cockatoo as well as other native wildlife. Martin will present information about Glossy Black-Cockatoo identification and ecology. The presentation will then be followed by a short walk through Daisy Hill Forest to identify the feed trees of the Glossy Black-Cockatoos. Participants will also have the opportunity to sign on to the Great Bird Count which will be held on 26th March.

To register, please visit Logan City Council’s Environmental Calendar.

Friday 25 March, Noosa

10:00 – 11:00am, Committee Room, Level 3 at the Council Office, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin.

Hosted by Noosa Council. Join Peter Milne for a brush up on all things Glossy Black-Cockatoo and identifying habitat and feed trees before the Great Glossy Count.

This session is only open to volunteers who have registered for the Great Glossy Count. Register through Peter Milne at Noosa Council on 07 5329 6328 or peter.milne@noosa.qld.gov.au

About the 2022 Great Glossy Count

The South-eastern Glossy Black-Cockatoo is at risk of population decline after losing many of its feed trees in the devastating bushfires of 2019-2020.

Data collected during the Great Glossy Count will inform bushfire recovery work by providing information on Glossy Black-Cockatoo flocks, feed trees, and habitat so they can be better protected and managed.

But we need your help! We’re seeking volunteer citizen scientists in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, and Victoria to help survey the South-eastern Glossy Black-Cockatoo on Saturday 26 March 2022.

As a citizen scientist, you’ll have the opportunity to hone your bird ID skills, participate in training and collect critical data to ensure the bird’s survival. You can register to volunteer here.

This project is a partnership between BirdLife Australia and the Glossy Black Conservancy, funded by donations to BirdLife Australia’s bushfire appeal and a grant awarded under the Australian Government’s Regional Bushfire Recovery for Multiregional Species and Strategic Projects Program.

Huge thanks to photographer Andrew Peacock for the stunning photos of Glossy Black-Cockatoos on this page.

Glossy Black-Cockatoo ID workshops for the 2022 Great Glossy Count