Philippine Cockatoo

      The Cacatua haematuropygia (Müller, 1776) or the Philippine Cockatoo is the only species of cockatoo in the Philippines. It is one of the most extra-ordinary birds in Palawan and probably the one closest to the brink of extinction in the province. It has white plumage, helmet crest and red undertail coverts tipped with yellowish-white undertail. The chest and stomach are all white, but the underwings are pale yellow. It is the largest in all existing Psittacine members in Palawan, measuring 8.6 inches in wingspan and a few centimeters over 12 inches long.

Philippine Cockatoo

      The Philippine Cockatoo, also called Red-vented Cockatoo is a social species which flies and feeds in large flocks, but the pairs live apart from the flock during the mating season. They lay two or three eggs in nest inside tree cavities, often reusing the same nesting tree year after year. The voice are loud and harsh, this bird can make characteristic bleating calls, as well as screeching and whistling noises. Like the Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis) and Talking Myna or Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa palawanensis), it has the ability to mimic human voices. It can be train to “talk” in captivity, and because of this unique characteristics, the demand for the Philippine cockatoo in illegal pet trade is very high. In the late ‘80s and ‘90s, almost all known unprotected nesting trees were poached every year, the chicks were taken from every accessible nest and sold to illegal birdcage trade.

Philippine Cockatoo

      Other factors that have contributed significantly to its decline are trapping or hunting for food and persecution as an agricultural pest. The cockatoo is formerly regarded as a pest. They usually feed on fruits, seeds, buds and flowers, but this species is very adaptable and even forages on crops, particularly rice and corn. The Philippine Cockatoo seems to be restricted to lowland primary and secondary forest and the widespread conversion of lowland forests to agricultural and settlement areas drastically affected this species. The cutting of mangroves and forest trees result to the loss of nesting and food-providing trees for the Philippine cockatoo and it has suffered an extremely rapid population reduction owing to extensive loss of its habitats.

Philippine Cockatoo

      With the rampant poaching, lowland deforestation and mangrove destruction, it’s not easy for this species to survive. Typhoons and droughts are also a threat to the nestlings and the occasional predators in the wild like the Palawan water monitor can cause nest or breeding failure. Its populations have decreased dramatically in Palawan in the 1990’s and it slowly disappeared in many municipalities. In 1998, there were only 23 to 25 individuals left in Rasa Island, A cockatoo-nesting site 11 kilometers from where I live. Imagine the pandemonium it caused when they found out that of the hundreds of cockatoos breeding in Rasa Island in the 70’s and 80’s, only 25 birds remained. There was a lot of noise and finger pointing on who's  responsible and a conservation group stepped in. Resolutions was made, nest monitoring and protection including the banding of nestlings were conducted. Trees were planted in the island and the adjacent mainland. Awareness campaigns were conducted and residents were encouraged to plant food-providing trees for the cockatoos. It was hard work. Nevertheless, the population of the cockatoos in Narra slowly, but gradually increased. The Philippine Cockatoo is still far from being safe and it’s still listed as Critically Endangered in IUCN, but I am seeing more cockatoos flying frequently these days and I’m thinking that there is hope for this species.