The investigation of the breeding cycle and behaviour of adult palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) in captivity

• Main Author: Zhang, Huanlin
• Other Authors: Ng Soon Chye
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/44858
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Of the 5 endangered Cockatoos (Cacatuidae) species, Palm cockatoos Probosciger aterrimus are one of them. They are a classified CITES Appendix 1 species and in Australia, they are classified as Near Threatened. To study the breeding cycle and behaviour of captive Palm Cockatoo, video footage of their movement pattern around the nest were viewed. During egg incubation cycle, male invariably incubate during the day and female incubate in the night. Frequency of the male activities on the nest during female incubation was higher than that of female during male incubation. Such activities performed by the male on the nest include bringing and chewing of twigs and courtship behaviour. This signified the supportive role of the male even when not incubating. The female were also found to have a higher total incubating duration than male. Male invariable take over the incubation in the morning at an average of time 7:20 which female take over at an average time of 17:25. Even if Palm Cockatoo breeding behaviour can be better understand in captivity, until such knowledge is applied to the wild to help in conservation, wild population of Palm cockatoo should be closely monitored and reclassification of Palm Cockatoo status should be considered if needed.