Less than a lifetime ago, great flocks of Carnaby’s cockatoos cast large shadows over Perth. Now, the long-term clearing of eucalypt forests and banksia woodlands, combined with southern Western Australia’s driest and hottest period on record, is pushing the species towards extinction. Scientists say little is being done to reverse the decline. Peter Mawson, a research associate at Western Australia’s biodiversity department, is old enough to remember a time when the birds were a common sight. “Sometimes, I see people make comments on social media that they’ve seen a flock of 100 Carnaby’s cockatoos and they’re really chuffed at that