A new trailer has dropped for Jane Hammond’s Black Cockatoo Crisis.

Black cockatoo numbers have fallen dramatically over the past few decades and all three species in the south-west of WA could become extinct in just 20 years unless something is done to protect their habitats.

With the loss of the banksia woodlands on the Swan Coastal Plain to housing, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos have come to depend on the once vast exotic pine plantations on Perth’s northern fringe.

These pine plantations supply up to half of all the food needed to keep the population of Carnaby’s alive but these too are disappearing. Within the next two years the remaining 4000ha of pines are slated for clearing leaving the cockatoos facing possible starvation.

Meanwhile the Baudin’s Black Cockatoos are literally being shot out of the sky in an unequal battle for food with apple and pear growers in Perth’s hills. And the Forest Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos are under threat from the loss of nesting hollows and declining habitat.

Black Cockatoo Crisis looks at the plight of our special cockatoos and what we can do to stop these threatened species disappearing forever.

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Black Cockatoo Crisis is directed and produced by filmmaker and freelance journalist Jane Hammond.

Jane specialises in stories of environmental justice, action on climate change and social affairs. Jane has made three longer form documentary films prior to Black Cockatoo Crisis. Her documentary Cry of the Forests – A Western Australian Story, released in November 2020, was instrumental is raising awareness and changing public opinion on logging in WA.

Jane’s other films include A Crude Injustice (2017), which tells the story of the 2009 Montara oil spill off the coast of WA and its impact on the seaweed farmers of West Timor; and A Fractured State (2016) which examined the threat of fracking in WA and the community movement fighting that threat.

Black Cockatoo Crisis was named winner of the 2021 Brian Beaton Award for social impact. Jane has also written, shot, edited and produced in excess of 100 short form videos on environmental issues, the climate crisis and social justice.

The World Premiere of Black Cockatoo Crisis will screen at Luna Leederville at 6.45pm Wednesday, 23 November. The premiere will include collectable showbags for attendees, a Q&A session and panel discussion.