Gillingarra Important Bird Area facts for kids
The Gillingarra Important Bird Area is a very special place in Western Australia. It covers about 83 square kilometers (that's like 8,300 soccer fields!) in the wheatbelt region. You can find it near the towns of Mogumber and Koogan.
This area includes the nature reserves of Gillingarra and Koodjee. It also has many private farms. Experts at BirdLife International have named it an Important Bird Area (IBA). This means it's a key spot for birds. It helps protect up to 20 breeding pairs of the Carnaby's black-cockatoo. These cockatoos are an endangered species, which means they are at risk of disappearing forever. They build their nests in big marri trees and find food in native shrublands. Other cool birds like the western corella, red-capped parrot, western spinebill, and western yellow robin also live here.
What Makes Gillingarra Special for Birds?
The Gillingarra Important Bird Area is designed to protect birds. Its borders include places where cockatoos can nest. It also has areas where they can find food.
A Home for Nesting Birds
The area has many isolated marri trees. These trees are found in farm paddocks. They are perfect spots for the cockatoos to build their nests.
Food for Growing Families
There is also a large area of healthy proteaceous heath. This type of plant provides lots of food for the nesting birds. The land here is about 205 to 240 meters above sea level. It has a Mediterranean climate, which means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.