The avifauna of Biak Island, Papua, Indonesia with comments on status, conservation, natural history and taxonomy
Author
Bishop, K. David
text
Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club
2023
2023-03-06
143
1
3
62
journal article
298463
10.25226/bboc.v143i1.2023.a2
6028cf6b-e944-40d1-b774-7caa1c970409
2513-9894
11642130
805136AB-F3FE-4C77-85AC-E37423156B6D
SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO
Cacatua galerita
#
Local names
Awéko, Man Warèf (Sansundi); Man Garas (Kuneff), Man Geras (
Soeparno 1977
).
Range
C. g. triton
Biak, Supiori, Numfor, Yapen.
Status
Resident. Widespread and moderately common; obtained by three collectors including Ripley and observed by nearly all visitors. From 1982 until
c
.1995, the species was common and very conspicuous, often in small groups of 4‒8, occasionally seen flying low over villages especially on Supiori. Thereafter it visibly declined in numbers in southern and
central Biak
, probably due to habitat degradation, hunting and especially trapping.
M. Halaouate
(
in litt
. 2021) noted that it is still fairly common especially on Supiori, but has declined dramatically, and 80‒90% of this decrease is due to trapping for illegal trade. Halouatte’s current estimate of Biak and Supiori’s population is
3,500
‒5,000
.