Landscape Context Influences the Use of Nest Boxes by a Black‐Cockatoo

ABSTRACT

Temperate forest ecosystems globally are experiencing declines in tree hollow abundance. Nest boxes are often installed as a management response to overcome tree hollow shortages for cavity nesting birds. However, for many species it is not known how the position of a nest box in the broader landscape influences its use. We investigated nest box use by yellow‐tailed black‐cockatoos, a species associated with more intact forests but also observed feeding on Pinus plantations, a novel food source the species has not coevolved with. We sought to determine whether nest box use by yellow‐tailed black‐cockatoos was influenced by proximity to native and novel foods, extent of native vegetation in the landscape, and fire impacts to vegetation. Nest boxes were monitored in two time periods: pre‐fire (2015–2017) and after a largescale wildfire (2021–2023). The mean annual proportional rate of nest box occupancy was 0.27 pre‐fire and 0.23 post‐fire. Nesting attempts in nest boxes yielded 0.76 fledglings per attempt ( n  = 59 attempts monitored from egg stage to nest completion). Pre‐fire, nest boxes that were closer to Pinus radiata plantations were more likely to be used. The 2019–2020 wildfires burnt substantial areas of P. radiata plantations and Banksia dominated vegetation. In post‐fire years, nest box use was positively associated with proximity to native Banksia dominated vegetation (a preferred native food source), and more native vegetation and a higher proportion of burnt native vegetation in a 10 km radius of nest boxes. The importance of Pinus plantations to nest site selection pre‐fire suggests that yellow‐tailed black‐cockatoos could be unintentionally impacted by forestry harvesting. Post‐fire reductions in P. radiata plantations and Banksia dominated vegetation may have increased the importance of proximity to native food resources. Our results suggest that nest boxes could play a role in the conservation of yellow‐tailed black‐cockatoos but highlight the need to consider the broader landscape matrix when selecting nest box installation sites.