Red Vented Cockatoo

The rare Philippine Cockatoo, also known as the red-vented cockatoo, or “Kalangay” in Tagalog, is native to the Philippine archipelago.  Years ago, the Philippine cockatoo was a common bird in the Philippines and was considered a pest, because it was so adaptable, it would forage on crops, especially corn and unripe rice, which is critical to the Filipino economy.

How does the Philippine Cockatoo impact the local ecology and Filipino people?  How much does the bird’s love for crops affect the agriculture, economy, and people?  Is its removal of tree grubs compare with crop raiding?  In other words, is it more helpful or harmful?  Will its extermination make a difference?  If the Philippine cockatoo is the only species of cockatoo in the Philippines, why get rid of it?

Could there be a way to use the Philippine cockatoo for ecological purposes?  Today, less than four thousand cockatoos remain, only 10% of their population only a few decades ago.  Today because of their adaptability, intelligent human voice mimicking, and scarcity, the critically endangered birds have been illegally sold and traded as pets. In illegal markets, they are worth over 500 US Dollars. Despite their small numbers, people continue these activities virtually unchecked by the local government.  Why do we disregard these birds?  Can we find a way to keep them away from crops?  We could train these intelligent birds to stay away from crops, looks for food and maybe in the future, provide help to mute people.

The purpose of this project is to research the biology, ecology, and intellect of the Philippine cockatoo through study of cockatoo reservations in Palawan, interviews of the people who care for them, and literary recordings from when the birds were common.  This information can help experimentation of the bird, in which usefulness can be found.

I hope that through the Philippine cockatoo’s positive output, we can turn a pesky, critically endangered bird into a common and useful one that can help the Filipino people through understanding of its possible potential.

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Biology

Common Names and Synonyms

Cacatua haematuropygia is also called the Red-vented Cockatoo. (“Kalangay” in its native Tagalog) The common name for it is the Philippine Cockatoo, since it is found only in the Philippine islands. 

Classification

Kingdom:  Animalia

Phylum:    Chordata

Class:       Aves  (bird)

Order:      Psittaciformes  (cockatoos and true parrots)

Family:     Cacatuidae  (old sister)

Genus:     Cacatua  (old sister)

Species:   C. haematuropygia  [red blood (tailed) cockatoo]

Morphology and Physical Description

The Philippine Cockatoo is a small white cockatoo with red and yellow beneath tail. It is 12.2 inches long and has an 8.6 inches wingspan. It is completely white with an exception of feathers suffused with the sulfur-yellow at the bases, often tinged with reddish or pinkish at the undertail feathers. The crest is relatively short and more or less washed with bright red broadly edged with white. The eyes of the Philippine Cockatoo are blood-red to brown in females and dark brown to black in males. In juvenile cockatoos, they initially have greyer irises, which later become brownish as they reach adulthood. The bill of the Philippine cockatoo is leaden at base and white at the tip and its legs are white. They have a massive scimitar-like beak for cracking nuts, digging up roots, or prying grubs from wood. They also have a long life span, some living more than 50 years.

The voice of the Philippine cockatoo is often a loud, harsh, and rasping call. Despite how loud its call is, its voice is actually softer than other cockatoo species. Filipino locals and pet owners describe their screeches as varying from "awwwk-awwwk", eeeek, owwwwk, or rouuuk. It makes a characteristic bleating call, as well as screeching or whistling noises that are common to most cockatoos. One unique characteristic of the Philippine cockatoo is its ability to mimick the human voice, which appeals to many cockatoo owners.  Their calls are almost deafening when several birds are calling together, especially in flight.

Getting Food

Cockatoos are not usually picky eaters. They are herbivores, feeding on seeds, and, to a lesser extent, on fruits, flowers, buds and soft bark. The species is very adaptable and even forages on crops, particularly rice in a half-ripe stage and corn. Therefore the cockatoo was formerly regarded as a pest. However, as pets, they can eat meats, dairy products, and veggies.

Reproduction

Philippine cockatoos wander in small flocks outside of the breeding season, and visits forest edges and nearby plantations for food. Mating season for the Philippine cockatoo starts in October. The birds travel pairwise and groom each other at the roosting site, which is often in trees 90-120 feet tall. Many choose coconut plantations as their nesting site. Nest holes are selected starting from end of December and the laying of eggs is recorded from the late February decade to early April, but usually peaks between the end of February and the beginning of March. The female cockatoo normally lays two eggs, which hatch after about 24 days.

Environmental Factors

The Philippine cockatoo seems restricted to lowland primary and/or secondary forest, in or neighboring to rivers or coastal areas with mangroves. Outside the breeding season (March-June, and occasionally February-August), it frequents both corn and rice fields scavenging the crops. The species solely depends on seasonally fluctuating food resources and is partially nomadic. They fly from the mainland to offshore islands to roost and breed. Forests serve as their habitats, though they wander in small flocks when it is not breeding season.

Origin and Distribution

The Philippine cockatoo is from, as well as only found in the Philippines, mostly found on the islands of Palawan, Mindanao, Sulu, Rasa Island, and Awitawi. Its climates are lowlands, rivers, and mangrove forests, but some live at the forest edge, open fields, and high in the mountains. They can be seen singly or in flocks of up to 30 or more. The species is widely distributed throughout the Philippines where it is widespread.

Importance to People

So far, no ecologically-positive factors have been discovered for the Philippine cockatoo aside from the fact that it is a part of the food web of the Philippines. Years ago, it was a very common bird in the Philippines, and was considered a pest. Because it was so adaptable to just about any environment in the Philippine archipelago, it would forage on crops, especially corn and unripe rice, which is critical to the Filipino economy. However, because of their intelligent human voice mimicking skills and adaptability to urban life, they have been illegally captured and sold as pets for a high price. Farmers especially dislike the cockatoos for the sake of their crops. However, there can be a use for these birds. Their diet of insects can be useful in keeping the ecological balance, as well as their intelligence. Perhaps one day, once they are common once more, they can be used for food or maybe even aid to the mute.

Survivability and Endangered Status

In 1994, the estimated population was 1,000 to 4,000 individuals (70-75% of which is believed to reside in Palawan). Isla Rasa holds the highest population density with 50-70 recorded individuals. There are probably only 800 to 300 birds left in Palawan and the species has had 60 to 90 percent decline in population in the late 10 to 15 years. The major cause of the rapid decline of its population is the unregulated collection illegal trade of this species which is very much in demand as a house pet and zoo animal. Habitat loss is also a major factor for this decline.

Potential Solutions

Possibility 1

Personal Pets/ Breeding

Is the Philippine cockatoo only a nuisance, or can there be a good use for them? Because of its scarcity, the Philippine cockatoo does not seem to have been tested for use. However, there can be uses for cockatoos in particular. Judging by the high risks of poachers who illegally capture and sell these birds as pets for a high price (varying from $160-$500), Philippine cockatoos make excellent pets. The great adaptability of the Philippine cockatoo has made it a popular pet.

Even though not much is known about the Philippine Cockatoo as a pet, the species is said to be no different from any other cockatoo. Some information distinguishes it from other breeds, including the fact it is often quieter and has better human voice mimicking skills than other cockatoos. The Philippine cockatoo is quite intelligent, making it a great bird show species. If the poaching can stop, as well as the illegal selling, these birds could become a common and cheaper household pet.

Advantages:

Philippine cockatoos are known for their easy going nature. They are quite "cuddly" and bond very closely with their owners and are known as being “the feathered teddy bear” of the parrot family.

Their intelligence, affection, adaptability, and lively playfulness make them excellent family pets.

Disadvantages:

Despite being a house pet, their screams can be piercing loud and carry a long distance, often annoying neighbors in nearby apartments. Cockatoos can be destructive chewers, unpredictable in temperament, easily get their feelings hurt, and get aggressive. Cockatoos require much personal attention and bore easily. Keeping them requires a lot of time. Cockatoos will never, ever be molded to your will. Cockatoos are not obedient. "No" to a Cockatoo means "try again later”. This attitude can be annoying to owners.

A healthy Cockatoo's skin has a white talcum powder that is said to be primarily calcium so it sticks to clothes and carpet. The dust can also irritate people with allergies. They can become very “stuck-up.” If it doesn’t get the attention it wants, it will scream to attract everyone’s attention.

Until the very small numbers of the Philippine cockatoo population rises, keeping a Philippine cockatoo will still be illegal (Many people who do own or sell these birds either bribe officials or just remain unchecked by the government).