Researchers track Carnaby's cockatoos in Western Australia; find native habitat helps in conservation

Habitat loss is one of the most devastating consequences of rapid urbanisation and human expansion. As forests are cleared to make room for farms, roads and buildings, animals are left with fewer places to find food, water and shelter.

And while we often imagine conservation as protecting vast stretches of untouched wilderness, sometimes, even a small patch of greenery can make a world of difference.Researchers tracking endangered Carnaby’s cockatoos in Western Australia have discovered just how important these overlooked pockets of nature can be. Their study found that tiny fragments of surviving native bushland act as stepping stones, helping the birds move between larger patches of habitat in landscapes that have been heavily cleared for agriculture.