Nest Boxes Offer Hope for Hong Kong's Vanishing Yellow-Crested Cockatoos

As of August 2025, Hong Kong is playing a crucial role in the fight to save one of the world's most endangered species - the yellow-crested cockatoo. With only 1,200 to 2,000 individuals left globally, one-tenth of the remaining population resides in the city's urban parks and forests.

The cockatoos' future in Hong Kong hangs in the balance due to habitat loss and the suspected black market trade in these rare birds. Researcher Astrid Andersson has been monitoring the population for nearly a decade and has noticed a concerning trend - fewer juvenile birds are being observed compared to when she first started.

To address this, Andersson is installing around 50 nest boxes throughout the city. These boxes are designed to mimic the natural tree cavities the cockatoos rely on for nesting, as over 80% of these have been lost in recent years due to typhoon damage and government pruning. The nest boxes will not only provide breeding opportunities but also allow researchers to study the birds' reproductive behavior, which has never been comprehensively documented.

Hong Kong's urban cockatoo population is considered a "positive story of human-wildlife coexistence," as the birds have adapted to the city's parks and mature trees. However, their future remains uncertain as habitat loss and the potential for illegal trade continue to threaten their survival. Andersson hopes that the nest boxes and her research can help secure a future for these unique and endangered birds in Hong Kong.