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.