Kaarakin Online Auction

Auction starts 21 st April 2023 at 6 am and ends on 1 st May 2023 at 6 pm (Perth time)

  1. Register on our website to make bids. You will have access to your account tab where
    you can add items on your watchlist and keep track of the items you bid on.
  2. If you are the winning bidder at the end of the auction, you will be notified (make sure
    to check your spam folder).
  3. Collection of items- Once payment has been made Kaarakin will notify the winners on
    days the items can be picked up from Kaarakin. If the item needs to be mailed or
    shipped, postage will need to be paid by the bidder.
  4. Auction is located in the online shop under “Mother’s Day Online Auction”. Click here to
    access the page. https://blackcockatoorecovery.com/product-category/mothers-day-
    auction/
  5. Bids have increments of either $1, $5, $10 or $100 depending on the value of the item
    and items have a reserved price to meet.
  6. Kaarakin volunteers may also be bidding on items and will be subject to same terms and
    conditions as the public.
  7. Duplicate copies of some items will be numbered with an item # so please keep track of
    which item you bidon.
  8. Queries can be sent to fundraising@Kaarakin.com
  9. Additional items may be added throughout the auction as received.

Visiting Kaarakin

Can I visit?

Yes, we love having visitors! However, please note that visits to Kaarakin are by appointment only. See How to visit Kaarakin for more details on the tours and programs we offer.

Where are you located? Where is Kaarakin in WA?

Our black cockatoo rescue centre is located in Martin, approximately 30 min away from Perth CBD. We are located in a lovely bush environment in Banyowla Regional Park. Our address is 322 Mills Road East, Martin, WA, 6110.

If you’re visiting or volunteering (both organised ahead of time), please wear suitable clothing for a bush setting: enclosed shoes, sleeved shirt (short or long), and a sunhat, as well as bottled water depending on the conditions. If you’re going inside the interactive aviary, please don’t wear earrings or other jewellery items as they might be damaged by an inquisitive bird and could become dangerous for our birds if swallowed.

How can I get to you?

If you are driving from Perth CBD, then the best option is to drive via Orrong Road, then Tonkin Highway, then Mills Road East. You can hire a car or take a taxi or ride share from Perth CBD. Or take the Armadale line train and get off at Gosnells station. Our centre is approximately 5.6 km away from the Gosnells station, taking about 9 min to get there by vehicle.

Is there public transport?

Unfortunately, there are no public transport close to Kaarakin. You can get off at Gosnells train station (Armadale line) and then take a taxi or ride share. Please visit the official site for our Perth public transport system, Transperth, for more details and to plan your journey.

Do you have open days? How can I book?

We have two open day weekends during the year. Generally, in May and September. Dates are subject to change due to weather conditions and availability of volunteers. We start advertising about the tour weekend approximately 2 months beforehand. Subscribe to our newsletter and/or follow our social media to catch the announcement when bookings open.

You can always book a Private Tour or Encounter at any point throughout the year! Be sure to check our events page for other fun events happening throughout the year as well!

Is there food on the sanctuary?

Apart from our open tour weekends where a sausage sizzle and a coffee stall can be found, we do not have any food facility during private tours or encounters. If you are taking part in a special event at Kaarakin, your confirmation email will indicate if food is available or provided.

Can my dog come with me?

Unfortunately, due to biosecurity and quarantine risks no pets of any kind are permitted to visit Kaarakin.

Do you offer educational programs?

Yes, we have both outreach and onsite programs. Please visit our Education page for more information on the different programs on offer.

Volunteering

Can I volunteer?

Yes, Kaarakin is mainly run by volunteers. Apart from 3 part time employees, we entirely rely on volunteers to run the centre and take care of our animal residents. Our volunteer page has more details on which positions are available and how to apply.

I’ve got some spare time. Can I come and volunteer at Kaarakin?

Whilst the saying goes “many hands make light work”, we take the role of caring for our many animal residents and their sanctuary grounds very seriously. It is for this reason that much training goes into preparing our staff and regular weekly volunteers for these roles. Alas, we don’t have the person power to train and guide new recruits for short term assistance around the sanctuary while still maintaining our high standards of animal care. Please do look at either our regular weekly volunteer program or our helping hand dates.

Please note that due to public liability issues we are not able to offer volunteering opportunities for persons under the age of 16 years. Some opportunities exist for 13-16 year olds to volunteer if accompanied by a parent or guardian while on site.

Do you take corporate volunteers?

Yes, we love corporate volunteers! For more information and to book a date, please get in touch with our Volunteer Coordinator.

Can I do work experience?

We have limited opportunities available. Please contact us for more information.

Donations

How can I donate?

There are many ways to donate to Kaarakin and to support the black cockatoos in our care.

Head to our donations page for all the information.

Please note all donations over $2 are tax deductible and are greatly appreciated.

Adoptions

Can I sponsor an animal not listed in the online shop?

Our adoption program gives people an opportunity to support an individual animal resident (black cockatoo or dingo) and receive an adoption certificate with a photo and information on the individual animal and their species. But of course, the funding goes to help feed and care for all of the animals here at Kaarakin, as well as our outreach work.

We would love nothing more than to expand our adoption program to include everyone’s favourite residents. However, the administrative logistics of running the adoption program with the current animals, while also caring for over 300 animals with only sporadic volunteer office support is at maximum. We apologise that we are unable to open the adoption program up to include all of our residents, but hope that you understand our reasons. We, and all of our animal residents, very much appreciate your support!

Can I take a cockatoo back home?

Unfortunately no, our adoption program means that you can receive an adoption certificate of a particular cockatoo or dingo. The money goes into supporting us in caring for our animal residents and rescue cockatoos.

Fundraising (yours and ours) and sharing information

Can you please share my fundraiser, petition, Facebook page, link…

We receive a lot of requests from those seeking to create change. If we were to say yes to one, we really would have to say yes to them all. This places us in quite a difficult position of bombarding of our supporters with multiple posts, which would see posts losing their important impact.

We do however invite you to share your link on our Facebook wall where those who follow our page will be able to see it. This means that we are able to go ahead with our scheduled content for the day (we plan days, weeks and months in advance for many posts), whilst you share your cause alongside it. This will allow visitors to our page to see both.

Again, we are sorry if this is not the answer you were hoping to receive, however we adopted this policy some time ago in the name of fairness and we really must stick by it. Thank you again for continuing to do the work that you do and for supporting Kaarakin and the plight of the black cockatoos. It really does make a world of difference!

Hey, I want to fundraise for you!

We have supporters each helping us in their own way, whether by spreading the word or by raising funds for Kaarakin. Some artists and photographers donate a percent of their profits to Kaarakin, while others donate crafts and items to our centre for various fundraisers we hold during the year. Please see How to support us or do get in touch with your ideas.

How can I support the plight of the black cockatoos?

The easiest way to support the plight of the black cockatoos is to spread the word about them and about the work we do here at Kaarakin.

If you visit Kaarakin, please make sure to share your experience by either leaving a review on our Facebook page or on Google. Tag Kaarakin so that we get notified about your review on social media. We also use Instagram, Twitter and even LinkedIn, so tag us with your experiences. You can also write a blog article!

It means a lot to us and if you let us know, we might reshare your article or post(s).

I would like to donate for your wishlist

Thank you so much for donating towards our wishlist! You will find a box next to the main gates of our centre. This box is checked daily.

Please do not enter our centre (past the black gates) unless you have agreed on an appointment with one of our team members.

Do you have any merchandising to buy?

Yes – check out our online shop! We are constantly looking at expanding offerings, so keep an eye out for great products. Inside our online shop, you will also find cockatoos and dingoes that you can adopt. For private tours and encounters, we have a small shop available after your visit. There’s even tour gift vouchers. If you are coming to our open tour weekend, there will be many stalls from different artists and organisations available. Make sure to have a look around before and after your tour!

Rescue and black cockatoos general questions

I’ve seen a black cockatoo in trouble, what should I do?

Please call Kaarakin on 9390 2288, or Louise (Vet Nurse) on 0448 046 202. Please leave a message if your call is unanswered. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Please only attempt to rescue the bird if it is safe for you to do so:

  • Use a large towel to cover the bird
  • Place the bird in a secure cardboard box or travel pet-pack
  • Place box in a warm, quiet place
  • DO NOT FEED

For more detailed instructions, check our how to rescue a black cockatoo guide.

Can you take care of my black cockatoo?

Unfortunately, we often get enquiries from owners who are looking at surrendering their pet black cockatoo. Many don’t realise that a red-tailed black cockatoo involves a lot of care and maintenance and that a cockatoo is noisy. As a result, many have unhappy neighbours and unhappy cockatoos. Due to the nature of our rescue and conservation centre and being a not for profit with limited resources, we cannot accept surrendered pets. (As an indication, it can cost us approximately $1,000 per year to take care of a cockatoo).

Can I buy black cockatoo feathers?

Australia has strict laws that aim to protect plants and animals that are threatened, native, vulnerable or endangered. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act). The act:

  1. Restricts the taking or use of threatened plants and animals in Commonwealth areas unless:
    1. a permit has been given; or
    2. those activities are traditional non-commercial activities conducted by native title holders on their traditional lands; and

The EPBC Act applies to whole animals and plants as well as parts of animals and plants such as feathers, shells, plant fibres or animal furs.

As we have no permit, we are unable to sell or give away feathers from our black cockatoos.

I want to plant black cockatoo friendly plants in my garden. How do I start?

Easy! We’ve some suggestions on our black cockatoo page.