Meet our latest Big Thing – with an even bigger purpose.

Aussies have always had a long-standing love affair with oversized roadside attractions. From a giant pineapple and big banana to a supersized prawn and enormous easel, our obsession with Big Things knows no bounds. And now, a pair of feathered friends has joined the flock.

Introducing the Big Carnabys, two colossal black cockatoos perched high up on a sculptural branch. Officially unveiled last week in Moora, a small town within WA’s Wheatbelt region, the towering tribute is the latest addition to Australia’s big, beloved collection.

A new feather in Moora’s cap

It may be the country’s latest Big Thing, but bringing the Big Carnabys to life has taken more than seven years. Originally conceived in 2019 by community conservation collective the Kerkhoff Carnaby Group (KCG), the ambitious project was made possible after tireless fundraising efforts and unwavering local support.

The driving force behind it all? Raising awareness for the critically endangered species that KCG aims to protect. Named after local Moora conservationist Wally Kerkhoff, the volunteer-led organisation raised over $500,000 to complete the sculpture, with 74 per cent coming from community donations.

Standing at 11.5 metres tall, the Big Carnabys are expected to serve as a major drawcard for the region and put Moora on the map for tourists. It’s a fitting location too; Carnaby’s black cockatoos flock to the town between July and February each year, where they breed in hollow native gum trees.

The two birds are known locally as Wally and Mrs Carnaby; the first in honour of 84-year-old Kerkhoff, who then personally selected the name of his feathered counterpart. The pair can be found in Moora’s Apex Park, roughly 170 kilometres north of Perth (or two hours by car).

Wally and Mrs Carnaby are already attracting visitors too – and not just of the human variety. In a poignant twist, a small group of Carnaby’s black cockatoos landed on the heads of each sculpture the day it was installed, making themselves right at home atop their new larger-than-life companions.

The fight to save the Carnaby’s

Our Big Things have always been about making an impression. But this latest addition is hoping to make a difference, too. Carnaby’s black cockatoos are listed as critically endangered under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and could even face extinction within the next 20 years.

Over recent decades, ongoing ecological threats such as agricultural clearing, habitat destruction, climate change and nesting competition have cut the species’ population in half. Organisations like KCG are making a difference, but the fight is far from over.

That’s where the Big Carnabys come in. Beyond attracting tourists to Moora, the sculpture aims to raise awareness of the species’ plight and encourage visitors, both young and old, to take an active role in its conservation.

It joins a growing wave of national initiatives fighting to protect native birds and wildlife, including the biannual Australian Bird of the Year competition. Originally launched in 2017 and held every two years since, it invites Aussies to vote for their favourite feathered species, whilst also raising awareness around the challenges each face.

So, while our new Big Thing may be a delight to behold, it’s also a powerful reminder that Australia’s natural wonders deserve more than just our admiration – they deserve our protection too.