Regent honeyeaters and swift parrots sighted at Bucketty
Two of Australia’s most critically endangered birds have shown up in significant numbers in the region’s north west thrilling birdwatchers. But the reasons for their arrival are less welcome.
Birdwatchers were excited when two of Australia’s most critically endangered birds were found recently on the Central Coast.
Three of the estimated population of 400 Regent Honeyeaters were found along Settlers Rd at Bucketty in mid-April and more than 50 Swift Parrots were located at Joshua Porter Reserve at Chain Valley Bay in May.
Most keen birdwatchers on the coast went to see them given it was the first time Regents have been seen since 2015 and Swift Parrots have not been seen in such numbers since 2011.
“When noted naturalist, John Gould visited Australia in 1838 Regent Honeyeaters were common in NSW woodlands, today they are extremely rare” Central Coast Birding Group spokesman Allan Benson said.
“Why they have declined is still being debated but habitat fragmentation and competition from the highly territorial and aggressive Noisy Miners are believe to be factors.
“Although the population is being supplemented with an annual release of captive bred birds from Taronga Park Zoo, the wild population is not recovering.
“Drought conditions west of the Great Divide mean that at present, there are no Regents in their breeding stronghold of the Capertee Valley. More immediate threats to Regents are the proposals to raise the wall of Warragamba Dam, which will flood more of the Burragorang Valley and a Chinese funded power station to be built near Kurri Kurri. Both these projects will destroy habitat where Regents have bred regularly.”
The Central Coast Birding Group survey 75 sites every May and August primarily where Swamp Mahogany is prevalent to check for the presence of both Regent Honeyeaters and Swift Parrots.
Unfortunately, no Regents were found in this survey but the good news is that the 50 Swift Parrots were located.
“There are only an estimated population of 2000 Swift Parrots,” Mr Benson said.
“These birds are under extreme pressure. They breed in Tasmania and spend the winter in warmer climes in Victoria and the east coast of NSW where they feed on the autumn/winter flowering eucalypts.
The main threat is in their breeding grounds in Tasmania, as continued logging is reducing their feeding and breeding habitat. To make matters worse, introduced Sugar Gliders are predating females and their eggs in their nesting hollows.
“Swamp Mahogany is flowering so profusely right across the coast that we are very hopeful more Regent Honeyeaters and Swift Parrots will call the Central Coast home over this winter.”
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