Experts predict largest winter migration of threatened orange-bellied parrot
The tide seems to be finally turning for the endangered orange-bellied parrot. Find out the latest in their fight for survival.
Tasmania
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BirdLife Tasmania is excited that more than 200 orange-bellied parrots will migrate north this breeding season but fearful for the bird’s survival if the Robbins Island wind farm is approved.
Environment Minister Madeleine Ogilvie said 28 captive-bred orange-bellied parrots were released into the wild from Melaleuca ahead of what experts predict will be the largest-ever winter migration of the endangered species.
She said last year, a record-breaking 92 birds returned to Melaleuca after their winter migration to Victoria and together with 15 captive-bred birds released in spring, produced 105 nestlings — the highest number since monitoring began in 1994.
“Our wildlife experts predict that over 200 orange-bellied parrots will migrate north this breeding season, which would set yet another record.
“That’s a remarkable turnaround compared to the 2015-16 breeding season, when only 15 nestlings were produced, and an estimated 35 birds migrated north.”
BirdLife Tasmania spokesman and orange-bellied parrot expert, Mark Holdsworth, hailed the record production of nestlings at Melaleuca.
Mr Holdsworth, who managed the parrot’s recovery program until 2013 and completed his masters’ thesis on the reproductive success of the species, said the captive-breeding program would not have been successful without the support of the Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments in co-operation with captive breeding facilities within the zoo industry.
“The OBP Program have done an exceptional job to rescue the species from the dire situation in 2017 when the wild population was as low as 17 adults.
“BirdLife Tasmania is excited to hear the prediction of over 200 OBPs will be migrating north to their wintering grounds in coastal Victoria and South Australia.
“Our members and other bird observers will be searching coastal areas over winter to help build a picture of their current habitat requirements.”
But Mr Holdsworth is concerned at threats to the parrot’s future and urged Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to “rule against this ill-conceived project (wind farm) for the good of our irreplaceable birds”.
“I have seen OBPs on Robbins Island and recent tracking studies by NRE strongly supports the island is a critical part of the species’ habitat,” he said.
“Along with the thousands of migratory waders, which congregate on Robbins Island over summer months, we believe the proposal to build wind turbines on the island will have a devastating impact on these precious species.
“It would be a shame if all the good work by the OBP Program Recovery Team and partner organisations in recent years is undone by the approval of a massive wind farm smack bang in the OBPs habitat.”
Ms Ogilvie said the release of the young parrots was to increase their recovery speed.
“In many ways, Melaleuca is a type of ‘pre-school for birds’, where birds socialise and learn important life skills ahead of their winter migration.
“The more wilderness-savvy an orange-bellied parrot is, the more likely they are to return home from their journey north.”
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Originally published as Experts predict largest winter migration of threatened orange-bellied parrot
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