Birdwatchers flock to Toowoomba to spot world’s rarest parrot, the Swift Parrot, near Picnic Point
It’s a bird that’s earned the attention of Hollywood celebrities for its rarity — now the critically-endangered species has been spotted in Toowoomba.
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A critically-endangered bird that has been declared the “world’s rarest parrot” has been sighted in Toowoomba — but it won’t be around for long.
More than 50 birdwatchers from across southeast Queensland flocked to the Garden City over the weekend to catch a glimpse of five Swift Parrots that were spotted around the Tobruk Drive lookout near Picnic Point.
The bright green birds with red and purple tails, which are about the size of a noisy minor, have travelled north in search of flowering gum-blossoms as part of their seasonal migration.
The Swift Parrot breeds in Tasmania, meaning it has the longest known migration path of any parrot in the world.
Noted Toowoomba ornithologist and conservationist Scot McPhie said the species was on track for extinction within two decades as its breeding and feeding grounds depleted.
“Their numbers have plummeted in the past 15 years, there are only about 500 birds in Australia — in 2005 there were about 2000 of them,” he said.
“Unless something rapidly changes, they’ll go extinct in the 2030s — they’re rarer than cassowaries.
The biggest issue is habitat loss for breeding, the forests that they breed in are being logged in Tasmania.
“Also clearing for the feeding sites, there are a lot less feeding sites along eastern Australia.”
Mr McPhie said the strong interest from bird enthusiasts re-enforced the community and environmental benefits of having a thriving ecosystem on the Toowoomba escarpment.
“We estimate about 50 people have come up from Brisbane and Gold Coast — it’s quite a big deal for bird enthusiasts,” he said.
We want to demonstrate how important the range is for native habitat.
“This is one of the world’s rarest parrots and we have them because we have this habitat.”
Mr McPhie said the parrots could remain in the area for a couple of weeks before they moved on in search of more food.
The Swift Parrot earned international notoriety this year after A-list actor Leonardo DiCaprio called on Australians to save the animal from extinction by protecting its Tasmania breeding grounds.
Legendary fashion designer Prue Acton also launched a campaign earlier this year to try and get Taylor Swift to talk about the namesake animal during her Australian tour.
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