Adelaide Zoo releases orange-bellied parrots to the wild in Victoria for matchmaking trial

Beautiful Aussie birds with bright orange bellies are matchmaking in the wild thanks to captive breeding at Adelaide Zoo.

Critically endangered orange-bellied parrots, born at Adelaide Zoo, have been released into the wild at Lake Connewarre, Victoria.

It is hoped they will meet up with returning “travellers” from breeding grounds in Tasmania to create a larger flock.

Adelaide Zoo senior keeper Chad Crittle, who chairs the national orange-bellied parrot captive management group, said our four birds joined 32 others raised in institutions for the mainland release trial.

“It’s about drawing, hopefully, breeding birds to locations with lots of good food and available resources for them when they land from their big trip from across the Bass Strait,” Mr Crittle said.

Four critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots bred in captivity at Adelaide Zoo have been released into the wild. Picture: Adrian Mann

“Matchmaking is definitely a key part of it, as well as understanding behaviour and monitoring their changes over time.”

The total of 36 parrots were released across three sites – the Spit Nature Conservation Reserve near Werribee; on the Bellarine Peninsula; and on the northern shore of Western Port Bay.

Volunteers will keep watch and report back details of the birds’ interactions.

The critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots. Picture: Adrian Mann

The critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots. Picture: Adrian Mann

This summer, a record number of orange-bellied parrots hatched at breeding grounds in Tasmania.

“Currently, every single wild orange-bellied parrot has at least one parent that was hatched in human care,” Mr Crittle said.

“It’s been an amazing program to work on, because you feel like you’re directly contributing to the saving of the species and we’re seeing really positive results for an important little Australian bird, so that they don’t disappear.”

Veterinarian David McLelland checked each Adelaide bird from top to tail, including inspecting beaks and feathers and wing bands, taking blood samples, carrying out function tests and X-rays.

The birds also spent four weeks in quarantine before they left home.

Adelaide Zoo’s orange-bellied parrots are sponsored by Fusion.

Four critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots bred in captivity at Adelaide Zoo have been released to the wild in Victoria. Picture: Adrian Mann

The orange-bellied parrot mainland release trial is being led by the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Zoos Victoria and Moonlit Sanctuary.

The trial is funded by the Victorian Government’s Icon Species Program, the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, Zoos Victoria and Moonlit Sanctuary, and is supported by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, BirdLife Australia, Melbourne Water and Parks Victoria.

Originally published as Adelaide Zoo releases orange-bellied parrots to the wild in Victoria for matchmaking trial